Lark Rise To Candleford

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.

When Robert takes pity on a homeless family and takes them in, Emma’s horror is nothing compared to their shock when they discover the family have departed during the night, leaving behind their little daughter, Polly, as the adaptation of Flora Thompson’s magical memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood continues.

Lady Adelaide becomes aware of Polly’s existence and soon falls in love with her. Sir Timothy, however, is extremely wary of this. He knows how badly Adelaide wants a child, but for them to adopt Polly would be completely inappropriate. Sir Timothy takes Polly to the Post Office where an out-of-sorts Zillah is lifted by the bond she forges with the child. Adelaide realises she cannot keep Polly but follows Sir Timothy to the Post Office in order to say goodbye. As it becomes apparent that there’s no clear solution, little Polly’s future hangs in the balance.

Thomas, meanwhile, has been having trouble sleeping and his restlessness is keeping everyone else at the Post Office awake. When Laura and Dorcas realise that it is thoughts of Miss Ellison that are keeping him up, they decide to intervene by sending her a love poem on his behalf. Miss Ellison responds with a poem of her own. Her poem ends up in Sir Timothy’s possession, however, and events spiral out of control, making Dorcas wish she’d never intervened.

Back in Lark Rise, Queenie is increasingly concerned about Twister’s worsening delusions.

Robert Timmins is played by Brendan Cole, Emma Timmins by Claudie Blakley, Polly by Ruby Douglas, Lady Adelaide by Olivia Grant, Sir Timothy Midwinter by Ben Miles, Zillah by Liz Smith, Thomas Brown by Mark Heap, Laura Timmins by Olivia Hallinan and Dorcas Lane by Julia Sawalha.

The BBC has announced a second series of the long-running Sunday night drama Lark Rise To Candleford.

The series stars Julia Sawalha, Olivia Hallinan, Dawn French, Brendan Coyle, Olivia Grant, Mark Heap, Ben Miles and Liz Smith in Bill Gallagher‘s adaptation of Flora Thompson’s magical memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood.

“We are delighted with our audience’s positive and warm reaction to Lark Rise To Candleford and have subsequently commissioned a second series of 12 episodes for transmission in 2009,” said Kate Harwood, Head of Series and Serials for BBC Drama Production.

“The talent and strength of the assembled cast and production team pay tribute to the excellence of Bill’s Gallagher’s vision and scripts.”

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.

Written and Executive produced by Bill Gallagher, who added: “What struck me first about Flora Thompson’s three books was how they are teeming with wonderful characters and anecdotes, story lines come tumbling off the pages thick and fast. I can’t wait to start work on the new series.”

The first episode transmitted on 13 January at 7.40pm on BBC One with viewing figures of 6.7m, peaking at 7.1m. The second episode brought an audience of 6.5m, peaking at 6.8m (slot average is 5.5m).

The second series has been recommissioned by Jane Tranter, Controller of BBC Fiction and will begin filming later this year for transmission in 2009.

Thomas (Mark Heap) is in danger of losing his job and his pension

Dorcas is thrown by the surprise arrival of a new Post Office inspector, Mr Rushton, as the adaptation of Flora Thompson’s magical memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood continues. Rushton starts to unearth anomalies in the way Dorcas runs the Post Office, which are in breach

When a strange old man appears in a woodshed, things take a turn for the worse in this week’s episode of Lark Rise To Candleford, Flora Thompson’s magical memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood.

Mr Ashlow has come looking for his estranged daughters, Ruby and Pearl Pratt, but in the meantime he’s determined to make as much money by mischief as he can, with Caroline Arless a willing accomplice. When Queenie hears that Ashlow is selling