To celebrate the beginning of filming for the long-awaited third Bridge Jones' Diary film this autumn, Stylist looks back on what the stars have been up to since our ultimate female heroine said goodbye to the single life.

Here's a date for your diaries – 2 October. That’s the day Bridget Jones's Baby – the third instalment of the Bridget Jones' Diary franchise – is set to start filming in the UK.

Welcome back big knickers, flannel pyjamas and endless tubs of Ben & Jerry's ice cream — we’ve missed you.

After months of speculation, Patrick “McDreamy” Dempsey has finally confirmed he will be starring alongside Renée Zellweger, which (slightly) makes up for the fact that Hugh Grant won’t be reprising his role as the deceptively charming, floppy-haired rogue, Daniel Cleaver.

But wait, it gets better.

The third film will be based on Bridget Jones’ columns from eight years ago and not Helen Fielding’s controversial third book Mad About the Boy which *SPOILER ALERT* sees Colin Firth’s character Mark Darcy die in the opening pages.

A lot has happened since Bridget Jones :The Edge of Reason wrapped up in 2004.

So join us, as we look at what has become of Bridget’s oddball group of family and friends, from Shazza and Tom to "Uncle" Geoffrey :

The cast of Bridget Jones' Diary: where are they now?