Lark Rise To Candleford

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 a cure for all ills, she buys some for Twister, who is growing increasingly forgetful, but is horrified when he falls into a coma. Furiously, the Lark Rise locals turn on Caroline for her part in this, but all are relieved when Twister recovers, apparently unscathed. Caroline’s desperate bid to generate cash boils down to the bailiff in hot pursuit of her outstanding debts to the brewery – but how long can she stay one step ahead?

Meanwhile, Pearl and Ruby are in turmoil over the sudden reappearance of their vagabond father, who abandoned them as children and left them to fend for themselves. They are horrified to see him out in public, playing scams on the local residents, but a residual affection for their father eventually returns and they agree to take him in. Facing up to who he is and what he’s done, they prepare to go public and prepare a special tea party to introduce Ashlow to Dorcas and Laura – but should they really trust him again when he let them down before?

Laura’s relationship with Philip continues to blossom. However, concerned by what he might make of her family, she openly snubs her father one morning while in town with Philip. Overcome with guilt, she must work hard if she’s to make amends with Robert.

Mr Ashlow is played by Phil Davis, Pearl and Ruby Pratt by Matilda Ziegler and Victoria Hamilton, Caroline Arless by Dawn French, Dorcas Lane by Julia Sawalha, Laura Timmins by Olivia Hallinan, Philip White by Oliver Jackson Cohen and Robert Timmins by Brendan Cole.