FANS of big pants - she's back.

Author Helen Fielding has announced that Bridget Jones will be back for a third adventure in a new novel to be pubished in November.

The neurotic diarist who listened to sad rock in her pyjamas, struggled daily with calories, booze and cigs and yet still managed to land Mr Darcy was a sexual hero for women around the world.

The new book will be set in London and follow Jones "in a later stage of her life".

"My life has moved on, and Bridget's will move on, too," Fielding said. "I hope people will have as much fun reading it, as I am writing it."

Bridget Jones's Diary came out in 1996, and was followed by a sequel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, in 1999. The two novels sold more than 15 million copies, were published in 40 countries and adapted into films starring Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth.

"Few writers can rival Helen Fielding when it comes to fully capturing the modern woman," said Sonny Mehta, the chairman and editor in chief of Alfred A. Knopf, which will publish the book.

Jones was in her 30s when the first book came out so if the new novel is set in present day London, that would make her 50-something now. Those big pants will be very big indeed.

- © Fairfax NZ News