The new period drama is a reimagining of the world of Pride and Prejudice from the perspective of Mary Bennet
BBC viewers were thrilled to see a star from 1995 hit Pride and Prejudice in new period drama The Other Bennet Sister.
The series – which reimagines the world of Pride and Prejudice from the perspective of frequently overlooked middle daughter Mary Bennet – stars Call The Midwife‘s Ella Bruccoleri in the titular part. However, as the programme began, viewers realised that Mary’s ally Mrs Hill was portrayed by Lucy Briers, who played Mary in the 1995 BBC version of Jane Austen’s novel.
Several viewers shared comments on social media praising the “brilliant” casting choice, with one admitting it moved them to tears, reports the Mirror.
“Is Hill the original Mary? Please say she is – champagne casting!” one person posted on X when the series launched on Sunday (March 15).
“Ella Bruccoleri is fantastic as Mary and I love the link to the BBC adaptation of P&P with Lucy Briers as Mrs Hill (OG Mary),” another wrote on the platform, previously known as Twitter.
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“Ah wow, Hill is played by Lucy Briers, who played Mary in THE Pride and Prejudice,” remarked a third, whilst someone else observed: “What a lovely Easter egg.”
“Loving that Lucy Briers is the maid,” wrote one fan, as another commented: “I love that the original 1995 Mary is the lovely Hill in this show. Chapeau on the casting.”
“Welling up here,” confessed another viewer.
“Brilliant casting Lucy Briers (the original Mary) as Hill, the long suffering servant,” said a further viewer.
The Other Bennet Sister draws from Janice Hadlow’s novel and spans 10 episodes.
A synopsis reads: “Her journey sees her leave her family home for the soirées of Regency London and the peaks and vales of the Lake District, all in search of independence, self-love, and reinvention.”
“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,” it continues.
The supporting cast features Richard E Grant and Ruth Jones portraying Mr and Mrs Bennet, alongside Indira Varma and Richard Coyle as Mr and Mrs Gardiner. Laurie Davidson and Dónal Finn appear as Mary’s prospective romantic interests, Mr Ryder and Mr Hayward.
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The Other Bennet Sister airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.