The BBC has released a fresh set of images from The Other Bennet Sister's three-part Christmas special, giving fans a first look at Mary Bennet settling into married life.
Set to air over the festive period, the upcoming episodes pick up the story of Mary Bennet following the events of season one. The newly released pictures show Mary, played by Ella Bruccoleri, alongside her husband Tom Hayward, played by Dónal Finn.
Married Life and an Unexpected Visitor
The season one finale saw Mary agreeing to marry Tom. The BBC has teased that "with marriage comes a new identity, and the question remains: who will Mary become as Mrs Hayward? But just as Mary begins this new chapter, an unexpected visitor from her past arrives at her door in need of her help".
Production for the special recently finished in Wales, and the new images offer a glimpse at the cast on set. Returning cast members pictured include Ruth Jones as Mrs Bennet, Tanya Reynolds as Caroline Bingley, and Laurie Davidson as Mr Ryder.
Cast and Crew Details
Fans will also spot Poppy Gilbert as Lizzie Darcy, Maddie Close as Jane Bingley, Grace Hogg-Robinson as Lydia Wickham, and Molly Wright as Kitty Buncock. Nerys Amber Stocks joins the cast for the special, playing the Haywards' housekeeper.
Screenwriter Sarah Quintrell penned nine of the 10 episodes of the series and has written all three additional episodes. She worked alongside director Asim Abbasi.
Adaptation and Popularity
Adapted from Janice Hadlow's book of the same name, The Other Bennet Sister focuses on Mary Bennet, the overlooked middle sister in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It follows her personal struggles to navigate the societal pressures of Regency England, where marriage is both aspiration and necessity.
The series premiered in March and became the biggest new drama across all platforms and streamers in the UK since March 2025, with 6.5 million watching in its first 28 days. Episode one has now reached 9.5 million viewers.
Fans have shared glowing reviews on social media, with one Rotten Tomatoes user saying: "Watching this is like a warm hug. I absolutely loved it. Mary is such an adorable character. Every episode I grew to love her more." Another praised the show as "a warm, thoughtful companion to Pride and Prejudice". The three-part special is coming to BBC One and iPlayer.
