The Other Bennet Sister wraps filming Christmas special

BBC/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
Ruth Jones, who plays the "iconic" Mrs Bennet, has spoken of her love of coming back to Wales to film the show

Filming has wrapped for a three-part Christmas special of hit BBC TV show The Other Bennet Sister, as fans eagerly await its return.

Inspired by Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the first series - filmed largely in Wales - attracted 7.3 million UK viewers in its first four weeks, while also having huge success in the US and Canada and on social media.

Welsh actress and creator of Gavin and Stacey, Ruth Jones, portrays the "iconic" Mrs Bennet, with Richard E. Grant playing her husband, Mr Bennet.

On Monday, the show's TV producer Edoardo Ferretti told fans on social media that the special had finished filming.

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!"

The Other Bennet Sister is based on Janice Hadlow's novel of the same name.

The 10-episode series focuses on Mary Bennet, the couple's seemingly unremarkable middle daughter as she navigates the societal pressures of Regency England.

BBC/Bad Wolf/James Pardon The two bennet sisters on the left and right wear colourful period costumes of dresses and cropped cardigan ( L-R- pink, blue, purple, green). Mary, in the middle, wears a more basic white dress, a brown cropped cardigan and a beige head scarf.BBC/Bad Wolf/James Pardon
Mary Bennet (centre) is portrayed by Ella Bruccoleri, whose acting credits include Call the Midwife and Bridgerton

It was announced in June that there would be three, 30-minute Christmas specials, following the immense success of the show.

Many fans commented on Ferretti's post, saying they are "so excited" and "can't wait to see Mr and Mrs Hayward on screen".

Russell T. Davies, the Swansea-born writer behind shows including Doctor Who and Channel 4's It's a Sin, also said online that he "can't wait".

Another commented: "This is such a sweet series. It's like a warm cosy blanket on a snowy winter day."

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

Ruth Jones previously said the series was "one of the happiest jobs" she had ever done and "I love coming back to Wales".

The first series was primarily filmed in south Wales, such as in Merthyr Mawr in Bridgend, the Gower peninsula, near Swansea and Brecon, in Powys, mid Wales.

The final episode of the first series saw Mary (Ella Bruccoleri) agreeing to wed Tom Hayward (Donal Finn).

The Christmas special is due to explore "what happens after the wedding bells fade and real life begins", executive producer Jane Tranter said.

Tranter said the audience response to the series had "exceeded even our most optimistic expectations".

"These Christmas specials give us the chance to spend a little more time with characters audiences have taken to their hearts," she said.

As well as being hugely successful in the UK, the first series also attracted a wider audience via BritBox North America, and notched up 250 million media views across BBC accounts on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

The specials are expected to premiere during the festive period on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

In the US and Canada, it will be available on BritBox.