Episode 3: Engaging a new maid for widower

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 Amos is the most suspicious, but it eventually becomes clear that his hostility towards Patty is not as straightforward as it first appeared – he’s fallen in love with her.

Eventually, Patty and Young Amos admit their feelings to each other but, on learning of their romance, Old Amos is furious. Patty decides to leave, so that she doesn’t cause any more trouble between father and son. It’s going to take all Dorcas’s diplomacy if there’s to be any hope of reconciliation.

Elsewhere, the Reverend Ellison organises a Lark Rise concert at the request of Sir Timothy but, typically, hot-headed Robert falls out with Ellison over his children’s contribution – and incurs the wrath of his family and the whole village.

Philip and Laura continue to spend time together and he asks her to be his girl. Alf hopes his performance at the concert will win Laura over, but he is dismayed to see that she only has eyes for Philip.

Laura Timmins is played by Olivia Hallinan, Dorcas Lane by Julia Sawalha, Old Amos by Peter Wright, Young Amos by Craig Parkinson, Patty by Camille Coduri, Pearl Pratt by Matilda Ziegler, Ruby Pratt by Victoria Hamilton, Reverend Ellison by Peter Vaughan, Sir Timothy Midwinter by Ben Miles, Robert Timmins by Brendan Cole, Philip White by Oliver Jackson Cohen and Alf Arless by John Dalgleish.