Elizabeth Gaskell authored six novels, two novellas, numerous articles, short stories, and an acclaimed biography of her friend Charlotte Brontë.

Her most famous novel Cranford famously depicts life in Knutsford, Cheshire where she grew up, and was adapted into two BBC drama series.

The exhibition features highlights from the Library’s world renowned collections including unpublished personal correspondence – on display to the public for the first time.

Other items, generously loaned by Gaskell’s descendants and a Gaskell archivist include her passport, prayer book, a teapot and other personal memorabilia.

Sarah Prince, great great great granddaughter of Gaskell, will officially open the exhibition and there will also be contributions from actor Lesley Manville, who appeared in BBC adaptations of North and South and Cranford.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a full programme of public events – including:

• Community singing led by the Grace Darling Singers and Manchester Balladeers Mark Dowding and Chris Harvey Pollington.
• Talks on the fashions of the time by The History Wardrobe.
• A series of public lectures by leading Gaskell scholars including Jenny Uglow and Pamela Corpron-Parker, curator tours of the exhibition and family fun days.

Public Programmes Manager Jacqui Fortnum said: “This exhibition, which marks the bicentenary of her birth, draws on the Library’s world-class Gaskell collections to explore her place in these diverse communities.

“It looks at how her social networks influenced her fiction and the worlds she depicted in her books.

“It also considers the worldwide community of readers past and present who have found enjoyment in Gaskell’s work.”

NOTES FOR EDITORS
Elizabeth Gaskell: A Connected Life will run from 14 July to 28 November 2010 at The Christie Gallery – The John Rylands Library.

The launch will take place from 6 to 8pm  on Wednesday, 14 July.

The John Rylands University Library is open to the public free of charge. Opening times: Mon 12.00-5.00, Tues-Sat 10.00-5.00, Sun 12.00-5.00.

The  exhibition celebrates Gaskell’s bi-centennial, and draws upon the Library’s extensive and unique collections of Gaskell material in addition to personal items which have been generously loaned by Rosemary Dabbs, Sarah Prince, Heather Sharps and the Brotherton Library, The University of Leeds

Heather Sharps is the widow of John Geoffrey Sharps, the Gaskell scholar whose collections are now part of the Library’s archive.

The BBC has ordered a fourth season of its period drama Lark Rise to Candleford which stars Julia Sawalha, Olivia Hallinan and Linda Bassett. The news that a fourth season of the drama, based on the series of books by Flora Thompson, was confirmed on BBC One’s rural magazine programme Countryfile last night.

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?

A special episode of Lark Rise To Candleford will be included in this year’s Children in Need,  in which Sir Terry makes a guest appearance at the village Post Office.

The seven-hour show, live from BBC Television Centre, features some of the UK’s top TV, musical and theatrical personalities and acts.

Described as the “perfect Sunday night winter warmer”, “an antidote to the winter blues”, the BBC today has confirmed a third series of the popular Sunday night drama Lark Rise To Candleford, Bill Gallagher‘s adaptation of Flora Thompson’s magical memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood.

The feel-good BBC One drama, which stars Julia Sawalha, Olivia Hallinan, Jason Merrells, Brendan Coyle, Olivia Grant, Mark Heap and Ruby Bentall, saw burgeoning romances blossom and falter amongst the two communities, as well as social and financial pressures take their toll in a series that chronicles the day-to-day life of two communities at the end of the 19th century.

“The wonderful cast of characters and storylines has firmly established the show’s popularity with the audience and I look forward to Bill and the team bringing us new stories from the world of Lark Rise in a third series,” says Kate Harwood, Controller, Series and Serials.

Set in the small hamlet of Lark Rise and the wealthier neighbouring market town, Candleford, at the end of the 19th century, the series chronicles the daily lives of farm workers, craftsmen and gentry, observing characters in loving, boisterous and competing communities of families, rivals, friends and neighbours.

The much-loved series continues to secure strong ratings, attracting average audiences of over 6.4 million viewers, and has received a deluge of positive feedback from both fans and the press.

Executive Producer and writer, Bill Gallagher, says: “I’m delighted at the public response to Lark Rise To Candleford, it’s wonderful that so many people have taken the show to their heart and I can’t wait to get started on new storylines and characters for the third series.

“Flora Thompson’s beautiful books are packed with delights, so we’re never short of inspiration.”

The second series started with a Christmas sSpecial on 21 December 2008, followed by 11 episodes which began on 4 January on BBC One. The final episode in this series will broadcast on Sunday 15 March, culminating in a spring wedding.

Lark Rise To Candleford is written and executive produced by Bill Gallagher. The series Executive Producer is Susan Hogg.

The series has been re-commissioned for a third series by Ben Stephenson, Controller of BBC Fiction, and will be filmed later this summer for transmission in 2010.

Press quotes

“… charming, beautiful and picturesque” – Total TV Guide

“… one of the finest costume dramas in recent years…” – TV Times

“perfect wind-down viewing at the close of the weekend” –Inside Soap

“we defy you to find a single negative point about this charming costume drama” **** – Daily Star

“More heart-warming rustic drama” – Sunday Telegraph

“this is shamelessly heart-warming Horlicks TV made with extra sugar, double cream and chocolate on top” – The Times

Lark Rise To Candleford is being simulcast on the BBC HD channel, the BBC’s high definition channel available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media. With up to five times more detail than standard definition television, HD gives you exceptionally vivid colours and crisp pictures to make Lark Rise To Candleford a truly cinematic TV experience.

After a number of requests, I’m trying to set up a forum for you Lark risers and Candlefordians.

Please be patient as it’s my first. Any suggestions, let me now.

Forum Page

The inhabitants of Lark Rise and
Candleford go carol singing

Lark Rise To Candleford returns for a second series with a feature-length Christmas special, followed by 11 new episodes of this popular and heart-warming adaptation of Flora Thomson’s charming memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood.

Julia Sawalha, Olivia Hallinan, Dawn French, Brendan Coyle and Mark Heap return to delight and entertain in a wonderfully captivating seasonal tale that unites the past and the present.

There’s also an extra festive treat for viewers in the form of guest star Sheridan Smith (Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps, Love Soup and Jonathan Creek – The Grinning Man) in the role of Cinderella Doe.

When Dorcas and Emma each want to give Laura the same gift for Christmas, an old family wound is opened up and Laura finds herself torn between two mothers.

As the inhabitants of Lark Rise and Candleford prepare for the festivities, loyalties are tested and, amid the gift-giving and carol singing, tensions are building.

However, the arrival of a ragged, bare-footed young woman, who goes by the name of Cinderella Doe, introduces a note of Christmas mystery.

With its usual mix of charm, warmth, comedy and pathos, Lark Rise To Candleford kicks off its new season with a story rich in history.

Laura Timmins is played by Olivia Hallinan, Dorcas Lane by Julia Sawalha, Caroline Arless by Dawn French, Emma Timmins by Claudie Blakley, Robert Timmins by Brendan Coyle, Alf Arless by John Dagleish, Thomas Brown by Mark Heap, Queenie Turrill by Linda Bassett, Twister Turrill by Karl Johnson, Ruby Pratt by Victoria Hamilton, Pearl Pratt by Matilda Ziegler, Miss Ellison by Sandy McDade and Walter Arless by Robert Pugh.

Lark Rise To Candleford is also being simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC’s High Definition channel available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media. With up to five times more detail than standard definition television, HD gives you exceptionally vivid colours and crisp pictures to make Lark Rise To Candleford a truly cinematic TV experience.

Lark Rise To Candleford returns to BBC One in January 2009, a perfect Sunday night winter warmer which regularly attracted average viewing figures of 6.7 million in its first series.

The new series of 12 episodes, which includes a Christmas special, promises more feel good drama in Bill Gallagher‘s adaption of Flora Thompson‘s charming memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood.

Set in the small hamlet of Lark Rise and the wealthier neighbouring market town, Candleford, at the end of the 19th century, the series chronicles the daily lives of farm workers, craftsmen and gentry, observing characters in loving, boisterous and competing communities of families, rivals, friends and neighbours.

The Sunday evening drama sees the welcome return of favourite characters including Julia Sawalha as Dorcas Lane, who owns and runs the Post Office: Olivia Hallinan as Laura Timmins her assistant, who was taken under Dorcas’s wing in the first series; Brendan Coyle, is Robert, Laura’s opinionated father; Claudie Blakley is Laura’s mother Emma; Mark Heap is Thomas Brown, the Head Postman and devout Christian; Victoria Hamilton is Ruby Pratt and Matilda Ziegler her sister Pearl Pratt, who run the fashionable clothes store in Candleford.

At the end of the first series Zillah (Liz Smith) sadly passed away leaving an emotional hole at the heart of the Post Office.

Meanwhile Sir Timothy (Ben Miles) and Lady Adelaide (Olivia Grant) left Candleford to start a new life in London.

Loves young dream turned sour for Laura (Olivia Hallinan) and Philip (Oliver Jackson Cohen) after his actions caused her father, Robert Timmins (Brendan Coyle), to be sacked from his job.

On a happier note, everyone was delighted to discover that Dorcas would be staying at the Post Office when it transpired that Thomas never posted the deeds to the Post Office.

Joining the cast for the second series of Lark Rise To Candleford are Jason Merrells (Cutting It, Waterloo Road) who plays the charming new hotelier, James Dowland, who arrives in town and ruffles a few feathers, and Ruby Bentall (Oliver Twist, New Tricks) as Minnie, a new addition to the Post Office in Candleford, she plays Dorcas’s rather incompetent maid.

Executive Producer and writer, Bill Gallagher, says: “With so many stories in Flora Thompson’s three books, we are able to constantly bring new and wonderful characters and situations to life.

“These new characters add a new dynamic to the cast and will, no doubt, make their mark on the residents of Lark Rise and Candleford.”

The second series is commissioned by Jane Tranter, Controller of BBC Fiction, and was filmed in and around the West Country throughout the summer 2008.

The series Executive Producer is Susan Hogg and Producer is Annie Tricklebank.

Lark Rise To Candleford is also being simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC’s High Definition channel available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media. With up to five times more detail than standard definition television, HD gives you exceptionally vivid colours and crisp pictures to make Lark Rise To Candleford a truly cinematic TV experience.

Lark Rise To Candleford returns for a second series, with a feature length Christmas special followed by 11 new episodes of this popular and heart-warming Sunday night series.

The BBC One series stars Julia Sawalha, Olivia Hallinan, Dawn French, Brendan Coyle and Mark Heap in Bill Gallagher‘s adaptation of Flora Thompson‘s charming memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood.

“In this Christmas special, Lark Rise and Candleford will be transformed into a magical place where families and friends are brought together for this special time of year,” comments Kate Harwood, Head of Series and Serials for BBC Drama Production.

“The audience are in for a real treat as all their favourite characters return to delight and entertain in a wonderfully captivating tale that unites the past and the present.”

The Christmas episode will have an extra festive treat in the form of guest star Sheridan Smith (Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps, Love Soup, Jonathan Creek Special) in the role of Cinderella Doe.

The second series of Lark Rise To Candleford will also see the introduction of new characters: Jason Merrills (Cutting it, Waterloo Road) will play the role of charming hotelier James Dowland and Ruby Bentall (Oliver Twist, New Tricks) will play the role of Minnie, a new addition to the Post Office in Candleford.

Bill Gallagher says: “With so many stories in Flora Thompson’s memoirs we are able to constantly bring new and wonderful characters and situations to life.

“These new characters will add a new dynamic to the cast and will, no doubt, make their mark on the residents of Lark Rise and Candleford.”

The second series is commissioned by Jane Tranter, Controller of BBC Fiction, and is currently filming in and around the West Country for transmission in January 2009.

The series Executive Producer is Susan Hogg and Producer is Annie Tricklebank.