"THE OTHER BENNET SISTER" FINDS ITS MARY ELLA BRUCCOLERI TO STAR IN NEW BRITBOX DRAMA BASED ON THE BEST-SELLING NOVEL BY JANICE HADLOW

· BritBox has announced that Ella Bruccoleri (Call the Midwife, Bridgerton, Paddington in Peru) will lead the cast as Mary Bennet in the ten-episode series The Other Bennet Sister (10x30'), produced by Bad Wolf (His Dark Materials, Industry) for BritBox International in a co-production with BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

· Based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Janice Hadlow, Sarah Quintrell (The Power, Ellen) will write nine of the ten half-hour episodes, with Maddie Dai (We Were Dangerous) writing one episode.

· Bruccoleri will take on the role of one of Jane Austen's most unassuming characters: Mary Bennet - the seemingly unremarkable and overlooked middle sister in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The series takes as its premise that - when it comes to the Bennet sisters - while we dream of being Lizzy, in reality most of us are more like Mary...

· The series 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.

· Ella Bruccoleri said: "As someone who has always related more to Mary than Lizzy - something that was confirmed even more by reading Janice Hadlow's brilliant novel - I feel incredibly lucky to be spending these next few months exploring her world in depth, as envisioned by these incredible women. Sarah Quintrell's scripts are packed full of beautiful idiosyncratic detail, empathy, humour and such warmth... revealing that beneath Mary's awkwardness and formality, lies a woman longing for purpose and connection."

· Jane Tranter said: "Ella Bruccoleri is the perfect choice to lead The Other Bennet Sister. Mary's journey takes her from overlooked to unforgettable, and I am positive that Ella will capture every shade of that transformation with wit, grace, and emotional depth. We are thrilled to have her at the heart of this story."

· Sarah Quintrell said: "I feel incredibly lucky to have Ella Bruccoleri on board as Mary Bennet. She brings the perfect balance of heart, sensitivity and humour to the role. I can't wait for audiences to see her take centre stage and shine!"

· Janice Hadlow said: "I'm absolutely delighted that Ella will be playing Mary Bennet. I know she'll be the Mary I've always imagined - awkward, stiff, always saying the wrong thing - but also vulnerable, lonely and desperate to find love. I'm sure she'll make audiences feel her plight as deeply as I do, and think she'll make the perfect Other Bennet Sister."

· This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen, one of English literature's most celebrated authors. Renowned for her keen social observations and unforgettable characters, Austen's legacy endures through beloved novels like Pride and Prejudice. The Other Bennet Sister, a novel by Janice Hadlow, was released in 2020, and reimagines Austen's world by focusing on Mary Bennet - honouring Austen's enduring influence while offering a fresh perspective on a classic tale.

· The Other Bennet Sister (10x30') was co-commissioned by Robert Schildhouse, Jess O'Riordan and Stephen Nye on behalf of BritBox International, and Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. Kate Crowther, Becca Kinder and Jane Tranter executive produce for Bad Wolf, Rebecca Ferguson for the BBC, with Sarah Quintrell and Janice Hadlow also serving as executive producers. The series has been developed and overseen by Bad Wolf's Director of Content, Dan McCulloch and Chief Creative Officer, Ryan Rasmussen.

· The series will stream on BritBox in North America and on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK.

· Bad Wolf is supported by the Welsh Government via Creative Wales. Sony Pictures Television will distribute The Other Bennet Sister internationally.

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ABOUT BRITBOX

BritBox is the leading streaming destination for the best of British television, offering an unmatched collection of expertly curated entertainment. From critically acclaimed dramas and mysteries to comedies, documentaries, and lifestyle programming, BritBox invites audiences to step out of their everyday and into a world of exceptional British storytelling. Launched in 2017 and now owned by BBC Studios, BritBox is available in the US, Canada, Australia, and the Nordics. For more, visit britbox.com, or find the BritBox app on most mobile and connected TV devices.

About Bad Wolf

Since launching in 2015, independent production company Bad Wolf has produced an ambitious slate of award-winning high-end dramas from its base in Cardiff, Wales. This includes three seasons of acclaimed finance drama Industry for HBO/BBC; three seasons of His Dark Materials for BBC/HBO; three seasons of A Discovery of Witches for Sky / AMC; two seasons of I Hate Suzie for Sky /HBO Max and ITV's hit thriller Red Eye. Between 2023 and 2024 Bad Wolf produced the 60th Anniversary and Christmas specials of Doctor Who and two full seasons with Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor - with BBC Studios for the BBC and Disney Branded Television. Recent productions include Dope Girls for the BBC / Sony. Future projects include a fourth season of Industry for HBO, a second season of Red Eye for ITV and new dramas The Other Bennet Sister for BBC and The War Between the Land and the Sea for BBC and Disney Branded Television. Sony International Television acquired a majority stake in the company in 2021.