James Dowland is confined to his hospital bed when his son, Sidney, arrives in Candleford, as BBC One’s adaptation of Flora Thompson’s childhood memoirs concludes.

Dorcas welcomes the child into the Post Office, encouraging Laura and Ruby to do everything they can to make him feel at home there. As Sidney is introduced to the colourful characters of Candleford and the charming folk in Lark Rise, he becomes quite an object of local fascination. When James is at last released from hospital, however, he clashes with Dorcas over what’s in the best interests of the son he never knew he had.

Elsewhere, as the wedding of Thomas Brown and Miss Ellison fast approaches, anticipation and excitement grows among the people of Lark Rise and Candleford. Thomas is thrown into a torrent of uncertainty and anxiety by a few words from the common book of prayer, and Miss Ellison develops a strange disease of the skin which could be the result of her own anxieties. Will the betrothed couple ever make it down the aisle?

Jason Merrells plays James Dowland, Julia Sawalha plays Dorcas Lane, Olivia Hallinan plays Laura, Victoria Hamilton plays Ruby Pratt, Mark Heap plays Thomas Brown and Sandy McDade plays Miss Ellison.

Julia Sawalha is Dorcas Lane

Olivia Hallinan is Laura Timmins

Jason Merrells is James Dowland

Brendan Coyle is Robert Timmins

Claudie Blakley is Emma Timmins

John Dagleish is Alf Arless

Mark Heap is Thomas Brown

Linda Bassett is Queenie Turrill

Karl Johnson is Twister Turrill

Matilda Ziegler is Pearle Pratt

Victoria Hamilton is Ruby Pratt

Sandy McDade is Miss Ellison

Ruby Bentall is Minnie

Head of Drama Series & Serials – Kate Harwood

Executive Producer – Sue Hogg

Executive Producer/Writer – Bill Gallagher Producer – Annie Tricklebank Production Designer – Martin Boddison

Director of Photography – Mark Partridge

Costume Designer – Pam Downe

Make-up Designer – Stella O’Farrell

Composer – Julian Nott