Bridget Jones star speaks out after major character axed from new film

Everyone Else Burns star Kate O'Flynn has revealed that she won't be returning as Hard News boss Alice Peabody in the new Bridget Jones sequel, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Bridget Jones is set to grace our screens once more in the fourth instalment of the beloved romcom series. However, a key character from the previous film will be noticeably absent. In Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Renee Zellweger returns as Bridget, now navigating life as a single mum of two in her fifties. Kate O'Flynn, who was introduced as Bridget's new Hard News boss Alice Peabody in the 2016 film Bridget Jones's Baby, has confirmed she won't be reprising her role in the upcoming film. "I'm not [back for the new film]," she reveals. "I'm guessing Alice Peabody moved up the ranks as a TV producer. She does not feature I'm afraid."

Instead, Kate will return to the Channel 4 sitcom Everyone Else Burns, which is gearing up for its second series. The show follows the Lewis family as they navigate life within their strict religious order based in Manchester. The first series saw devout cult member David (Simon Bird) driving his family to distraction with end-of-the-world drills and his attempts to become an Elder within their local chapter, while his wife Fiona played by Kate O'Flynn launched her own business.

Two years have passed since the cast filmed the first series, but Simon found it easy to slip back into the comedic world of the show. "Once the bowl cut goes on, I'm straight back in character," he chuckles. "By series two, David realises that he's not going to become an Elder and that his kids don't respect him. I'm not going to say that his wife doesn't have any feelings for him but his obsession with her is not entirely reciprocated. He's definitely in a different position than he was in series one."

On the other hand, Fiona isn't too pleased either. Kate discloses, "There's a lot of unease simmering below the surface and a lot of questions that she has to confront. It was a fun challenge to plot that through." Enter Maude - a single member of the sect who takes a liking to David, portrayed by Fleabag's Sian Clifford. "The love triangle between David, Fiona and Maude is particularly spicy," Kate reveals. "David has a taste for Maude's leather gloves."

Simon chimes in, "She's the devil tempting Jesus in the desert. Sian is such an incredible comedian so those scenes are just a total joy. The reality for David and Fiona is that they were brought together, if not by an arranged marriage, then something pretty similar. They were heavily chaperoned and didn't know each other very well when they got married so you see Fiona questioning the very foundation of their relationship in this series."

Maude tries to entice David with her homemade shepherd's pie and he wasn't the only one who drooled over it. "The shepherd's pie was genuinely delicious," Simon expresses. "I took it home in some Tupperware at the end of the day."

With Morgana Robinson gracing the screen again as the Lewis' quirky neighbour Melissa, and Al Roberts making a comeback as the hopelessly funny Elder Abijah, the set of 'Everyone Else Burns' was ripe with laughter. "Al Roberts just walking in with the mullet and the jeans is enough he's hysterical," shares Kate, while Simon added, "In this show, you're surrounded by amazing comic actors Liam Williams, Kadiff Kirwan, Paddy Young. It really feels like what did Gordon Brown call it? A Cabinet of All the Talents."

Despite 'Everyone Else Burns' delving into intense themes in the second season, like Rachel (Amy James-Kelly), the couple's teen daughter being pressured into marriage, or the looming threat of banishment for some of The Order's members, Simon and Kate confessed they went in blind without researching sects before embodying their characters. "I certainly did zero," admits Simon. "It felt like it didn't really matter the show is almost a sleight of hand. It's set in this colourful, rich, very specific world but actually, the concerns of the characters are really relatable and universal. That's why it works."

Kate remarks, "It's more of a lens to shine a light on those themes and the stakes are really high because of the world it's set in, but it's very relatable what they go through." Off-screen, when Kate wasn't busy with her on-screen children Rachel and Aaron (played by Harry Connor), she was looking after her own little one, Judy, who accompanied her on set. "There was a lot of cooing over Judy," shares Simon, while Kate chimes in, "There were a lot of people saying hi to Judy and bye to Judy. It was sickeningly wholesome."

Simon also reveals his competitive streak with co-star Harry. "Harry, who plays Aaron, is quite into game shows so we watched quite a lot of The Chase," he discloses. "There was a lot of chess being played. I can't say who was the best. We're going to make enemies."

Pondering life within a sect, Simon expresses a cheeky interest. "I quite like to know where I stand. I like things to be well organised so maybe it's the life for me," he jests. "No social media would be a coup, but I would miss wine." Kate ponders, "I don't know how I'd respond to black-and-white rules. I like living in the grey. Although no technology would actually be revelatory!"

Everyone Else Burns returns Thursday 17 October at 10pm on Channel 4