BritBox Unveils First Look at 'The Other Bennet Sister' Christmas Special

Key points

• BritBox revealed the first look at the three-part 'The Other Bennet Sister' Christmas special, which recently wrapped production in Wales.
• Ella Bruccoleri and Dónal Finn return as Mary Bennet and Tom Hayward, exploring the dynamics of their new marriage.
• The original 10-episode series was a major success, driving five times more new subscribers than any previous BritBox launch and achieving the service's highest-ever week of signups.
• Nearly 47% of BritBox's active subscribers in North America watched the series within its first 90 days, contributing to the platform's strongest quarter of subscriber growth in its history.
• The special will air exclusively on BritBox in the US and Canada, and on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK, with no specific release date announced yet.
• Sarah Quintrell wrote all three episodes of the special based on new storylines by author Janice Hadlow, and Asim Abbasi returned to direct.

Background

The series is based on Janice Hadlow's novel of the same name and focuses on Mary Bennet, the often-overlooked middle sister in Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice.' The show was produced by Bad Wolf for the BBC and BritBox North America. In its first 90 days on BritBox, the series achieved record-breaking performance, driving five times more new subscribers than any previous launch and achieving the highest streaming rate of any title launch on the service. Nearly half (47%) of BritBox's active subscribers in North America watched the series, helping drive the strongest quarter of subscriber growth in BritBox history and the service's highest-ever week of signups.

How outlets are covering it

All four outlets (Deadline, Variety, IndieWire, and TVLine) confirm the release of the first look for the Christmas special and the return of the main cast. Deadline and Variety emphasize the show's record-breaking performance on BritBox, with Deadline noting it drove five times more new subscribers than any previous launch and Variety highlighting that over 40% of subscribers watched the series. IndieWire focuses on the return of Dónal Finn and the confirmation of the cast, while TVLine provides a detailed description of the first image, noting the serious conversation between Mary and Tom during a picnic. All outlets agree that the special will air exclusively on BritBox in the US and Canada, and on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK, with no specific release date announced yet.

Why it matters

The success of 'The Other Bennet Sister' demonstrates the potential for period dramas to drive significant subscriber growth for streaming platforms. The show's record-breaking performance on BritBox highlights the demand for high-quality, character-driven content in the Regency era. The Christmas special, with its focus on the challenges of married life, offers a new angle on the story and could further boost the platform's subscriber base. The show's success also underscores the importance of strong casting and production values in attracting and retaining viewers.

What to watch

The next step is to await the official release date for the Christmas special, which is expected to air in time for the holiday season. The special will be available exclusively on BritBox in the US and Canada, and on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK. Fans can expect to see the return of the main cast, including Ella Bruccoleri, Dónal Finn, and Laurie Davidson, as well as new cast members such as Nerys Amber Stocks. The special will explore the challenges of married life and the question of who Mary will become as Mrs. Hayward.