TV NEWS: 1ST IMAGE FROM CHANNEL 5 MYSTERY DRAMA LAST RESORT WITH JASON WATKINS, PLUS BBC SERIES THE OTHER BENNET SISTER TO RETURN WITH CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, LEANNE SEASON 2 ARRIVES AUGUST

   TV NEWS HEADLINES   

FIRST IMAGE FROM LAST RESORT

Channel 5 has released first image from their new mystery series LAST RESORT which follows retired librarian Gail (Caroline Quentin) as she takes her sister, Joy (Niamh Cusack), to an idyllic holiday town in what is supposed to be a fun-filled bucket list trip. Sadly, Joy is suffering from the early stages of dementia, so the sisters are keen to get the most out of every moment they have left together, inviting longtime friends Dee (Tessa Peake-Jones) and Charlie (Jason Watkins) along for the ride. However, these best-laid plans quickly go awry when tragedy strikes the local community, with police being quick to declare an unfortunate accident – but the group are convinced it is murder and set out to prove it. As old crimes surface and dark patterns emerge, the group of friends finds that this seemingly idyllic resort town – with its beach walks, pub lunches, and good-natured bickering – hides something far more sinister. Together they must piece together one devastating mystery and track down a killer who has been hunting in this close-knit coastal community and beyond! John Hannah plays a cop. 

 

THE OTHER BENNET SISTER XMAS SPECIAL

BBC is, meanwhile, wishing you a Mary Christmas! Their popular costume drama THE OTHER BENNET SISTER is returning for a three-part special this Christmas. Ella Bruccoleri returns as Mary, with a host of other familiar faces from the series. The series offers a fresh take on one of Jane Austen’s most unassuming characters: Mary Bennet. Forced to step out of her sisters' shadows, Mary embarks on a journey of self-discovery – finding love, and most importantly herself, along the way. BritBox is airing it in USA. 

 

 

LEANNE SEASON TWO ARRIVES AUGUST 

Netflix has announced the return of their multicamera sitcom LEANNE for August 27th with Leanne Morgan returning as Leanne whose world is turned upside down when her husband of 33 years unexpectedly leaves her for another woman. Supported by her family, including her ride-or-die sister Carol (Kristen Johnston), Leanne learns to embrace the chaos and finds strength, laughter and hope in the most unexpected places. Lainey Wilson, Jaime Pressley and Billy Gardel are guest stars in the new season.

AIR DATE AND TRAILER FOR BBC AND BRITBOX SERIES THE OTHER BENNET SISTER WITH LAURIE DAVIDSON, RICHARD E. GRANT, RICHARD COYLE, INDIRA VARMA, DONAL FINN

 THE OTHER BENNET SISTER 

TV SERIES RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCED

BBC has released the first trailer for new ten part period drama THE OTHER BENNET SISTER based on Janice Hadlow’s novel. In the UK the series will air two episodes a week each Sunday from 15th of March while BritBox will premiere the series exclusively in the US and Canada a bit later on to be precise - on the 6th of May. 

THIS NEW COSTUME TV SERIES

reimagines the world of Pride and Prejudice through the eyes of Mary Bennet - the oft-overlooked middle sister - bringing a fresh perspective to Jane Austen’s iconic story as Mary steps out of the shadows and into her own life. Starring Ella Bruccoleri as Mary Bennet, the series begins at Longbourn, where the Bennet family’s five unmarried daughters navigate the rigid expectations of Regency society. 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. We follow 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. Iconic settings from Pride and Prejudice include the Meryton Assembly Ball and the Netherfield Ball, where fortunes and futures are decided under glittering chandeliers. Richard E. Grant and Ruth Jones play her parents, with Indira Varma and Richard Coyle set as Mr and Mrs Gardiner, Mary’s worldly aunt and uncle. The Gardiners take Mary under their  wing as governess to their three children, Marianne (Roisin Bhalla), George (Reggie Absolom), and Rebecca (Jasmine Sharp), introducing her to a  new social world that includes Mr Hayward (Donal Finn), Mr Ryder (Laurie Davidson), and Ann Baxter (Varada Sethu). See the new trailer below:

 

SEE NEW IMAGES FROM JANE AUSTEN INSPIRED THE OTHER BENNET SISTER PERIOD SET SERIES FROM BBC AND BRITBOX

  THE OTHER BENNET SISTER  

NEW IMAGES FROM BBC AND BRITBOX SERIES

After the first images released back in December last year, BBC and BritBox have released some new images for their THE OTHER BENNET SISTER which tells the story of Mary Bennet, played by Ella Bruccoleri, the seemingly unremarkable and overlooked middle sister in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Richard E. Grant and Ruth Jonesplay her parents, with Indira Varma and Richard Coyle set as Mr and Mrs Gardiner, Mary’s worldly aunt and uncle. The Gardiners take Mary under their wing as governess to their three children, Marianne (Roisin Bhalla), George (Reggie Absolom), and Rebecca (Jasmine Sharp), introducing her to a new social world that includes Mr Hayward (Donal Finn), Mr Ryder (Laurie Davidson), and Ann Baxter (Varada Sethu). It will have ten half hour episodes and will air sometime in March this year on BBC One in United Kingdom and on BritBox over in Northern America. You can also check out the early teaser trailer that was released a month ago.

 

ALL THE BRAND NEW BRITISH TV SERIES TO EXPECT IN 2026 WITH KEELEY HAWES, BRENDA BLETHYN, RAFE SPALL, DAVID MORRISSEY, LUKE EVANS, TOM CULLEN, MICHELLE KEEGAN, MATTHEW MACFADYEN AND OTHERS

 NEW 2026 BRITISH SHOWS 

2026 NEW TV SHOWS FROM CHANNEL 4

When it comes to Channel 4 their tentpole series will probably be the remake of A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE which follows Brenda Blethyn as poor lass who rises to become one of the riches women in the world. They will also have Rafe Spall playing prime minister next to Jenna Coleman in NUMBER 10. They will also see David Morrissey and Alan Cumming playing neighbours in war in TIP TOE. Paapa Essiedu will star in FALLING series with our dearest British thespian Keeley Hawes as a Catholic priest and a nun who fall unexpectedly in love.

 

 2026 BRAND NEW TV SHOWS FROM BBC

One of the new shows to expect from BBC this year is BABIES which follows Paapa Essiedu and Siobhán Cullen as a couple who deals with pregnancy losses over the years. Richard Gadd and Jamie Bell will play brothers with turbulent relationship in HALF MAN. Sheridan Smith and Michael Socha will be two casino workers trying to rob from the same safe in THE CAGE, while LORD OF THE FLIES series will follow a group of school children stranded on a tropical island with no adults after a plane crash. We might also get A TALE OF TWO CITIES French revolution period set series based on Charles Dickens novel with Kit Harrington and Francois Civil in the leads. Costume drama might also arrive with THE OTHER BENNET sister based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice character. THE HAIRDRESSER MYSTERIES will follow a hairdresser turned detective in a cosy little village. TWO WEEKS IN AUGUST will see Jessica Raine as a woman on holiday with friends and family in the Mediterranean who finds herself trapped.  

 

2026 BRAND NEW TV SHOWS FROM ITV

ITV will soon have Shaun Evans playing an MI5 operative with a problematic private life in BETRAYAL while Natalie Dormer is set to play Duchess Fergie in THE LADY about her murderous dresser. Gemma Arterton will play senior MI6 officer spying on Russia in SECRET SERVICE while Luke Evans and Tom Cullen will lead THE PARTY playing two friends from school who grow up to become a political figure anda journalist. Michelle Keegan and Douglas Booth will lead THE BLAME following detectives investigating a teenage figure skater's suspicious death.

 2026 BRAND NEW TV SHOWS FROM SKY 

Sky has one of the most interesting ones in THE MINIATURE WIFE in which Matthew MacFadyen plays a husband scientist who shrinks his wife Elizabeth Banks accidentally to six inches. Dominic West and Sienna Miller will, meanwhile, play a high power couple leading a divorce battle in WAR. This month they also have UNDER SALT MARSH crime series with Rafe Spall and Kelly Reilly. They will also have Gugu Mbatha Raw and Jonny Lee MIller in INHERITANCE about a lawyer who investigates an inheritance claim in Jamaica.

 

FIRST IMAGES FROM JANE AUSTEN INSPIRED THE OTHER BENNET SISTER PERIOD SET SERIES FROM BBC AND BRITBOX

  THE OTHER BENNET SISTER  

FIRST IMAGES FROM BBC AND BRITBOX SERIES

BBC and BritBox have released first images for their THE OTHER BENNET SISTER which tells the story of Mary Bennet, played by Ella Bruccoleri, the seemingly unremarkable and overlooked middle sister in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Richard E. Grant and Ruth Jonesplay her parents, with Indira Varma and Richard Coyle set as Mr and Mrs Gardiner, Mary’s worldly aunt and uncle. The Gardiners take Mary under their wing as governess to their three children, Marianne (Roisin Bhalla), George (Reggie Absolom), and Rebecca (Jasmine Sharp), introducing her to a new social world that includes Mr Hayward (Donal Finn), Mr Ryder (Laurie Davidson), and Ann Baxter (Varada Sethu). It will have ten half hour episodes.

THE OTHER BENNET SISTER COSTUME DRAMA ADS LAURIE DAVIDSON, RICHARD E. GRANT, RICHARD COYLE, INDIRA VARMA, DONAL FINN AND OTHERS

  THE OTHER BENNET SISTER  

LAURIE DAVIDSON JOINS THE CAST

After hiring Ella Bruccoleri as the lead, BBC and BritBox continue casting for their THE OTHER BENNET SISTER which tells the story of Mary Bennet, the seemingly unremarkable and overlooked middle sister in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Richard E. Grant and Ruth Jones will play her parents, with Indira Varma and Richard Coyle set as Mr and 

Richard Coyle, Laurie Davidson, Donal Finn have join the cast

Mrs Gardiner, Mary’s worldly aunt and uncle. The Gardiners take Mary under their wing as governess to their three children, Marianne (Roisin Bhalla), George (Reggie Absolom), and Rebecca (Jasmine Sharp), introducing her to a new social world that includes Mr Hayward (Donal Finn), Mr Ryder (Laurie Davidson), and Ann Baxter (Varada Sethu).

BBC REVEALS THE LEAD FOR THEIR REGENCY ERA SET COSTUME DRAMA THE OTHER BENNET SISTER

 THE OTHER BENNET SISTER 

ELLA BRUCCOLERI TAKES THE LEAD ROLE

BBC One has announced last year that they will produce THE OTHER BENNET SISTER period set series and now we have news that Ella Bruccoleri will take the lead role. Ten half hour episodes will follow 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 women dream of being Lizzy, in reality most of them 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. It will also stream on BritBox.

BBC TO PRODUCE THE OTHER BENNET SISTER INTO A TEN PART REGENCY ERA SET SERIES INSPIRED BY JANE AUSTEN'S PRIDE AND PREJUDICE CHARACTER

 THE OTHER BENNET SISTER 

NEW PERIOD SET SERIES FROM BBC

BBC has announced work on ten part-series THE OTHER BENNET SISTER a fresh spin around the ballroom for one of Jane Austen’s most unassuming characters: Mary Bennet. Based on the hit novel by Janice Hadlow, it will focus on the

The series will have ten half hour episodes

seemingly unremarkable and overlooked middle sister in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The half hour series will be written by Sarah Quintrell.

  THE SERIES 

takes as its premise that, when it comes to the Bennet sisters, while women dream of being Lizzy, in reality most of them are more like Mary. Unlike her sisters, Mary isn’t your typical period drama heroine. She is awkward, anxious, preachy, full of facts, a terrible singer… overlooked by her mother and seemingly destined to an empty dance card for the rest of her life… until Mary takes matters into her own hands. The series gives Mary Bennet the epic love story nobody predicted for her, taking her from her family home in Meryton to the soirees of Regency London and the peaks and vales of the Lake District - all in search of independence, romance and, most elusive of all, self-love and acceptance.