Post Mistress Dorcas Lane decided to stay at the Post Office at the end of the first series.

However the joy was short lived as she said goodbye to two very special people in her life; Zillah (Liz Smith), her ever faithful maid sadly passed away, whilst Sir Timothy (Ben Miles) left for London with his wife Lady Adelaide (Olivia Grant).

So what is in store for Dorcas in the second series of Lark Rise to Candleford?

“Well Dorcas has got another love interest called James Dowland who is played by Jason Merrells. At first, they fight against each other because of his lack of understanding of the whole community.

“She finds it hard to understand where he’s coming from but there is also a romantic thing going on. She is attracted to him but she doesn’t understand why. Since losing Zillah, I think she wears her emotions much more on her sleeve – she’s much more vulnerable in this series.

“I miss not having Liz around, she was a fantastic person to have on set but this series, we’ve got a wonderful actress Ruby Bentall who’s incredible, she plays my new maid. It’s a lovely dynamic to have this younger maid in the kitchen that can’t do anything, and it’s made Dorcas realise how much she has learnt from Zillah. As much as you lose people you have wonderful replacements that bring in a new dynamic and a new energy and so the thing moves on.”

Does working on a period drama such as Lark Rise to Candleford presents challenges for an actor?

“There is a certain amount of etiquette involved such as not putting your elbows on the table, sitting up, and the way you walk, you have to take small steps. Sometimes in the stage directions you’ll read, ‘She runs down the street’, and Victorian ladies did not run! This wasn’t just out of manners, it’s physically impossible to run in a long skirt and a corset so you have to constantly remind yourself of things that they did and didn’t do!”

Julia, a veteran of period dramas, having starred in Cranford and Pride And Prejudice, has plenty experience of wearing corsets.

“I’m actually alright in the corsets!” she laughs, “I’ve got a bit of elastic around the side of them which helps me breathe although I do run out of breath in long speeches. There are days when it becomes a bit intolerable but it’s just like anything really. When you wear a tight pair of jeans it can become terrible sometimes. I think it helps you so much with character and helps you stand up straight and gives you a bit of grace.

“Corsets come in all different shapes, and I would say this is possibly the most restricting one I’ve worn. Some corsets are soft corsets, like the ones in the Pride And Prejudice period. They would push your boobs up but wouldn’t pull you in because you’ve got the A length dresses. But I think in this period, about five years before 1896 they were aiming for a 21 inch waist!”

The first series of Lark Rise to Candleford brought in around seven million viewers each week, what kind of reaction have you had from fans?

“The reaction has been incredible. The letters I’ve had from people are the nicest letters I’ve ever had. People have gone out of their way to write, saying: ‘I wouldn’t normally write this letter but what Dorcas went through I have been through…’

“Even in the street what most people say is that they’re so pleased there’s no murder and no violence and I think that’s the main crux of it. It’s just easier on the eye, easier on the ear, gentle drama, which looks at people’s relationships. People had the same relationships then as they do today, except we’re wearing different costumes. We have our fights we have our heartbreaks, we have our happy moments.

“This all makes my job worthwhile because it means that I’ve helped someone escape in some way for an hour and understand their own emotions and that’s a huge compliment to me.”

Reprising the role of Laura Timmins, a Lark Rise girl who moved to Candleford to work with her cousin, Dorcas Lane, Olivia Hallinan reflects how much Laura has changed since she first arrived at the Post Office as a naïve and innocent young girl:

“Laura has definitely grown up. She’s grown in confidence and takes on a lot more responsibility in this series. Dorcas watches Laura grow as she flourishes in her relationships and people skills and shes quite proud of what she has achieved.

“I think the arrival of Minnie played by Ruby Bentall is really interesting as it forces Laura to take on a much more responsible role and Dorcas gives her more freedom.

“It’s been great having Ruby join the cast and I think Minnie is such a great character that the audience will love. She is hopeless to start with and Laura gives her advice and really looks after her just as Dorcas previously did for Laura. Seeing Minnie makes Laura realise just what she’s got and how lucky she is to have her family in Lark Rise.”

Ruby Bentall is not the only newcomer to the cast; Jason Merrells joins as the new hotel owner, James Dowland:

“Jason Merrells, has been great to work with as well. Laura sees what he has made of himself coming from Lark Rise and realises how far she has come. Queenie looked after Dowland when he was a boy so there’s a good relationship between the Lark Risers and James.

“Laura is quite wary of him at first, because of his interest in Dorcas. She’s always fiercely protective over Dorcas, so when a guy comes along Laura is looking out for her – they always know when each other are upset or down about something.”

At the end of the first series Laura was left heartbroken by Philip as he betrayed her trust, so will there be a new love interest in this series?

“Laura falls head over heels in love with a man called Fisher Bloom (Matthew McNulty). He comes to Candleford to make a clock and Laura falls well and truly for him.

“Laura can be quite serious, she takes her job very seriously which is good but she can also be very sensible. Fisher makes her realise that there’s more to life than being the best at everything, being in control and being perfect, which is really good for her.

“There’s an episode where Dorcas gets ill and Laura has to take on more responsibility, she keeps saying to herself, I can’t fail, I can’t fail! Fisher lets her know that it is alright to fail sometimes. He brings out the young girl in her.”

The costumes in the first series were beautiful, having just finished filming a second series have you got used to wearing them day in day out for seven months?

“Yes, it’s a long shoot and I’ve got used to the corset now. It was hard to start with but you learn to deal with wearing it 12 hours a day, your body adjusts. I still get corset rage a lot! You’ll be fine and then you get a sharp stabbing pain and you know you have to get it loosened – especially after a big lunch!’

“Laura’s wardrobe has changed this series by becoming more colourful, more girly. Previously she was wearing hand-me-downs from Dorcas and now she’s developing her own style.”

The second series filmed in Bath and Bristol, what was it like second time round?

‘Bath is such a beautiful and stunning town. You can begin to take the place for granted when you’re staying there for so long but it’s great place to be and it was great that all the cast lived so close to each other too.

We had our local pub and went out for lots of meals together, hence the corset rage! There was a real sense of, all in it together and it was lovely that we were all neighbours.

“I went to the new shopping centre with Claudie Blakley and Brendan Coyle who play my parents and the reaction we got was unbelievable! People were really nice about the show. The reaction has been really positive and some people know more about each episode than I do. I just hope people like this series just as much.”

Summing up why she thinks Lark Rise To Candleford was so loved?

“Lark Rise To Candleford is a heart warming, tender, visually stunning and it’s the perfect Sunday night viewing. There will be things that you won’t expect in this series – the audience will see Laura worked up in state at some points, which I think could surprise people. You see the hardships as well as their closeness of the communities which I think is what the audience really liked.”

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

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.

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.

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.

Philip (Oliver Jackson Cohen) is becoming increasingly possessive of Laura

Tensions between Dorcas and Sir Timothy continue to grow as they review the history of their relationship, in tonight’s concluding episode of the adaptation of Flora Thompson’s magical memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood. A bitter argument gives way to a tender embrace, but Dorcas decides that she can’t go on living and working so close to Sir Timothy. She announces, to her devastated staff, that she intends to sell the Post Office and go travelling.

For Laura, meanwhile, love’s young dream is turning sour as Philip becomes increasingly possessive, and she expresses doubts about their relationship. Philip vents his frustration on Robert by demanding he tell Sir Timothy the identity of the poacher, but when he refuses Sir Timothy is forced to sack Robert from his job at the manor. This is the last straw for Laura, and she tells Philip she never wants to see him again.

It’s Zillah’s birthday and everyone visits the Post Office for a party. Sir Timothy also comes to tell Dorcas that he must put his family before their friendship and that he has decided to leave Candleford – he and Lady Adelaide will leave for London immediately. Dorcas is shocked but also relieved – perhaps now they can get on with their lives apart.

Caroline has been desperately hoping that her husband will return from sea before her baby’s born, but the baby won’t wait any longer and she gives birth at the Post Office during Zillah’s birthday celebrations.

Later, it emerges that Thomas didn’t post the deeds to the Post Office. Dorcas can stay and everyone is elated.

Dorcas Lane is played by Julia Sawalha, Sir Timothy Midwinter by Ben Miles, Laura Timmins by Olivia Hallinan, Philip White by Oliver Jackson Cohen, Robert Timmins by Brendan Coyle, Zillah by Liz Smith, Lady Adelaide by Olivia Grant, Caroline by Dawn French and Thomas Brown by Mark Heap.

Caroline (Dawn French) is determined to mend her ways

The residents of Lark Rise and Candleford are intrigued when Queenie finds a beautiful embroidered panel on a grave, which is clearly very old, in tonight’s penultimate episode of the adaptation of Flora Thompson’s magical memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood. Dorcas and Sir Timothy set about getting to the bottom of the mystery of who created the panel.

Alf and Philip’s rivalry, meanwhile, continues as Alf’s boast that he is skilled enough to poach in the manor grounds undetected leads both him and Laura’s brother, Edmund, into danger. Edmund looks up to Alf and tries to emulate his daring attempts at poaching. While Alf manages to catch himself a pheasant, Edmund is seriously injured by one of Philip’s traps. Edmund is forced to hide his injuries from his father, however, rather than face his wrath, but he’s not going to be able to last long without treatment for his injury.

Caroline has also returned to Lark Rise from her stay in prison and is determined to mend her ways. She constantly has to bite her tongue and suppress her excessive urges in order to prove to herself, and her children, that she is reformed.

Back in Candleford, Dorcas tries once again to bring Thomas and Miss Ellison together, but they both reject her invitation to a matchmaking tea at the post office to take a private walk together instead. Dorcas is moved to learn that the creator of the panel was apparently a seamstress and spinster, who made it as a token of her love for her employer – a married man whom she could never have.

Queenie is played by Linda Bassett, Dorcas Lane by Julia Sawalha, Sir Timothy Midwinter by Ben Miles, Alf Arless by John Dagleish, Philip White by Oliver Jackson Cohen, Laura Timmins by Olivia Hallinan, Edmund by Thomas Rhys Jones, Caroline Arless by Dawn French, Thomas Brown by Mark Heap and Miss Ellison by Sandy McDade.

Sun 24 Feb, 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm  60mins

Alf (John Dagleish) is managing o keep his family together with the support of his friends

The arrival of a new teacher, Mr Delafield, causes a stir in Candleford when some new books arrive for him at the Post Office, as the adaptation of Flora Thompson’s magical memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood continues. A prickly Dorcas takes the books to him, but the tension soon turns to chemistry. It seems that Sir Timothy might have a serious rival for Dorcas’s affections…

However, elsewhere in Candleford, Mr Delafield’s radical political views raise concern that he might damage young minds. In Lark Rise, meanwhile, he endears himself to the residents by setting up evening classes for the older boys to continue their education and by reviving an old tradition: holding a “penny reading” at the school, which is attended by all.

Alf is managing to keep his family together with the support of his Lark Rise friends. At the penny reading, he tries to impress Laura by reading her favourite poem, but is it enough to draw her attention from Philip? The night ends in panic as Twister, who has been minding the Arless children, becomes confused and takes them to the pub for some brandy. It’s a race against time for the villagers to rescue the children from harm.

Back in Candleford, the residents have taken things into their own hands and insist that Mr Delafield is relieved of his position. Sir Tim isn’t convinced, but is forced to act when the Pratts write to the school board. Timothy tells Dorcas about the letter and she goes to warn Delafield, urging him to leave rather than see his reputation ruined…

James Delafield is played by Stephen Campbell-Moore, Dorcas Lane by Julia Sawalha, Sir Timothy Midwinter by Ben Miles, Alf Arless by John Dagleish, Laura Timmins by Olivia Hallinan and Philip White by Oliver Jackson Cohen.