Ella Bruccoleri, known for her role in Call the Midwife, has disclosed health and safety concerns that arose while filming a scene for the BBC period drama The Other Bennet Sister.
Filming the lake scene
Bruccoleri played Mary Bennet in the series, the overlooked middle sister from Pride and Prejudice, who leaves her family in Longbourn to travel to London. The show included a nod to the iconic wet shirt scene from a previous Jane Austen adaptation, with Mary encountering two suitors while rowing on a lake.
In the scene, Mary rows with Tom Hayward, played by Donal Finn, before being interrupted by Charles Ryder, played by Laurie Davidson. Both men end up in the water.
Health and safety concerns
Bruccoleri described the day as one of her favourites on set, noting the hot weather and time spent on the boat. However, complications arose when the original filming location was deemed unsuitable.
She explained: “It became quite stressful because the crew were supposed to shoot it on a different lake where they could anchor the boats to the bottom of it. And then at the last minute, they tested the water and couldn’t use it, so then we had to use a different one.”
She added: “Our lads were in the water for quite a long time, so there were big concerns about their health and safety.”
Success and return
The Other Bennet Sister became a major success, marking the biggest launch of a new drama in the UK in a year. The BBC has confirmed a three-part Christmas special, with a synopsis teasing: “The final episode of the series saw Mary agreeing to wed Tom Hayward, but fans will be keen to know what challenges the future holds for the happy couple…”
The series is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
