Cranford (2007– )

In the 1840s, Cranford is ruled by the ladies. They adore good gossip; and romance and change is in the air, as the unwelcome grasp of the Industrial Revolution rapidly approaches their beloved rural market-town.

Writers:

Sue Birtwistle (creator), Susie Conklin (creator),

Stars:

Judi Dench, Julia McKenzie, Imelda Staunton

Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 16 wins & 30 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Judi Dench	...	Miss Matty Jenkyns (7 episodes, 2007-2009)
Julia McKenzie	...	Mrs. Forrester (7 episodes, 2007-2009)
Imelda Staunton	...	Miss Octavia Pole (7 episodes, 2007-2009)
Lisa Dillon	...	Mary Smith (7 episodes, 2007-2009)
Deborah Findlay	...	Miss Tomkinson (7 episodes, 2007-2009)
Barbara Flynn	...	Mrs. Jamieson (7 episodes, 2007-2009)
Alex Etel	...	Harry Gregson (7 episodes, 2007-2009)
Alex Jennings	...	Reverend Hutton (7 episodes, 2007-2009)
Jim Carter	...	Captain Brown (7 episodes, 2007-2009)
Emma Fielding	...	Miss Galindo (7 episodes, 2007-2009)
Adrian Scarborough	...	Mr. Johnson (7 episodes, 2007-2009)
Andrew Buchan	...	Jem Hearne (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Claudie Blakley	...	Martha (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Debra Gillett	...	Mrs. Johnson (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Francesca Annis	...	Lady Ludlow (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Emma Lowndes	...	Bella Gregson (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Simon Woods	...	Dr. Harrison (5 episodes, 2007)
Rosy Byrne	...	Lizzie Hutton (5 episodes, 2007)
Kimberley Nixon	...	Sophy Hutton (5 episodes, 2007)
John Bowe	...	Dr. Morgan (5 episodes, 2007)
Selina Griffiths	...	Caroline Tomkinson (5 episodes, 2007)
Philip Glenister	...	Mr. Carter (5 episodes, 2007)
Lesley Manville	...	Mrs. Rose (5 episodes, 2007)
Hester Odgers	...	Helen Hutton (5 episodes, 2007)
Julia Sawalha	...	Jessie Brown (5 episodes, 2007)
Greg Wise	...	Sir Charles Maulver (5 episodes, 2007-2009)
Hannah Hobley	...	Bertha (4 episodes, 2007-2009)
Hannah Stokely	...	Bessie (4 episodes, 2007)
Bessie Carter	...	Margaret Gidman (3 episodes, 2007-2009)
Dean Lennox Kelly	...	Job Gregson (3 episodes, 2007)
Andrew Byrne	...	Malachi Gregson (3 episodes, 2007)
Joe McFadden	...	Jack Marshland (3 episodes, 2007)

Storyline

In the 1840s, Cranford is ruled by the ladies. They adore good gossip; and romance and change is in the air, as the unwelcome grasp of the Industrial Revolution rapidly approaches their beloved rural market-town.

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Plot Keywords:

marriage | england | doctor | gossip | small town | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

BBC [uk] PBS [us]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 November 2007 (UK)

Also Known As:

Return to Cranford

Filming Locations:

Ashridge Park, Little Gaddesden, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), WGBH, Chestermead

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min (5 parts)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Heidi Thomas stated she "adored" writing about Miss Pole, saying she "lived inside her". Imelda Staunton, who played the character, said that her character's story and that of Julia McKenzie's were interwoven with the other major characters.

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Connections

Spoofed in Mid Life Christmas (2009)

User Reviews

A female "who's who" of British acting!

Not a dry eye in the house as this came to a close last night. Absolute perfection. Never has a better cast been assembled for a t.v. drama. For me, Imelda Staunton shone, with her fantastic comic timing, but they were all excellent. A departure from the usual Dickens or Austen ( which I adore) in that the plot is more episodic and less dark. There are no obvious villains and few mysteries to unravel. More of a 19th century Archers. However, the insight into the people of the time and into social history is fascinating. Some hilarious lines mixed with occasional haunting tragedy which makes you empathise with its many characters regardless of their faults. Everyone I know has been watching this and all would rate this as the best thing on t.v this year.