The BBC's "brilliant" period drama The Other Bennet Sister has proved to be a huge hit since its debut last month. The show focuses on Mary Bennet from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, looking at events from her perspective before setting off on her own journey of self-discovery.
The BBC has now confirmed that the show's first episode on 15 March attracted a consolidated audience of 7.3 million over 28 days, adding that it "captured the hearts" of viewers.
This makes the series the biggest launch for a new drama in the UK since May last year across all platforms and streamers, while 56% of the audience – 4.1 million viewers – watched it through BBC iPlayer.
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"We’re delighted that The Other Bennet Sister has been taken into the nation’s hearts," said director of BBC Drama Lindsay Salt.
"It seems Mary, brought beautifully to life by Ella Brucoleri, may have been overlooked by her own family, but she has been embraced with open arms by the audience. How glorious is that!"
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Producer Bad Wolf's CEO Jane Tranter added: "Bringing such a significant new audience to the world of Jane Austen on the BBC has been, from start to finish, a joy.
"Janice Haddow’s brilliant original story was loved into life by Sarah Quintrell, Jennifer Sheridan and Asim Abbasi and of course our brilliant cast led by the incomparable Ella Bruccoleri.
"Mary Bennet may have begun this journey as a wallflower, but she is now, quite rightfully, on everyone's dance card. Hugest thanks to the BBC for giving us the chance to make this piece, and to the whole Bad Wolf crew in Cardiff for their talent, commitment, and support."
Alongside Brucoleri as the titular character, The Other Bennet Sister features a star-studded cast including Gavin & Stacey's Ruth Jones, Saltburn's Richard E Grant, Sex Education's Tanya Reynolds and Game of Thrones' Indira Varma.
The Other Bennet Sister is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
