BritBox and the BBC dropped first look photos from The Other Bennet Sister, based on Janice Hadlow’s acclaimed novel. The new drama brings Mary Bennet, the often overlooked middle sister in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice – into the spotlight. The series will stream on BritBox in 2026.
Ella Bruccoleri (Call the Midwife, Bridgerton) leads the cast as Mary Bennet and Richard E. Grant (Saltburn, Can You Ever Forgive Me?) and Ruth Jones (Gavin & Stacey, Stella) will co-star as Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. Indira Varma (Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Night Manager) and Richard Coyle (Heads of State, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) will play Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, whilst Laurie Davidson (The Girlfriend, A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story) and Dónal Finn (The Wheel of Time, SAS Rogue Heroes) play potential suitors, Mr. Ryder and Mr. Hayward, respectively.
Sarah Quintrell (The Power, Ellen) wrote nine of the ten half-hour episodes, with Maddie Dai (We Were Dangerous) writing one episode. The series, which was filmed in Wales, is directed by Jennifer Sheridan (Extraordinary) and Asim Abbasi (Cake).
The story begins at Longbourn, the Bennet family home, where Mr. and Mrs Bennet preside over a lively household of five unmarried daughters: Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. As society’s pressures mount, the Bennet sisters navigate the glittering yet precarious world of Regency England, where marriage is both aspiration and necessity. While her sisters pursue romance and social triumph, Mary embarks on a very different path. Leaving Longbourn behind, she travels to London to live with her aunt and uncle, Mr and Mrs Gardiner, in their elegant home on Gracechurch Street. There, Mary begins a journey of self-discovery, stepping out of the shadows and into her own story. Iconic settings from Pride and Prejudice, include the Meryton Assembly Ball and the Netherfield Ball, where fortunes and futures are decided under glittering chandeliers.
The series will stream on BritBox in North America and on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK.
In honor of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday on December 16th, BritBox has curated “Austen Forever,” a six-month programming slate celebrating the author’s enduring legacy. Expanding BritBox’s existing Jane Austen library, available to stream now, the collection will debut film and television adaptations alongside documentaries exploring her life and influence. The lineup will feature works based on or inspired by Austen’s acclaimed, completed novels: Emma, Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, Pride & Prejudice and Northanger Abbey.
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