I don't think I'd ever seen the first episode either, I missed it on the ITV3 run too only tuning in for ep 2 so it was a first for me as well when I bought the DVD's. It *feels* very different to the rest of the show somehow, like that was the novel on screen and the rest went on from there? Almost like a pilot.

I'm not overly familiar with Beatrice in Much Ado, but I do know they certainly share many of the same characteristics so it seems likely. Plus, as another layer, she might have been named after Shakespeare within the show too, as later on she calls herself 'Benedict' when tricking Jack with his film sponsorship so maybe she knows her namesake?

I love Molly, they should have kept her in somehow!