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 of regulations, and Dorcas’s respected position as Candleford postmistress hangs in the balance.

However, on his way back to Banbury, Rushton has a bad fall and is rushed back to Candleford, where Dorcas takes him in and nurses him back to health. They are both surprised by what they find out about each other during this period of recuperation and realise that they share common ground.

Meanwhile, Thomas is excited about giving the sermon on Sunday. However, one of the anomalies Mr Rushton has discovered at the Post Office is Thomas’s failure to deliver the post on the Sabbath. Thomas stands his ground but in doing so nearly loses his job and his pension.

Over in Lark Rise, Emma is furious to discover that Robert’s been carving a decorative angel on the schoolhouse, for which he is not being paid. It is a labour of love for Robert but Emma feels that the need to provide an income for his family should come first. Emma relents and Robert finishes the angel. They are both overjoyed when Sir Tim offers Robert a lucrative contract at the manor after seeing his fine craftsmanship at the schoolhouse.

Back in Candleford, Laura is getting to grips with her new job but things aren’t going so well when she loses an important parcel destined for the Pratts.

Dorcas is played by Julia Sawalha, Mr Rushton by Ben Daniels, Thomas by Mark Heap, Emma by Claudie Blakley, Robert by Brendan Cole, Sir Tim by Ben Miles and Laura by Olivia Hallinan.