When Robert takes pity on a homeless family and takes them in, Emma’s horror is nothing compared to their shock when they discover the family have departed during the night, leaving behind their little daughter, Polly, as the adaptation of Flora Thompson’s magical memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood continues.

Lady Adelaide becomes aware of Polly’s existence and soon falls in love with her. Sir Timothy, however, is extremely wary of this. He knows how badly Adelaide wants a child, but for them to adopt Polly would be completely inappropriate. Sir Timothy takes Polly to the Post Office where an out-of-sorts Zillah is lifted by the bond she forges with the child. Adelaide realises she cannot keep Polly but follows Sir Timothy to the Post Office in order to say goodbye. As it becomes apparent that there’s no clear solution, little Polly’s future hangs in the balance.

Thomas, meanwhile, has been having trouble sleeping and his restlessness is keeping everyone else at the Post Office awake. When Laura and Dorcas realise that it is thoughts of Miss Ellison that are keeping him up, they decide to intervene by sending her a love poem on his behalf. Miss Ellison responds with a poem of her own. Her poem ends up in Sir Timothy’s possession, however, and events spiral out of control, making Dorcas wish she’d never intervened.

Back in Lark Rise, Queenie is increasingly concerned about Twister’s worsening delusions.

Robert Timmins is played by Brendan Cole, Emma Timmins by Claudie Blakley, Polly by Ruby Douglas, Lady Adelaide by Olivia Grant, Sir Timothy Midwinter by Ben Miles, Zillah by Liz Smith, Thomas Brown by Mark Heap, Laura Timmins by Olivia Hallinan and Dorcas Lane by Julia Sawalha.

The BBC has announced a second series of the long-running Sunday night drama Lark Rise To Candleford.

The series stars Julia Sawalha, Olivia Hallinan, Dawn French, Brendan Coyle, Olivia Grant, Mark Heap, Ben Miles and Liz Smith in Bill Gallagher’s adaptation of Flora Thompson’s magical memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood.

“We are delighted with our audience’s positive and warm reaction to Lark Rise To Candleford and have subsequently commissioned a second series of 12 episodes for transmission in 2009,” said Kate Harwood, Head of Series and Serials for BBC Drama Production.

“The talent and strength of the assembled cast and production team pay tribute to the excellence of Bill’s Gallagher’s vision and scripts.”

Set in the small hamlet of Lark Rise and the wealthier neighbouring market town, Candleford, at the end of the 19th century, the series chronicles the daily lives of farm workers, craftsmen and gentry, observing characters in loving, boisterous and competing communities of families, rivals, friends and neighbours.

Written and Executive produced by Bill Gallagher, who added: “What struck me first about Flora Thompson’s three books was how they are teeming with wonderful characters and anecdotes, story lines come tumbling off the pages thick and fast. I can’t wait to start work on the new series.”

The first episode transmitted on 13 January at 7.40pm on BBC One with viewing figures of 6.7m, peaking at 7.1m. The second episode brought an audience of 6.5m, peaking at 6.8m (slot average is 5.5m).

The second series has been recommissioned by Jane Tranter, Controller of BBC Fiction and will begin filming later this year for transmission in 2009.

Thomas (Mark Heap) is in danger of losing his job and his pension

Dorcas is thrown by the surprise arrival of a new Post Office inspector, Mr Rushton, as the adaptation of Flora Thompson’s magical memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood continues. Rushton starts to unearth anomalies in the way Dorcas runs the Post Office, which are in breach (more…)

When a strange old man appears in a woodshed, things take a turn for the worse in this week’s episode of Lark Rise To Candleford, Flora Thompson’s magical memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood.

Mr Ashlow has come looking for his estranged daughters, Ruby and Pearl Pratt, but in the meantime he’s determined to make as much money by mischief as he can, with Caroline Arless a willing accomplice. When Queenie hears that Ashlow is selling (more…)

Dorcas (Julia Sawalha) is
looking for a new maid for
widower Amos Wardup

Laura continues to settle in to her new life in Candleford this week, as the adaptation of Flora Thompson’s magical memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood continues.

Dorcas, meanwhile, sets about engaging a new maid for widower Amos Wardup and his son, Young Amos. Patty is a dream come true for Amos, but Young Amos takes against her. It’s not long before most of Candleford – and particularly the Pratt sisters – start to doubt Patty’s motives and suspect her of being after Old Amos’s money. Young (more…)

Laura is still settling in to her new life at the Candleford Post Office, as the adaptation of Flora Thomson’s magical memoirs of her Oxfordshire childhood continues. Laura is helping postwoman Mrs Macey with her rounds and making friends, when Mrs Macey learns, to her horror, that her husband has escaped from prison.

Worse still, her son has apparently befriended a mysterious stranger in the woods and it’s no surprise to learn that it’s his father. Encouraged by Dorcas, Mrs Macey (more…)