From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
Lark Rise to Candleford (TV series)
BBC TV drama series, 2008–2011
BBC TV drama series, 2008–2011
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| image | Lark Rise to Candleford.jpg |
| genre | Period Drama |
| creator | Bill Gallagher |
| based_on | Lark Rise to Candleford trilogy by Flora Thompson |
| narrated | Sarah Lancashire |
| composer | Julian Nott |
| country | United Kingdom |
| language | English |
| num_series | 4 |
| num_episodes | 40 |
| executive_producer | Bill Gallagher |
| Susan Hogg | |
| producer | Grainne Marmion (Series 1) |
| Ann Tricklebank (Series 2–4) | |
| location | Box, Corsham and Lockeridge, Wiltshire |
| runtime | 60 minutes |
| network | BBC One |
| BBC HD | |
| first_aired | |
| last_aired |
Susan Hogg Ann Tricklebank (Series 2–4) BBC HD
Lark Rise to Candleford is a British television period drama series, adapted by the BBC from Flora Thompson's trilogy of semi-autobiographical novels about the English countryside, published between 1939 and 1943. The first episode aired on 13 January 2008 on BBC One and BBC HD in the UK. In the U.S., the series began on select PBS stations in the spring of 2009. A third series began in the UK on 10 January 2010. The fourth and final series began on 9 January 2011 on BBC One and BBC One HD, and concluded on 13 February 2011.
Premise
The series is set in the small Oxfordshire hamlet of Lark Rise, and the wealthier neighbouring market town of Candleford at the end of the 19th century, before the coming of the railway. The series chronicles the daily lives of farmworkers, craftsmen and gentry observing the characters in loving, boisterous and competing communities of families, rivals, friends and neighbours.
The story is seen through the eyes of a young girl, Laura Timmins (Olivia Hallinan), as she leaves Lark Rise to start a new life under the wing of her mother's cousin, the independent and effervescent Dorcas Lane (Julia Sawalha), who is postmistress at the local post office in Candleford. Through these two characters, viewers experience the force of friendship as Laura and Dorcas see each other through the best and worst of times.
Cast
Main cast
| Character | Portrayed by | Series | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorcas Lane | Julia Sawalha | Main}} | ||||
| Laura Timmins | Olivia Hallinan | Main}} | ||||
| Emma Timmins | Claudie Blakley | Main}} | ||||
| Robert Timmins | Brendan Coyle | Main}} | colspan="1" | |||
| Victoria May 'Queenie' Warrener Turrill | Linda Bassett | Main}} | ||||
| Thomas 'Twister' Turrill | Karl Johnson | Main}} | ||||
| Thomas Brown | Mark Heap | Main}} | ||||
| Margaret Ellison Brown | Sandy McDade | Recurring}} | Main}} | |||
| Caroline Arless | Dawn French | Main}} | colspan="1" | res=Guest}} | ||
| Alf Arless | John Dagleish | Main}} | ||||
| Winifred 'Minnie' Mude | Ruby Bentall | colspan="1" | Main}} | |||
| Zillah | Liz Smith | Main}} | colspan="3" | |||
| Prudence "Pearl" Pratt | Matilda Ziegler | Main}} | ||||
| Ruth "Ruby" Pratt | Victoria Hamilton | Main}} | ||||
| Sir Timothy Midwinter | Ben Miles | Main}} | colspan="3" | |||
| Lady Adelaide Midwinter | Olivia Grant | Main}} | colspan="1" | colspan="1" | ||
| Phillip White | Oliver Jackson-Cohen | Main}} | colspan="3" | |||
| Mr. Paxton | Gerard Horan | Main}} | colspan="3" | |||
| Matthew Welby | Stephen Marcus | Main}} | colspan="3" | |||
| James Dowland | Jason Merrells | colspan="1" | Main}} | colspan="2" | ||
| Nan Carter | Rebecca Night | colspan="1" | Main}} | colspan="2" | ||
| Daniel Parish | Ben Aldridge | colspan="2" | Main}} | |||
| Gabriel Cochrane | Richard Harrington | colspan="3" | Main}} | |||
| Narrator (Adult Laura Timmins) | Sarah Lancashire | Recurring}} | ||||
| Edmund Timmins | Thomas Rhys Jones | Recurring}} | ||||
| Frank Timmins | Fergus Drysdale | Recurring}} | ||||
| Ethel Timmins | Martha Murdoch | Recurring}} | ||||
| Sally Arless | Sophie Miles | Recurring}} | ||||
| Lizzie Arless | Hope Yeomans | Recurring}} | ||||
| Archie Arless | Harry Miles | Recurring}} | colspan="1" | |||
| Sydney Dowland | Edward Darnell-Hayes | colspan="1" | text=Minor}} | Recurring}} | ||
| Fisher Bloom | Matthew McNulty | colspan="1" | Recurring}} | colspan="1" |
Guest stars
- Lorraine Ashbourne as Lil Spicer (Series 2, 1 episode)
- Samantha Bond as Celestia Brice-Coulson (Series 2, 1 episode)
- Rosie Cavaliero as Bessie Mullins (Series 3, 1 episode)
- Camille Coduri as Patty (Series 1, 1 episode)
- Tom Conti as Mr. Reppington (Series 3, 1 episode)
- Ben Daniels as Mr. Rushton (Series 1, 1 episode)
- Phil Davis as Arthur Ashlow (Series 1, 1 episode)
- Oliver Dimsdale as George Ellison (Series 2, 4 episodes)
- Michelle Fairley as Elizabeth Patterson (Series 2, 10 episodes)
- Burn Gorman as Benedict Marley (Series 4, 1 episode)
- Nigel Harman as Samuel Braby (Series 1, 1 episode)
- Jennie Jacques as Emily Mullins (Series 3, 1 episode)
- Stephen Campbell Moore as James Delafield (Series 1, 1 episode)
- Hattie Morahan as Miss Enid (Series 3, 1 episode)
- Ronald Pickup as Old Peg Leg (Series 3, 1 episode)
- Robert Pugh as Walter Arless (Series 2, 1 episode; mentioned throughout Series 1)
- Paul Ritter as Mr Steerforth (Series 4, 1 episode)
- Claire Skinner as Mrs Macey (Series 1, 2 episodes)
- Sheridan Smith as Cinderella Doe (Series 2, 1 episode)
- Maggie Steed as Mrs Herring (Series 2, 1 episode)
- Peter Vaughan as Reverend Ellison (Series 1, 2 episodes)
- Danny Webb as Mr Macey (Series 1, 1 episode)
Filming
Interior scenes were shot in a warehouse on Beeches Industrial Estate, in Yate, South Gloucestershire. The villages of Lark Rise and Candleford were both created from scratch on farms in Box and Neston Park, near Corsham in Wiltshire. According to the BBC planning application, Hatt Farm in Box was used because of its proximity to existing cornfields and farm buildings, and Park Farm in Neston Park was chosen for its unspoilt character and attractive traditional buildings.
The outdoor filming at these locations for the first series took 25 days, spread over a 5-month period. The country scenes, including all the comings and goings of the lord of the manor, were shot at Chavenage House north of Tetbury, Gloucestershire.
Episodes
Series 1 (2008)
Series 2 (2008–2009)
Series 3 (2010)
Series 4 (2011)
Cancellation
It was announced on 22 January 2011 that the show would not be returning for a fifth series. The decision caused viewer complaints, prompting BBC One controller Danny Cohen to say, "Lark Rise to Candleford has been a truly wonderful part of the BBC One schedule and we are incredibly grateful to writer Bill Gallagher and the team. But we feel the time is right to make room for new dramas which we hope will be taken to the nation's hearts in the same way."
Following that announcement, many viewers took to setting up and signing online campaigns to see the show recommissioned. In response, Ben Stephenson of the BBC finally announced the decision was based on the departure of writer and executive producer Bill Gallagher, whose "creative energy" was considered essential to the series.
Notes
References
References
- (18 December 2009). "BBC Press Office - Week 2 - Lark Rise To Candleford". BBC Press Office.
- (15 December 2010). "BBC Press Office - Network TV BBC Week 2: New this week". BBC Press Office.
- Anon. (20 December 2008). "Interview with Julia Sawalha". Evening Post.
- Anon. (January 2008). "Planning application: Neston Park Film sets, Corsham". BBC Television Drama Dept..
- [http://www.gloucestershireonscreen.co.uk/home/2000s/lark-rise-to-candleford-tv-2008 'Lark Rise TV Locations'] {{Webarchive. link. (27 October 2010 at [[Gloucestershire]] On Screen)
- link. (29 March 2007)
- [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a301128/bbc-one-boss-defends-lark-rise-axe.html BBC One boss defends 'Lark Rise' axe] Digital Spy, 31 January 2011
- [http://www.atvtoday.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=802:lark-rise-fans-launch-campaigns-to-save-show&catid=1:tv-media&Itemid=3 Lark Rise fans launch campaigns to save show] ATV News, 16 February 2011
- [http://legacy.thisisbath.co.uk/BBC-boss-blames-producer-s-departure-axing-Lark-Rise/story-11320748-detail/story.html#ixzz2tAlLIwm8]{{Dead link. (April 2019)
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about Lark Rise to Candleford (TV series) — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report