“BETTER THAN OUTLANDER?!” — this ‘charming’ BBC period drama is already a near-perfect hit

The ‘charming’ 2026 BBC period drama with an incredible 97% Rotten Tomatoes score

The series shines a light on an otherwise overlooked character that was first introduced to us in one of Jane Austen’s novels

This hit period drama has confirmed it will return for a Christmas special (Image: BBC)

The BBC’s most recent period drama has impressed fans and critics alike – and it is streaming on iPlayer now.

The Other Bennet Sister is a British period drama television series. First airing on BBC One, it is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Janice Hadlow, a continuation of Pride and Prejudice, the 1813 novel written by Jane Austen. It follows Ella Bruccoleri as Mary Bennet. The series premiered on 15 March 2026.

The IMDb series synopsis reads: “Mary leaves her sisters’ shadows to find herself, embarking on a journey from Meryton to London and the Lake District. Her quest for independence leads to an unexpected love story in Regency-era England.”

Ella Bruccoleri stars as Mary Bennet (Image: BBC)

The period drama has received an impressive 97% rating from both the critics and the audience. The critics’ consensus states: “Cosy, charming, and full of heart, The Other Bennet Sister gives Mary her moment to shine, thanks to Ella Bruccoleri’s delightful performance and a fresh take on Jane Austen’s familiar world.”

One critic said: “Its fresh approach to classic material only enhances Austen’s enduring genius, while offering audiences an inspiring new heroine to aspire to be.”Another wrote: “The Other Bennet Sister is the show you’ve been waiting for but didn’t know you needed, the perfect offering for these dark times, and a prime example of how timeless and irresistible the period romance subgenre can be when it’s actually done right.”

The Other Bennet Sister is available to stream now on iPlayer (Image: BBC)

A fan on IMDb described watching the series as “the best decision of the year”, adding: “I loved this show so much, I watched it in just two days because it was impossible to stop, everything was beautiful since the beginning until the end, it was very funny the dynamic between Mary, Tom and Ryder, so I think chapter 8 was possibly my favourite. Watching Young Sherlock and this show has been the best decision of the year so far, because now I discovered Dónal Finn and I’m of course planning to watch all his projects from now on.”

Another said: “This show is a masterpiece. Can’t begin to tell you how heart-wrenching and uplifting this is for me. All of it – the writing, wardrobe, locations. It’s truly outstanding.”

The Other Bennet Sister is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer and will return for a Christmas special later this year.

CRE: https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/2221553/charming-2026-bbc-period-drama