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First look at The Other Bennet Sister Christmas special revealed

Danielle HerbertBBC Wales
News imageBBC/Bad Wolf/James Pardon Mary Bennet played by Ella Bruccoleri is photographed alongside Tom Hayward, played by Donal Finn. The fictional couple are sat on a picnic blanket holding hands, staring into each other's eyes. A wicker picnic basket can be seen in the bottom left of the image. Behind them is a large tree.BBC/Bad Wolf/James Pardon
The series finale saw Mary Bennet, played by Ella Bruccoleri, agree to marry Tom Hayward, played by Donal Finn

The first image from The Other Bennet Sister Christmas special has been revealed, teasing a romantic picnic scene.

Inspired by Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the first series was filmed largely in Wales and attracted 7.3 million UK viewers in its first four weeks.

The series finale saw Mary Bennet, played by Ella Bruccoleri, agree to marry Tom Hayward, played by Donal Finn.

Filming wrapped on the BBC three-part Christmas special at the end of October, as fans eagerly await its return.

The first series focused on Mary, the couple's seemingly unremarkable middle daughter as she navigates the societal pressures of Regency England.

It was primarily filmed in south Wales, at locations including Merthyr Mawr in Bridgend county, the Gower peninsula, and Brecon, in Powys.

The Christmas special has been produced by Cardiff-based Bad Wolf, and filming took place over the summer, primarily in Wales.

Gavin & Stacey's Ruth Jones will return to the hit show as Mrs Bennet, who she previously described as "often quite cruel" to her daughter Mary.

Other returning cast members include Ted Lasso's Tanya Reynolds as Caroline Bingley and Laurie Davidson as Mr Ryder.

Also resuming their roles are Varada Sethu as Ann Baxter, Poppy Gilbert as Lizzie Darcy, Maddie Close as Jane Bingley, Grace Hogg-Robinson as Lydia Wickham, Molly Wright as Kitty Buncock and Anna Fenton-Garvey as Charlotte Collins.

Nerys Amber-Stocks, best known for appearing in Out There and Mammoth, joins the cast as Mary's housemaid Lucy.

The show's producer Edoardo Ferretti announced to fans on social media that the special had finished filming at the end of October.

He posted a short but sweet message on Instagram, saying: "And yet another wrap! Every time emotional, every time proud. This one is going to be so special!"

News imageBBC/Bad Wolf/James Pardon The family, except Mary, stand on steps outside in a garden. Mary stands closer to the camera, in a beige dress with a mesh high neck.BBC/Bad Wolf/James Pardon
The first series was filmed largely in Wales and attracted 7.3 million UK viewers in its first four weeks

Little has been shared about the plot of the upcoming Christmas special, however, the BBC has teased: "With marriage comes a new identity and the question remains: who will Mary become as Mrs Hayward?"

The three additional episodes, announced in June, will run for 30 minutes each and continue to be based on storylines from the original novel by Janice Hadlow.

It has been written by screenwriter Sarah Quintrell, with Asim Abbasi returning to direct the special.

It will air in the UK on BBC iPlayer and BBC One, while in the US and Canada, it will also be available on BritBox.

Sony Pictures Television will distribute The Other Bennet Sister internationally.

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