Lark Rise To Candleford – second series
Introduction
Lark Rise To Candleford returns to 91Èȱ¬ One in January 2009, a perfect Sunday night winter warmer which regularly attracted average viewing figures of 6.7 million in its first series.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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At the end of the first series Zillah (Liz Smith) sadly passed away leaving an emotional hole at the heart of the Post Office.
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Meanwhile Sir Timothy (Ben Miles) and Lady Adelaide (Olivia Grant) left Candleford to start a new life in London.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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"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."
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The second series is commissioned by Jane Tranter, Controller of 91Èȱ¬ Fiction, and was filmed in and around the West Country throughout the summer 2008.
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The series Executive Producer is Susan Hogg and Producer is Annie Tricklebank.
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Lark Rise To Candleford is also being simulcast on the 91Èȱ¬ HD channel – the 91Èȱ¬'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.
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GJ
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