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| Lark Rise to Candleford from the BBC starring Olivia Hallinan |
For anyone who has seen even a few episodes of
Lark Rise to Candleford
, you will know what I mean when I say this show is my "One Weakness". Actually, you can read that a few different ways. It is an "in joke" of the production that one of the main characters, Postmistress Dorcas Lane played by Julia Sawalha is always claiming
different things to be her one weakness. But on another level, although this is a luscious and darling production, it is not an adaptation of high literature. It's a sort of 19th century soap opera and I love it!
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| Laura Timmins, Gabriel Cochrane, Dorcas Lane and Minnie |
This wonderful loose adaptation of
Flora Thompson's autobiographical novel
set in late 19th century rural Oxfordshire, travels beween the sleepy hamlet of Lark Rise to the wealthier market town of Candleford. If you want car chases and excitement, this is not for you. If you want to step back in time and be entertained by great stories, wonderful acting and some seriously gorgeous scenery and costumes this is your show.
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| Claudie Blakely and Brendan Coyle as Emma and Robert Timmins |
If you are reading my blog you will likely love this series. They made 40 episodes over 4 years, ending in 2011 so the story spans a large time period and has many actors and characters. I have watched the first season in order and have caught occasional episodes from subsequent seasons on BBC Canada or from PBS. It is pretty easy to pick up an episode here and there without seeing the previous ones.
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| Dawn French as the ever entertaining Caroline Arless |
There are an abundance of real characters in this show from the lusty Caroline Arless as played by Dawn French to the hilarious Pratt sisters (the dressmakers who dress alike). The story centres around the Timmins family comprised of stonemason Robert Timmins and his wife Emma and 5 children who live in Lark Rise and whose eldest daughter Laura goes to Larkrise to work in the post office with Emma's cousin Dorcas.
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| Matilda Zeigler and Victoria Hamilton as Pearl and Ruby Pratt |
Having said how much I love this program let me add that my family does not share my affection for the show. My husband (The Squire) leaves the room rolling his eyes and saying "Oh no, not THAT show!" if I yield to temptation and pop it in the DVD player. So you may have to indulge your one weakness in private as I do if you succumb to the charms of this series. But I mean look at this view...
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| The gorgeous sleepy hamlet of Lark Rise |
Even the laundry on the line looks appealing to me. Anyway, I'm off to work now but when I get home, I think I know what I'm putting on the telly (in another room from The Squire of course).
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| See you tonight Queenie and Twister! |
P.S. Inspiration for this post came from Jane's recent post at her blog
Reading, Writing, Working, Playing and from interest from one of my new readers Suzan. Also the great buzz about the new season of Downton Abbey on Charleybrown's blog
Enchanted Serenity of Period Films had me thinking about the wonderful talents of Brendan Coyle. If you want more info on Lark Rise, there is a great fan website called
The Candleford Chronicle if you'd like to check it out.
I've never heard of this before. I've never caught it on PBS, nor BBC America. I, clearly, like period shows/movies/miniseries. I grew up watching Julia Sawalha on "Absolutely Fabulous" and Dawn French was great in "Vicar of Dibley" so, it would be fun to see them in a period series. My new "period weakness" is the series "Bramwell."
ReplyDeleteOh, I adored Bramwell. I haven't seen that since it aired on PBS in the mid 90s. A bicycle riding female doctor in the Edwardian era! What's not to love? Let me know what you think of the very last 2 episodes as the buzz on IMDb says they're disappointing but I can't remember them.
ReplyDeleteI think you'll love Lark Rise. So many great actors and great stories. Saffy/Lydia and the Vicar are great, as are so many of this cast.
That was a lovely post. I do so love those pictures. I loved that it was a neat, clean, gorgeous, well-balanced family type show. For those whose families will tolerate us....smiles. I can watch it with my grandkids and not blush. The clothes are absolutely incredible. I love just looking at the colors, fabrics, tailoring - even the Pratt sisters. The squabbles between Robert and Emma Timmons is quite realistic I think. Queenie and Twister - well it takes all sorts and we all know one or two. The most unrealistic is what I like best about it - Dorcas always thinks of the best or kindest thing to do or say. I wish I had that ability totally.
ReplyDeleteSuzan
thanks for the mention....I think.
@Suzan-Yes it was your comment on my Top 10 (20? 30?) Period Drama page that got me thinking about this wonderful series again. I take inspiration from my readers a lot so thanks! Glad you liked the post. And I wish I was more like Dorcas too...and that I had some of her dresses!
ReplyDeleteDear Jenny:
ReplyDeleteWe are certainly sisters! When casting around for something to watch during my lunch hours, I realized that I hadn't seen "Lark Rise to Candleford" for awhile, so I hopped over to YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/xLarkRiseCandleford) and started watching the first season all over again. Might have known that you were watching the same thing!
It's my one weakness, after all! (And the comments about Julia Sawalha as Dorcas Lane, and that readers can't believe it's the same actress in Pride & Prejudice (1995), AbFab, and Cranford only proves our theory about the 30 British Actors!)
Happy viewing (and call me to talk if the Squire keeps rolling his eyes)!
Big Sister
I just discovered this series over the summer and have been watching it on Netflix. One of my blog friends recommended it to me--can't remember who now, but maybe it was you! The acting is amazing and you start to feel like you know all of the characters.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Jenny. Now I've got to check out the Candleford Chronicle--how fun!
@BigSis- Our sisterly telepathy is working! You are still anonymous...have you been using Internet Explorer again? Come over to Firefox or Google Chrome. They work better! Call you soon!
ReplyDelete@Julia- Netflix has given new life to a lot of period drama. Yay! Glad you're hooked on Lark Rise too!
I absolutely LOVED this show and its characters. I've watched all 4 seasons (I own the 2nd season on DVD). If you're a lover of period drama you will love this show!
ReplyDelete@Anonymous- I'm so glad to hear from another fan. Thank goodness for the BBC! I wonder what they'll do next now that Downton Abbey from ITV has rather trounced their nice but slightly lackluster Upstairs, Downstairs. Hmmmm.....
ReplyDeleteI've been planning for over a year to catch up on the Candleford episodes! Thanks for mentioning the series and reminding me of what I'm missing! Although I've only seen Dorcas say it a couple times so far, I find that the phrase "my one weakness" pops easily into my head from time to time!
ReplyDeleteShocked that the Squire doesn't fall for its charms!
@Cheryl- There really isn't time for all the things we want to watch is there?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure where the Squire's antipathy for this series comes from. Too precious I guess. Either that or I have finally overdosed him on period drama :)
Just finished watching the whole series with my 12 year old daughter. We absolutely loved it. What a great antidote for Glee!
ReplyDeleteOlga-What a great series for an 11 year old. Another period drama fan!
Deletei've started to watch Lark Rise, thanks again for the wise council. my fav characters so far are Dorcas (her one weaknesses are endearing and so convenient) and C Arless ("and since i have four children at home ...four?! mumbled counting...the baby! i do have five chidren at home") she's a real sledgehammer with her humour. a nice change of pace from the heart thumping periods.
ReplyDeleteMommbsta- Glad you are enjoying Lark Rise. It is my one weakness!
DeleteDear Jenny - I´m SO looking forward to this series as it´s going to be on TV on an Austrian station for the first time (unfortunately in a dubbed German version but still...). Can´t wait to see it in October after reading so much about it on your lovely blog!
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Vienna/Austria, Gaby
Hi Gaby from Vienna! You will love Larkrise. Even dubbed in German :)
DeleteI love this series! So sad to see that there is an end..
ReplyDeleteSimple messages each episode but so meaningful!I absolutely love this series and will miss it so much!
Robin
Loved Lark Rise to Candleford. Was able to watch it with my 11 year old daughter. So many laughs and quality time together. Loved the costumes and characters. Sorry to have seen it end, but glad it happened. Got the DVD's from the public library.
ReplyDeleteLark Rise is a great one to watch with a youngster. Glad to know it is your one weakness too.
DeleteI have to say I always take regular notes on the amazing lines I hear from the characters of Larkrise and Candleford. The show is beautiful, meaningful and it does capture gracefully some amazing features of human nature and fellowship. Truly recommendable.
ReplyDeleteLark Rise to Candleford remains my favorite to this day. I would recommend The Paradise for anyone who hasn't seen it yet. Truly breathtaking sets and costumes. Call the Midwife is also a great series. Very captivating characters.
ReplyDeleteI love this show, it is my one true weakness😊 and I was soo happy to see others who did as well. I loved the strength of the people and their sense of loyalty to each other. That is sort of lost on today's world and as I am 63 years"young" now I must confess,strength, loyalty, love and trust are all my "one" weakness 😁 thanks for the article.
ReplyDelete