March 15, 2009
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.
March 12, 2009
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.
March 5, 2009
A sudden storm proves the catalyst for a series of revelations that will for ever change the lives of a number of Lark Rise and Candleford residents, as BBC One’s adaptation of Flora Thompson’s childhood memoirs continues.
When the address on a letter is rendered indecipherable, Dorcas Lane pursues the identity of its recipient only to uncover a shocking secret kept from James Dowland for years. Dorcas is subsequently haunted by strange noises around the Post Office and, although greatly distressed, is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Laura Timmins, meanwhile, is tormented by the knowledge of a possible betrayal. Will her intervention – even with the best of intentions – make things better for Alf and Nan? Emma also receives life-changing news that she finds impossible to tell Robert.
Later, Miss Ellison’s choice of who she wants to give her away at her wedding meets with objection, not just from Thomas Brown, but from others in the hamlet.
Julia Sawalha plays Dorcas Lane, Jason Merrells plays James Dowland, Olivia Hallinan plays Laura Timmins, John Dagleish plays Alf Arless, Rebecca Night plays Nan, Claudie Blakley plays Emma Timmins and Brendan Coyle plays Robert Timmins.
February 25, 2009
As the annual Harvest Festival returns to Candleford, PC Patterson’s wife, as per usual, takes to her bed with a mysterious illness. But this year is different: she gives him her express permission to seek a new wife when she passes away. Patterson has no intention of doing such a thing – until a damsel in distress sets his heart soaring. Meanwhile, an unlikely rival from Lark Rise threatens to scupper his continued success in the Harvest Festival’s produce competitions, when Alf Arless sets his eyes on the two-shilling prize.
Later, Robert Timmins has a gift for Alf that could change both his future and the path of his blossoming romance with Nan.
Jason Watkins plays PC Patterson, Michelle Fairley plays Mrs Patterson, John Dagleish plays Alf Arless, Brendan Coyle plays Robert Timmins and Rebecca Night plays Nan. Lark Rise To Candleford also stars Olivia Hallinan as Laura Timmins, Jason Merrells as James Dowland, Julia Sawalha as Dorcas Lane, Matilda Ziegler as Pearl Pratt, Victoria Hamilton as Ruby Pratt, Claudie Blakley as Emma Timmins and Ruby Bentall as Minnie.
February 19, 2009
An attractive local milkmaid, Nan, takes a fancy to Alf, as BBC One’s adaptation of Flora Thompson’s childhood memoirs continues. But this budding young love looks like it might be thwarted by an animosity that goes back generations between Lark Rise and the neighbouring hamlet of Fordlow. Things are made worse when Queenie’s bees are stolen and Twister is convinced it is Nan’s family and neighbours who have committed such an unforgivable crime.
In Candleford, James Dowland is making every effort to mend his relationship with Dorcas. Can he win back her affections, or does she know too much of his past to ever trust him again?
Rebecca Night plays Nan, John Dagleish plays Alf, Linda Bassett plays Queenie, Karl Johnson plays Twister, Jason Merrells plays James Dowland and Julia Sawalha plays Dorcas Lane.
February 18, 2009
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
February 12, 2009
Sunday 15 February
The arrival in Candleford of a well-to-do woman from London throws James Dowland into something of a spin, as BBC One’s adaptation of Flora Thompson’s childhood memoirs continues. It seems that the life he has lived since he left Lark Rise has not been as straightforward as he has so far portrayed, and some extraordinary revelations about his past threaten the very fabric of his trusting relationship with Dorcas.
When Emma’s father comes to Lark Rise, meanwhile, he stirs up emotions throughout the hamlet. The prospect of him remaining in the End House, however, does not go down well with Robert. And Old Edmund’s fondness for Queenie causes quite a rivalry between him and Twister, and a long-kept secret about Queenie and Twister’s relationship is revealed.
Jason Merrells plays James Dowland, Julia Sawalha plays Dorcas Lane, Claudie Blakley plays Emma Timmins, Brendan Coyle plays Robert Timmins, Paul Freeman plays Old Edmund, Linda Bassett plays Queenie Turrill and Karl Johnson plays Twister Turrill.
February 5, 2009
Sunday 8 February
When Robert’s work tools disappear while he is enjoying a relaxing summer afternoon with his children, it tips the Timmins family into financial despair, as BBC One’s charming adaptation of Flora Thompson’s childhood memoirs continues. Much as Emma tries to comfort and buoy up her dejected husband’s spirits, a stonemason without his tools cannot work, and Robert is forced to take on the most basic of tasks.
When family and neighbours rally to help restore Robert to his position as a craftsman, his pride bristles and his stubborn nature makes things worse: with poverty biting, something must be done.
Time weighs heavily on blossoming romances in Candleford. As preparations for the grandest of inauguration celebrations for the new town clock gather pace, James Dowland’s courting of Dorcas may be beginning to bear fruit when he bestows upon her a very special privilege.
The countdown to the clock unveiling also weighs heavily on the amount of time Fisher and Laura have left together. When the clock is finished, he is determined to leave Candleford. Will his love for Laura persuade him to change his mind?
Brendan Coyle plays Robert Timmins, Claudie Blakley plays Emma Timmins, Jason Merrells plays James Dowland, Julia Sawalha plays Dorcas Lane, Matthew McNulty plays Fisher Bloom and Olivia Hallinan plays Laura Timmins.
January 28, 2009
When Dorcas Lane is suddenly taken ill, Laura Timmins finds herself with more than one problem to solve, as the popular adaptation of Flora Thompson’s childhood memoirs continues. Afraid to admit that even she has limitations, however, Laura decides that she will not fail Dorcas and soon realises that she must accept her own weaknesses if she is to succeed.
With both Lark Rise and Candleford rallying around to show their support for Laura’s new role in the post office, she soon feels the pressure mounting up and is troubled when anonymous letters begin to arrive. When Minnie sees the delivery of one of the packages, her past catches up with her once again and she is left fearful of her haunting memories.
James Dowland, meanwhile, is deeply troubled on hearing of Dorcas’s condition and makes it his business to see that she is cared for properly. The relationship between James and Dorcas continues to flourish as they finally begin to feel at ease with one another.
As Laura’s feelings for Fisher Bloom continue to develop, Dorcas feels the need to protect her and the hostility between Fisher and Dorcas begins to cloud the air. True love never runs smoothly, and Laura and Fisher must decide whether to let fate determine their future.
Julia Sawalha plays Dorcas Lane, Olivia Hallinan plays Laura Timmins, Ruby Bentall plays Minnie, Jason Merrells plays James Dowland and Matthew McNulty plays Fisher Bloom.
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.
January 22, 2009
Sunday 25 January
Time rests heavy on the residents of Lark Rise and Candleford as baby Annie stirs up emotions of days gone by and loves yet to be found, as the popular adaptation of Flora Thompson’s childhood memoirs continues.
With Emma Timmins feeling the strain of feeding and clothing her family, Dorcas Lane offers to lend a helping hand – unaware of the consequences that her generosity will bring. The feelings baby Annie inflames for both Dorcas and Ruby Pratt become too much to bear. But, with the Timmins house empty, Robert and Emma embrace their new-found freedom.
Whilst the post office welcomes baby Annie, Thomas struggles to cope with the feelings which her presence brings. He must learn to accept his past and move on, if he and Miss Ellison are to have the future they so desperately long for.
James Dowland, meanwhile, is keen to continue the progress of modernising Candleford and hires the help of the young and self-assured Fisher Bloom. Laura is quickly taken with his arrival but feels uncomfortable and unable to let her true emotions show.
James and Dorcas also do their best to avoid the feelings that they so obviously share for one other.
Emma Timmins is played by Claudie Blakely, Dorcas Lane by Julia Sawalha, Ruby Pratt by Victoria Hamilton, Robert Timmins by Brendan Coyle, Thomas Brown by Mark Heap, Miss Ellison by Sandy McDade, James Dowland by Jason Merrells, Fisher Bloom by Matthew McNulty and Laura Timmins by Olivia Hallinan.
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.