Everybody's favourite singleton returns to the big screen this September in Bridget Jones's Baby. It's been 12 years since we last roared with laughter at Bridget's drink-fuelled romantic misadventures and self-help book addiction. So how much of her tangled love life can you recall? Here's a brief catch-up on the first two films before we look ahead to what's in store next.
Bridget Jones's Diary
Determined to fend off impending spinsterdom, frustrated 32-year-old Londoner Bridget (Renee Zellweger) decides to take control of her life. She starts a diary to record her progress in drinking less, smoking less, losing weight and finding a decent man. She fantasises about her flirty, caddish boss Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant). But at her parents' New Year party, she's introduced to perennially grumpy barrister Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), who's clad in a particularly hideous novelty jumper. They take an instant dislike to one another. After sleeping with dastardly love rat Daniel, Bridget learns that there's long been bad blood between the two men. When Daniel cheats on her, she finds herself drawn to kindly if gruff and uptight Mark. But Daniel doesn't give up easily, and a memorable punch-up ensues at Bridget's disastrous birthday party. She then discovers the truth about the origin of the feud between these former friends and confesses her romantic feelings to Mark. Alas, he's about to move to New York with his fiancee. But eventually, she succeeds in winning his heart. Could Bridget finally be lucky in love?
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
Bridget can't believe her good fortune. She's in love with hunky Mark and he's in love with her, despite her plumpness and big pants. Surely this mutual bliss can't last? Indeed it can't. The dreaded green-eyed monster puts in an unwelcome appearance when our neurotic heroine sets eyes upon his slim and attractive work colleague, Rebecca (Jacinda Barrett). After a series of arguments and some ill-informed advice from her trio of friends, Bridget becomes convinced that they're having an affair. She sets off for Thailand on an assignment for her TV show with sleazy bounder Daniel, who remains obsessed with her voluminous underwear. But after agreeing to carry a package for a friend on the way home, she finds herself chucked into a Thai jail as an alleged cocaine smuggler. Mark rises to the occasion and secures her release, having another punch-up with Daniel along the way. Bridget naturally hopes for a reconciliation, but finds Rebecca at Mark's house and assumes they're now in a relationship. Rebecca then confesses that she is, in fact, infatuated with Bridget. Finally, Mark proposes marriage.
And that brings us to Bridget Jones's Baby, which deviates significantly from the storyline of Helen Fielding's third novel. It turns out the Bridget's happy ever after didn't last very long at all and she now finds herself single again in her forties. Still, life's not all bad. She's got a job as producer of a new TV programme, maintains a frosty if cordial relationship with Mark, and has found love with hunky Jack Qwant (Patrick Demsey). Oh, and she's pregnant. That's great news for the father, if only she knew who he was. It's either Mark or Jack. And to string them both along, she resorts to a bit of subterfuge with the assistance of her doctor (Emma Thompson)!
It's time to make a note in your own diaries: Bridget Jones's Baby is due for release on 16th September.
