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The Other Bennet Sister (television series)

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The Other Bennet Sister is a television series, based on the novel of the same name, which is, in turn, based on Jane Austen's influential 1813 novel, Pride and Prejudice.[1][2] It was first broadcast, on the BBC, on March 18, 2026.[3] The series is ten episodes long.[4]

The original novel was by Janice Hadlow, and the scripts were written by Sarah Quintrell.[1][5] Quintrell has said that she was surprised by Austen's work, when she was young, by how strongly she identified with her characters.[6]

The Bad Wolf film production company produced the series.[1] Its previous projects included His Dark Materials.

Comparisons have been made to the very popular BBC 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice -- the one that starred Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.[1]

Televisual quotes screenwriter Quintrell[2]:

“I’m thrilled to be telling the story of Mary – the other Bennet sister – exploring what it is to come of age when you’re the odd one out. It’s a joy to be adapting Janice Hadlow’s brilliant take on such a beloved classic with the team at Bad Wolf, and to have found our home at the BBC. I grew up (an awkward, anxious teen, getting everything wrong…) watching the BBC’s wonderful Austen adaptations. It’s the stuff every writer dreams of and I can’t wait to bring this beautiful story to screen – not least, for all the Marys out there."[2]

Cast

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cast of The Other Bennet Sister[7][8]
image actor role character's age age IRL notes
Ella Bruccoleri Mary Bennet 18 35
Maddie Close Jane Bennet 22 26
Poppy Gilbert Lizzy Bennet 20 26
Molly Wright Kitty Bennet 17 29
Grace Hogg-Robinson Lydia Bennet 16 29
Indira Varma Mrs Gardiner 51
Richard Coyle Mr Gardiner 53
Richard E. Grant Mr Bennet 68
  • Played Sir Walter Elliot in a 2022 adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion
Ruth Jones Mrs Bennet 58
Tanya Reynolds Caroline Bingley 33
Anna Fenton-Garvey Charlotte Lucas 27 27
Ryan Sampson Mr. Collins 25 39
Varada Sethu Ann Baxter 33
  • A character not found in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
Aaron Gill John Sparrow
  • A character not found in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
Laurie Davidson Mr. Ryder 33
  • A character not found in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
Dónal Finn Mr. Hayward
  • A character not found in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

rough work

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[9]


References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Kimberley Bond (2024-10-10). "The Other Bennet BBC announces Pride and Prejudice spin-off". Harper's Bazaar magazine. Archived from the original on 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2025-02-02. Titled The Other Bennet Sister, the 10-part drama will focus on Mary Bennet – Lizzy’s supposedly unremarkable sister and the middle Bennet daughter that is typically overlooked.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Jon Creamer (2024-10-09). "Bad Wolf preps The Other Bennet Sister". Televisual. Retrieved 2025-02-02. The ten-part drama is written by Sarah Quintrell (The Power, Ellen) in her first drama series commission for television, and is based on the novel of the same name by Janice Hadlow.
  3. ↑ "The Other Bennet Sister is biggest launch for a new Drama since May 2025". BBC News. 2026-04-22. Retrieved 2026-04-23. Since the show launched on 15 March, the 28-day figure makes The Other Bennet Sister the biggest launch of a new drama in the UK across all platforms and streamers since May 2025, with 4.1m (56%) of the audience viewing through BBC iPlayer.
  4. ↑ Rachel King (2025-12-17). "'The Other Bennet Sister': Everything We Know About BritBox Adaptation of Janice Hadlow's Book". Town & Country magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-28. Set over 10 episodes, the show notes say the series will follow Mary “as she steps out of her sisters’ shadows in search of her own identity and purpose – finding herself in the middle of an epic love story along the way. Her journey will see her leave her family home in Meryton for the soirees of Regency London and the peaks and vales of the Lake District, all in search of independence, self-love and reinvention.”
  5. ↑ K.J. Yossman (2024-10-09). "BBC Revisits 'Pride and Prejudice' With Mary Spinoff Titled 'The Other Bennet Sister'". Variety magazine. Archived from the original on 2024-10-09. Retrieved 2025-09-09. 'I’m thrilled to be telling the story of Mary – the other Bennet sister – exploring what it is to come of age when you’re the odd one out,' said Quintrell.
  6. ↑ Shola Lee (2025-12-13). "The Other Bennet Sister cast on why we love Austen". BBC Home. Retrieved 2025-09-28. 'I came to [Jane] Austen as a kid from Croydon, in my teens, thinking that she couldn't possibly have anything to say to me,' says Sarah Quintrell, screenwriter for the upcoming BBC drama The Other Bennet Sister. However, after reading the author's works, she couldn't believe how connected she felt to Austen's characters. It was as though she "knew everybody" in the 19th century novels, she says.
  7. ↑ Kelli Boyle (2025-06-17). "What Is 'The Other Bennet Sister' About? Cast, Premiere Date and More Details About 'Pride and Prejudice'-Inspired Series". tvinsider. Archived from the original on 2025-06-19. Retrieved 2025-09-09. The Other Bennet Sister follows Mary as she steps out of her sisters’ shadows in search of her own identity and purpose – finding herself in the middle of an epic love story along the way. Her journey will see her leave her family home in Meryton for the soirees of Regency London and the peaks and vales of the Lake District, all in search of independence, self-love, and reinvention.
  8. ↑ Ellise Shafer (2025-06-17). "Ruth Jones, Richard E. Grant, Indira Varma, Richard Coyle and More Join 'The Other Bennet Sister' at BBC and BritBox". Variety magazine. Archived from the original on 2025-06-17. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  9. ↑ Alex Ritman (2025-12-11). "'The Other Bennet Sister' First Look: Richard E. Grant and Ruth Jones Play Discerning Parents in 'Pride & Prejudice' Spinoff From BBC, BritBox (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-28. Just ahead of Jane Austin’s 250th birthday on Dec, 16, the first look photos from “The Other Bennet Sister” — about the oft-overlooked middle sister in “Pride and Prejudice” — have been unveiled.
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