BritBox commissions 10-part Austen drama after record-breaking launch

BritBox has ordered a new ten-part drama titled The Other Elliot Sister to launch its Austen Untold anthology franchise. The commission follows the critical and commercial success of The Other Bennet Sister, a co-production with the BBC that became the largest new drama launch for the British broadcaster in a year. The new series will adapt Jane Austen’s Persuasion from the perspective of Elizabeth Elliot, a character who remains largely in the background of the original novel.

The production marks a major expansion for the BBC Studios-owned platform. Jon Farrar, chief content officer for direct-to-consumer at BBC Studios, stated that the franchise invests in reimaginings centered on overlooked figures. The goal is to place characters who were previously confined to the margins at the heart of their own narratives. This approach mirrors the strategy used in The Other Bennet Sister, which shifted the focus from Elizabeth Bennet to her sister Mary.

Sarah Quintrell, the writer for The Other Bennet Sister, is adapting the new series from Janice Hadlow’s forthcoming novel of the same name. Production for The Other Elliot Sister is scheduled to begin in 2027. The show will be produced by Bad Wolf for BritBox North America and the BBC. Executive producers include Quintrell, Hadlow, and Kate Crowther, along with Rebecca Ferguson for the BBC and Robert Schildhouse for BritBox.

The financial performance of the previous series drove this decision. When The Other Bennet Sister debuted on BritBox in May, it generated five times the number of new subscribers as any prior launch on the platform. Fifty percent of active BritBox subscribers have now viewed the show. Due to this demand, the platform is also returning with a three-part Christmas special in December.

Jane Tranter, CEO of Bad Wolf, described Elizabeth Elliot as an intriguing figure on the edges of Persuasion. She noted that audiences are left to wonder what happens beneath the surface for such a character. Tranter said the company is delighted to return to the Austen world with the BBC and BritBox to bring another overlooked character to the center of a story.

Robert Schildhouse, CEO of direct-to-consumer at BBC Studios, previously described The Other Bennet Sister as the biggest project the company has ever undertaken. He noted that reviews from critics and audiences have exceeded expectations. The series starred Ella Bruccoleri alongside Ruth Jones, Richard E. Grant, Dónal Finn, and Laurie Davidson.

The new series will air exclusively in the United States and Canada on BritBox. In the United Kingdom, it will stream exclusively on BBC iPlayer and broadcast on BBC One. Sony Pictures Television will handle international distribution for The Other Elliot Sister.