‘The Other Bennet Sister’ Is BBC’s Biggest U.K. Drama Launch in a Year

While audiences in the U.S. keenly wait on The Other Bennet Sister‘s BritBox release, the BBC can boast some fantastic viewership numbers.

The first episode of the BBC-BritBox adaptation of Janice Hadlow’s bestseller has captured the hearts of BBC viewers with a consolidated audience of 7.3 million people.

Since the show launched on March 15, the 28-day figure makes The Other Bennet Sister the biggest launch of a new drama in the U.K. across all platforms and streamers since May last year, with 4.1 million (56 percent) of the audience viewing through BBC iPlayer.

Playing the oft-overlooked middle sister in Pride and Prejudice, Mary Bennet, titular star Ella Bruccoleri caught up with The Hollywood Reporter about fan reaction only last month. “It’s a story about the transformative power of kindness, really,” she said in the sitdown interview. “It’s about realizing that you’re worth more than just your appearance. And it’s about found family. I think it’s quite an affirming watch.” The show is set to drop on BritBox May 6.

Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, said the Beeb is “delighted” the series has been taken into the nation’s hearts. “It seems Mary, brought beautifully to life by Ella Brucolleri, may have been overlooked by her own family, but she has been embraced with open arms by the audience. How glorious is that!”

Jane Tranter, CEO of production company Bad Wolf, 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.”