The ever-unlucky Bridget Jones ends up in a tree in the next part of the successful film series, but luckily a handsome young park ranger is ready to come to her rescue.
These exclusive photos show One Day heartthrob Leo Woodall in character as Rockstar, the toyboy love interest of Renee Zellweger’s alter ego, as he helps her out of her predicament. But not without sneaking a peek at her buttocks while he does so.
Ms Zellweger’s character becomes trapped after climbing the tree in search of a stranded child during a family trip to Hampstead Heath in north London.
Bridget Jones, played by Renee Zellweger, found herself in a predicament during a trip to London’s Hampstead Heath with her young children
Ms Zellweger roars with laughter after climbing down from the tree during filming for the new movie
Leo Woodall’s character, Bridget’s toyboy Rockstar, lends a helping hand to get her down from the tree
His character is caught staring at Bridget’s buttocks as she indecently clambers down the branches
Leo Woodall, one of the stars of hit series One Day, is dressed in a green t-shirt and matching trousers – the uniform of rangers at Hampstead Heath
Woodall, 27, wore a park ranger’s green branded T-shirt and matching pants for the scenes filmed Thursday. He was also seen filming a conversation with the child actor who played Bridget’s young son Billy in the film, titled Mad About The Boy.
The scene is reminiscent of the moment in the first film, 2001’s Bridget Jones’s Diary, when the TV journalist character slides down a fire station.
Ms. Zellweger and Woodall were filming the upcoming movie Mad About the Boy last Thursday
Co-star Chiwetel Ejiofor and Woodall appear to laugh at Ms. Zellweger as her character is stuck in the branches
An onlooker at Hampstead Heath said: ‘Leo and Renee looked like they were having a great time. There was a lot of giggling, they seemed to get along really well.”
The fictional love interest was also seen talking to Bridget’s two children after they rescued their mother from the tree
In the new film, Bridget enjoys an affair with Rockstar and gym teacher Mr Walker, played by 12 Years A Slave actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, and rekindles her on-again, off-again relationship with Hugh Grant’s Daniel Cleaver.
Mr Ejiofor, 46, also appeared in scenes on the same day last week, meaning only Mr Grant and Colin Firth – who has a small role in the film as the late Mark Darcy – have not yet been spotted in character.
Woodall hugs the young actress playing Bridget’s daughter, who is flamboyantly dressed in leopard print trousers, a tutu and cat ears
The actor rose to fame for starring in Netflix’s One Day, but he also appeared in The White Lotus
Mrs. Zellweger looks uncomfortable in a harness as she prepares to climb the tree
An onlooker said: ‘Leo and Renee looked like they were having a great time. There was a lot of giggling, they seemed to get along really well.”
Ms Zellweger, 55, has been busy since arriving in London two weeks ago to resume her role as a singleton for the fourth and probably final time.
The main characters laugh along with the crew and Mrs. Zellweger hugs her fictional children
Bridget Jones is known for being clumsy and rather indecent at times, and it seems like nothing has changed
A smiling Mrs. Zellweger hugs the tree and wears jeans with a shirt and sweater for the scene
Crew and co-star Woodall watch as the 55-year-old climbs down from the tree in a harness
She spent four days filming at ITV’s studios in White City, west London, where programs such as This Morning and Loose Women are made. There she met presenters from both shows, including Cat Deeley, who was reportedly “super excited” to see Ms. Zellweger. Many studio staff were ‘overwhelmed with excitement’ and desperate to get selfies with the Hollywood star when they realized the film was being shot in their workplace.
Scenes were filmed on the set used by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly for their now defunct show Saturday Night Takeaway, while Loose Women audience members were also asked to stay for the filming of some scenes
This marks the fourth time Ms Zellweger has returned to screens as the much-loved single Bridget Jones, based on the books by Helen Fielding
Ejiofor, who plays gym teacher Mr Walker, was also filming scenes on the same day
The tree scene is reminiscent of the moment in the first film, 2001’s Bridget Jones’s Diary, when Bridget slides down a fire pole during a stint as a TV journalist.
An ITV source said: ‘It was chaos, imagine Bridget coming to work. It was literally a dream come true. The place was absolutely lively. The news spread so quickly, Cat was so excited.”
Bridget’s creator Helen Fielding has also been spotted filming as she prepares to say goodbye to the much-loved character. The film will be released on Valentine’s Day next year.
Last month it was revealed that Bridget’s obsession with losing weight will be ‘downplayed’ in the film, amid fears they could be a bad influence.