Bridget's diary upgraded to iPad

Rene Zellweger in the title role of Bridget Jone's Baby. Photo / Supplied

Bridget Jones is back - and this time she is digital.

It is 14 years since Renee Zellweger charmed her way into the hearts of fans as a hapless singleton obsessed with losing weight in Bridget Jones's Diary, from the novel by Helen Fielding.

The 46-year-old has returned to the popular role for the third instalment, Bridget Jones' Baby, and the first promotional image for the highly anticipated film was released yesterday.

It shows Jones has ditched the pen and paper diary in favour of an iPad. The movie will see Bridget as a 50-something mother-of-two working on breakfast TV programme Sit Up Britain.

It will also star Colin Firth as her lover, Mark Darcy, but Hugh Grant will not return as cheating ex Daniel Cleaver.

Last week, former Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey confirmed on Instagram his involvement in the film, to play a rumoured new love interest for Bridget.

He wrote: "Nice to be working in England. Renee and Colin are an absolute joy to work with. A good couple of days rehearsing at Pinewood Studios. I really like it here."

Plot details are being kept under wraps, but it is understood the film will not be based on Fielding's latest novel, Mad About the Boy.

Director Sharon Maguire, who was at the helm of the first Bridget Jones's Diary in 2001, will also be returning to her chair, and One Day's David Nicholls and Fielding have penned the screenplay.

Production for the third instalment started in the UK on Friday.

Zellweger previously starred in Bridget Jones's Diary and the sequel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, three years later in 2004.

A third film has been talked about for years, but Zellweger was only recently confirmed for the role.