Mark Darcy is dead, and Bridget Jones fans are losing it. “Nobody asked for this, give me Colin Firth back,” reads a popular post on X. “Bridget Jones without Mark Darcy, what’s the point?” says another.

The mourning for the long-time love interest comes in response to the recently released trailer for Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. This first look at the upcoming film opens with an apparition of the 64-year-old actor overlaid with a callback to his iconic declaration of love from the first film – “I like you … just as you are” – before revealing Jones is now a widow.

The reveal was confirmed earlier this year, and first broken to fans in Helen Fielding’s 2013 novel of the same name, but it’s hitting people hard nonetheless.

And, look, I can understand why. This screen romance has been with us for 23 years – and the love for “Mr Darcy” has endured even longer, thanks to Firth’s turn as the hero of the 1995 Pride & Prejudice miniseries, which inspired his Bridget Jones character. The last film, Bridget Jones’ Baby (2016), literally ended with their wedding – a happily-ever-after for a character who is perpetually down on her luck.

But … I’m glad he’s dead. Ecstatic.

I’m thrilled as a moviegoer, who will no longer have to feign interest in this large, emotionally constipated plank of wood. I’m thrilled as a fan of Hugh Grant, who’s reprising his role as playboy Daniel Cleaver (and has been lovingly tending to his long-time feud with Firth off-screen). And I’m thrilled for Bridget Jones’ story.

The truth is that, for all the awkward pining and furrowed English brows, they were simply never actually happy together.