Hugh Grant says fourth Bridget Jones film will be 'funny but very sad'

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Bridget Jones films are full of humor and comedic scenes that attract viewers in droves.

However, in a slight deviation, Hugh Grant revealed that the fourth film in the series would also be “very sad.”

The Love Actually star, 64, has reprized the role of Daniel Cleaver for the upcoming film, adapted from Helen Fielding’s novel Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy.

In the latest installment, which will be released on Valentine’s Day next year, Bridget lives life as a single mother after the death of her husband, Mark Darcy.

Grant told The Graham Norton Show: “It’s a good, emotional script – it’s extremely funny but very sad. »

He also revealed he was “crammed in” as there was “no obvious role” for his character, who was a former love interest of Bridget.

“So we didn’t have a 60-year-old Daniel Cleaver wandering around looking at young girls, I made up a good middle story for him.”

Oscar winner Renée Zellweger reprises her role in the film, the screenplay of which was written by Fielding.

So far, the production studio has remained tight-lipped about the extent to which the new film will follow the book’s storyline.

Grant also spoke candidly about his parents’ views on his acting career, admitting that “they weren’t supportive of him at all.”

“My mother was religious and wanted me to be Archbishop of Canterbury,” he said. “In their world, show business meant nothing.

“I remember when Four Weddings and a Funeral came out, my mother went to a dinner with like-minded people and, when asked about her two sons, she said, ‘One is an investment banker and the other is a movie star.’

“Another guest said, ‘That’s very interesting, which bank?’ This is the world I grew up in.

Although he apparently didn’t impress his parents with his career choice, Grant became a household name.

After making his film acting debut in 1982 in Privileged, Grant’s credits include Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and Two Weeks Notice.

In recent years he has appeared in Paddington 2, The Gentlemen and the musical fantasy Wonka.

As well as being a Bafta Award winner, Grant is a two-time Emmy Award nominee.