Based on the novel by Emile Zola, The Ladies’ Paradise is a rags-to-riches story about a young girl in the 1890s who arrives in the city and falls in love with the intoxicating and dangerous charms of the modern world. Made homeless by the death of her father, and with nothing to live on but her wits, Denise comes to work as a shop girl at the glittering store, just at the moment when society is waking up to the joys and temptations of shopping. But behind the dazzling facade of the store, she finds a world of intrigues, affairs and shopfloor power struggles.

Creator and writer Bill Gallagher says: “This project has been close to my heart for a long time and I’m thrilled to be making it with the BBC. The Ladies’ Paradise is set at exactly the same time as Lark Rise – but now we’re in the city, at a time of great change and upheaval, so the series is exciting and constantly dramatic. Like Lark Rise we will explore the lives of a colourful cast of characters struggling to survive and flourish in difficult and dangerous times.”

Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning says: “A romantic, thrilling and sexy post-watershed relationship drama set in a bustling Northern department store where Bill Gallagher’s well-crafted characters will bring an addictive mix of scandal and gossip to BBC One.”

The series is made by BBC Drama Productions and created and written by Bill Gallagher for transmission on BBC One in 2013. It begins filming on location next summer.

How are you feeling about the end of this smashing series?

With tonight’s final episode is this the last we’ll see of Lark Rise?

Is there any hope of a reprieve for the show or a movie?

Where you satisfied with the ending?

Caroline Arless is out of debtor’s prison and back home in Lark Rise, as the series based on the novels by Flora Thompson, and adapted by Bill Gallagher, concludes. However, she doesn’t get the warm welcome she’s expecting.

Queenie blames her for being absent when her young son died of measles and Alf is sceptical that Caroline has put her feckless ways behind her and that she is back to stay. Minnie, on the other hand, assumes that, with Caroline back to look after her children, it’s only a matter of time before Alf comes to propose.

When Minnie discovers that Alf can’t contemplate marriage while his siblings need him, and while his mother is still getting herself into trouble, Minnie is heartbroken. Is she brave enough to stand up to the fearsome Caroline and take charge of her own fate? And will Alf ever feel free to cast off his burdens and embrace happiness?

Over in Candleford, meanwhile, Thomas has returned from a visit to his sisters’ to discover a cold and distant Margaret. She snaps at everything he says and criticises his every deed. What can be the reason behind her new-found loathing of her once beloved husband?

Elsewhere, Gabriel has finally completed his machine and, after mounting an impressive demonstration, farmers are clamouring to purchase his ground-breaking invention. Not everyone in Lark Rise welcomes the arrival of progress to the hamlet, though. Queenie, especially, fears what it will do to their simple way of life.

Dorcas is initially thrilled at Gabriel’s success, until she realises that it will inevitably mean his departure from Candleford. It forces her to look into her future and ask herself what she truly wants. But will she find the courage to reveal her deepest feelings and how will Gabriel respond?

Caroline Arless is played by Dawn French, Queenie Turrill by Linda Bassett, Alf Arless by John Dagleish, Minnie by Ruby Bentall, Thomas Brown by Mark Heap, Margaret Brown by Sandy McDade, Gabriel Cochrane by Richard Harrington and Dorcas Lane by Julia Sawalha.

Lark Rise To Candleford is simulcast in HD on BBC One HD on Freesat channel 108, Freeview channel 50, Sky channel 143 and Virgin Media channel 108.

This is a small, local event but we thought it might be appreciated by some LRC fans living nearby who have an interest in the author’s life story. Further details can be obtained from the FamilyLine office 01372 841125; email admin@familyline.org.uk or FamilyLine, PO Box 402, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 2GH. As the hall is small and we have only a limited number of places, please do not turn up on the day unless you have a ticket, we would hate to have to turn anyone away.

Monday 30 January

8.30-9.00pm BBC TWO

Twister (Karl Johnson) feels hard done by

The fair has come to town, and there’s much cause for celebration as the series based on the novels by Flora Thompson, and adapted by Bill Gallagher, continues. Alf has been crowned champion in the shin-kicking contest, and Queenie has won a whole pig! Twister can’t wait for the delicious meals to come, so when Queenie offers to share the pig with Lark Rise without telling him, and seems to treat the pig better than him, Twister begins to feel very hard done by.

Alf is wallowing in the glow of his victory at the fair. But Minnie is tormented by her suspicion that he cheated, causing the pair to have their first real row. Can they put it behind them, or does this spell the end for their romance?

Over in Candleford, Thomas is furious with himself after failing to defend Margaret when her looks are unwittingly slighted by Ruby and Daniel. He becomes determined to restore her honour, but he finds it harder than he thought to get satisfaction.

Dorcas, meanwhile, invites Gabriel to lodge in the post office. She soon regrets her decision when Gabriel turns out to be a less-than-perfect houseguest, monopolising her home with work on his machine.

When news gets out in Candleford that Queenie’s pig is a prized Berkshire, everyone tries to persuade Twister to sell them a cut of the meat. When Queenie discovers that not only has Twister sold the pig out from under her but that he has spent all the money, she banishes him to the pig sty. And when the folks of Candleford come to inspect their investment, she insists that the pig is not for sale. How will they decide who owns the pig? Will Twister win back Queenie’s affection? And can the secret gift Gabriel has for Sydney mend his rift with Dorcas?

Julia Sawalha plays Dorcas Lane, Olivia Hallinan plays Laura Timmins, Richard Harrington plays Gabriel Cochrane, Ben Aldridge plays Daniel Parish, John Dalgleish plays Alf Arless, Ruby Bentall plays Minnie, Victoria Hamilton plays Ruby Pratt, Linda Bassett plays Queenie Turrill, Karl Johnson plays Twister Turrill, Mark Heap plays Thomas Brown, Sandy McDade plays Margaret Brown and Edward Darnell-Hayes plays Sydney.

Lark Rise To Candleford is simulcast in HD on BBC One HD on Freesat channel 108, Freeview channel 50, Sky channel 143 and Virgin Media channel 108.

So I can now officially say that this will be the LAST series of Larkrise to Candleford, enjoy the last four episodesx

Thomas is euphoric when he is given the job of organising the church bazaar, as the series based on the novels by Flora Thompson, and adapted by Bill Gallagher, continues. But his joy soon evaporates when the vicar falls ill and controversial and free-thinking curate Reverend Marley takes charge.

Marley, though, is regarded as a kind and charitable figure by the Lark Risers. Only Emma seems uncomfortable in his presence. Years before, Robert Timmins banned him from their cottage, so she rebuffs the curate’s offers of help while her husband is away.

Meanwhile, Thomas is simmering with resentment towards Marley. When he comes across a snake in the undergrowth while out on his postal rounds, he sees it as a sign that the devil is indeed among them. The snake’s presence causes great excitement.

Emma is totally unnerved by the snake. Having initially been confident she could manage without Robert, she suddenly finds herself unable to face the world. She becomes anxious and fearful for herself and for her children.

Back in Candleford, Laura discovers that Gabriel has found his dead wife’s incriminating letter. Dorcas wonders what his reaction will be to the devastating news of his wife’s infidelity and whether he will blame her for putting the letter into his hands.

When rumours start circulating that Marley has been seen leaving Emma’s cottage late at night, Thomas sees it as confirmation of Marley’s corrupt character, while Alf fears for Emma’s reputation and becomes determined to solve the mystery of why he was banned from the Timmins’s cottage.

Marley comes to visit Emma to try and offer some comfort. But he is met by Alf, who accuses him of compromising Emma’s good name for his own base motivations. The argument escalates and Marley struggles to control his anger.

Thomas Brown is played by Mark Heap, Reverend Marley by Burn Gorman, Emma Timmins by Claudie Blakley, Laura Timmins by Olivia Hallinan, Gabriel Cochrane by Richard Harrington, Dorcas Lane by Julia Sawalha and Alf Arless by John Dalgleish.

Lark Rise To Candleford is simulcast in HD on BBC One HD on Freesat channel 108, Freeview channel 50, Sky channel 143 and Virgin Media channel 108.

When Daniel announces that his newspaper is launching a poetry competition, it sends the inhabitants of Lark Rise and Candleford into a frenzy of creative excitement, as the series based on the novels by Flora Thompson, and adapted by Bill Gallagher, continues.

Laura has high hopes of taking home the trophy and begins writing feverishly; Pearl indulges in plagiarism after her own efforts are found wanting; and even Margaret embarks upon an epic poem based on her husband’s postal rounds.

Laura buys some second-hand poetry books for inspiration and discovers that they once belonged to Gabriel’s late wife. She is shocked to find a letter inside from Liza to her lover, expressing regret at having married Gabriel. When Laura shows Dorcas the letter, she is tormented about what to do with it.

Meanwhile, Ruby, still put out by her sister’s fawning over Daniel, begins a malicious rumour that he and Laura have fixed the outcome of the poetry competition between them. Laura is furious with Ruby for questioning her and Daniel’s integrity, and even more annoyed that it has effectively ruled her out of winning the competition.

Over in Lark Rise, Queenie is trying to come to terms with the march of progress. The beautiful lace that she has lovingly made and sold all her life is no longer in demand. And Twister, as usual, seems too preoccupied with his own gripes to notice Queenie’s unhappiness. She at least finds some comfort in sharing her craft with Ruby who, in turn, finds solace in the time spent with Queenie. It makes her reflect on her mischief-making with Daniel, and she determines to put things right.

Dorcas is still sitting on the explosive revelations from Liza’s letter but when Gabriel tells her he has seen a mysterious man leaving flowers at her graveside, and is determined to find out who he is, Dorcas fears it will lead him into a violent confrontation. She decides that the kindest and safest way to proceed is to leave the letter for him to find, and discover the truth for himself…

Later, the winner of the competition is announced and it takes everyone by surprise, even the winner…

Ben Aldridge plays Daniel, Olivia Hallinan plays Laura, Matilda Ziegler plays Pearl, Sandy McDade plays Margaret, Richard Harrington plays Gabriel, Julia Sawalha plays Dorcas, Victoria Hamilton plays Ruby, Linda Bassett plays Queenie and Karl Johnson plays Twister.

Lark Rise To Candleford is simulcast in HD on BBC One HD on Freesat channel 108, Freeview channel 50, Sky channel 143 and Virgin Media channel 108.