Jennie Bee left us a comment, Thank you Jennie!

Fourth series of Lark Rise has been commissioned according to posting at: www.johnowensmith.co.uk/flora/

It says: Fourth Series — six episodes commissioned to be filmed May/June 2010 for transmission in 2011 [source Bill Gallagher]

Does anyone know any more?

Pearl (Matilda Ziegler) learns some difficult lessons

Pearl is in a state of panic, as the period drama based on Flora Thompson’s novels continues. She’s received a dressmaking commission from Lady Whiteleaf which could save her ailing business, but without Ruby there is no way she can do the work in time. That is, until Enid, a seamstress looking for a position, arrives in Candleford. Her needlework is exquisite and Pearl’s prayers seem to have been answered.

In the post office, Dorcas is excitedly showing off her brand-new, state-of-the-art kitchen range, with which she plans to cook a sumptuous Michaelmas feast. But when the range keeps mysteriously breaking down, Dorcas loses her customary cool. She becomes determined to master its secrets if it’s the last thing she does.

As Pearl and Enid work, the two women forge a touching friendship. Pearl feels free to be herself with Enid and share confidences about her life, while Enid is in awe of Pearl’s independence and strength of character. Enid seems completely at home in Candleford, a place where she feels women can be their own masters. But Dorcas is troubled by the speed of Pearl’s attachment to her new friend, and worries that all is not what it seems with Enid.

When the first part of Enid and Pearl’s dressmaking commission meets with the approval of Lady Whiteleaf and they are invited for dinner, Pearl is euphoric. They excitedly plan their outfits, but Pearl’s joy turns to shock and outrage when Enid turns up wearing trousers! Enid tries to recruit Pearl to her cause – to free women from the confines of their restrictive clothing – but a mortified Pearl throws her out of the shop.

When Pearl discovers that Enid is, in fact, a runaway wife and that her husband is offering a reward for her return, her sense of betrayal and humiliation is complete. Enid tells the women of Candleford the story of her stifling marriage and thwarted ambitions, while Pearl storms off to Inglestone to inform Enid’s husband of her whereabouts.

But when Pearl encounters Thomas, Daniel and Sydney on the road, she pauses to reflect on her actions, and begins to regret her rejection of Enid. Just then, the seamstress herself turns up and tells Pearl a few home truths about her behaviour, and how it isolates her from her neighbours. But will Pearl be able to forgive Enid, and learn how to be a true friend?

Matilda Ziegler plays Pearl, Hattie Morahan plays Enid, Julia Sawalha plays Dorcas, Mark Heap plays Thomas, Ben Aldridge plays Daniel and Edward Darnell-Hayes plays Sydney.

Lark Rise To Candleford is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC’s High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.

Dorcas (Julia Sawalha) meets an

old love rival in tonight’s episode

Lady Adelaide returns to Candleford as the period drama based on Flora Thompson’s novels continues.

The locals are rehearsing for their annual production of St George and the Dragon. They long to perform the play for their squire, but their letter to Sir Timothy in London has gone unanswered.

Twister, meanwhile, is in Queenie’s bad books. He’s refusing to relinquish the role of St George to a younger man, and an exasperated Queenie has moved out of their cottage and set up home in the woods.

When Dorcas hears that Sir Timothy has finally returned, she waits nervously for him to come to the post office. As the days go by, and he doesn’t arrive, she decides to pay him a visit. She finds not Sir Timothy, but Lady Adelaide. A tense meeting between the former rivals for Sir Tim’s affections leaves Dorcas none the wiser as to his whereabouts.

Laura, meanwhile, has been called back to Lark Rise to help nurse her father, who is confined to bed with an injured back. Being back at home is unsettling for Laura – she’s reminded of her humble beginnings, and worries that she is not worthy of the sophisticated Daniel. Pearl only exacerbates the problem by encouraging Daniel to play hard to get. Minnie, though, is thrilled at being allowed to deliver mail in Laura’s absence.

With the play fast approaching, and still no sign of Sir Timothy, Dorcas becomes increasingly concerned that all is not well in the squire’s household. And when she hears rumours of a mysterious correspondence between Lady Adelaide and a man in London, it only fuels her anxiety. Finally, Lady Adelaide arrives to announce that the squire will not be returning, and Dorcas persuades her to attend the play in his place.

While rehearsals for the play are in full swing, Queenie is enjoying the independence and solitude of her new home in the woods. But when she hears that the Lark Risers are struggling to cast a dragon to play opposite Twister’s St George, Queenie seizes the opportunity to teach him a lesson once and for all.

Lady Adelaide dutifully accompanies Dorcas to the play, and afterwards, in an emotional confrontation between the two women, the mystery of the missing Sir Timothy is solved, and Dorcas and Lady Adelaide finally put their past history to rest.

Lady Adelaide is played by Olivia Grant, Twister by Karl Johnson, Queenie by Linda Bassett, Dorcas by Julia Sawalha, Laura by Olivia Hallinan, Daniel by Ben Aldridge and Minnie by Ruby Bentall.

Lark Rise To Candleford is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC’s High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.

Daniel (Ben Aldridge) begins a newspaper campaign

When Daniel learns that Old Peg Leg, a Crimean war veteran who has been visiting Lark Rise for years, has received no pension despite his war injuries, he starts a newspaper campaign protesting against this injustice, as the period drama based on Flora Thompson’s novels continues.

Laura is delighted that Daniel has settled in Candleford and even her parents are pleased at the commitment he is showing. But when Daniel presents Laura with his grandmother’s brooch as a token of his affection, she finds she is not ready for such declarations and refuses to accept it.

Thomas meanwhile, inspired by a self-help book, sets about trying to transform himself into a “thrusting” success, though Margaret, it turns out, likes him just the way he is.

Daniel’s campaign on Peg Leg’s behalf has attracted huge attention and a London newspaper has come to take a photo of the veteran for their front page. But just as Peg Leg’s plight looks set to become a cause célèbre, Emma discovers a large sum of money hidden inside his wooden leg – he is not the destitute beggar they all thought, but a rich man.

Emma is devastated by his betrayal, and when Daniel learns of it, he feels he must expose Peg Leg, even if it ruins his reputation as a journalist. Dorcas though, points out that there is a greater cause at stake.

The dishonest veteran flees Candleford and hides in the woods but when Dorcas, Emma, Laura and Daniel finally track him down, he explains the painful reason behind his decision to hoard his money and never settle down. The trauma of lying injured on the battlefield has left him with a deep fear of staying in one place.

Meanwhile, Laura is still struggling to understand her reaction to Daniel’s gift until Dorcas helps her see that she should just enjoy young love for now, until she is ready for more.

Ben Aldridge plays Daniel, Olivia Hallinan plays Laura, Mark Heap plays Thomas, Sandy McDade plays Margaret, Claudie Blakley plays Emma and Julia Sawalha plays Dorcas.

Lark Rise To Candleford is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC’s High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.

Everyone in Candleford is talking about the mysterious recluse Mr Reppington, played by special guest Tom Conti, who has been hiding himself away in the Golden Lion Hotel for months, as the period drama based on Flora Thompson’s novels continues.

Dorcas is fascinated by the lonely existence of Mr Reppington, so when he sends her a cipher inviting her to meet him at midnight in the hotel gardens, she is thrilled to accept. But when she questions his solitary lifestyle, he brings their rendezvous to an abrupt end. It isn’t long before Daniel uncovers that he is, in fact, missing celebrated concert pianist William Bourne. The story could be a big scoop for Daniel but Laura urges him to do the decent thing and not reveal Bourne’s secret.

Ruby and Pearl, meanwhile, are planning a fashion show to increase business. While Minnie is helping the Pratts with the preparations, she is horrified to realise that Ruby is planning to run away, and is anxious about the hurt that Ruby’s sudden departure could cause.

Over in Lark Rise, Emma feels the romance is ebbing from her marriage and a wink from a soldier momentarily turns her head. When Daniel – quite by chance – sees the encounter, Emma worries he will tell Laura. When she receives an anonymous love letter, she assumes Daniel and the soldier have been playing a joke on her.

Dorcas is determined to entice Bourne out of his lonely existence and arranges for a piano to be taken to the hotel for him to play. Though he refuses, he reveals the reason for his withdrawal from society: he is grieving over the recent death of a woman, originally from Candleford, whom he loved but gave up for his career.

In a last, desperate attempt to engage Bourne with the world again, Dorcas takes him to Lark Rise, hoping that he will be moved by the music he hears there. But is it enough?

Tom Conti plays Mr Reppington, Julia Sawalha plays Dorcas, Ben Aldridge plays Daniel, Olivia Hallinan plays Laura, Victoria Hamilton plays Ruby, Matilda Ziegler plays Pearl, Ruby Bentall plays Minnie and Claudie Blakley plays Emma.

Lark Rise To Candleford is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC’s High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.