Episode #2.1 

When Dorcas and Emma each want to give Laura the same gift for Christmas, an old family wound is opened up and Laura finds herself torn between two mothers. As the inhabitants of Lark Rise ... See full summary »

Director:

Alan Grint

Writers:

Bill Gallagher (devised by), Bill Gallagher

Stars:

Linda Bassett, Claudie Blakley, Brendan Coyle

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Linda Bassett	...	Queenie Warner
Claudie Blakley	...	Emma Timmins
Brendan Coyle	...	Robert Timmins
John Dagleish	...	Alf Arless
Fergus Drysdale	...	Frank Timmins
Dawn French	...	Caroline Arless
Olivia Hallinan	...	Laura Timmins
Victoria Hamilton	...	Ruby Pratt
Mark Heap	...	Thomas Brown
Karl Johnson	...	Twister Turrill
Thomas Rhys Jones	...	Edmund Timmins (as Thomas Jones)
Sarah Lancashire	...	Adult Laura (voice)
Sandy McDade	...	Margaret Ellison
Sophie Miles	...	Sally Arless
Harry Miles	...	Archie Arless

Storyline

When Dorcas and Emma each want to give Laura the same gift for Christmas, an old family wound is opened up and Laura finds herself torn between two mothers. As the inhabitants of Lark Rise and Candleford prepare for the festivities, loyalties are tested and, amid the gift-giving and carol-singing, tensions are building. However, the arrival of a ragged, barefooted young woman, who goes by the name of Cinderella Doe, introduces a note of Christmas mystery. Dorcas also receives a Christmas letter from Sir Timothy.

---

Plot Keywords:

christmas | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dawn French is credited as a main cast member in every episode in which she appears; in series 2 and series 4 she appears in one episode.

---

Goofs

The final scene shows the villagers singing "O Little Town of Bethlehem" to Ralph Vaughan Williams' tune "Forest Green". This music was written for the "English Hymnal" in 1906, but in earlier scenes the date stamp shown on some envelope close-ups at the Post Office shows the figures '94' quite clearly, indicating the year to be 1894.

---

Quotes

Adult Laura: My first Christmas in Candleford promised to be far more exotic than anything i'd ever known in Lark Rise. But these are also times when we can forget how fortunate we are, there are those who spend their whole lives searching for the sense of belonging that the rest of us take for granted. The best of intentions can pull families apart, so that parents and children can be divided by their wish to love and be loved.

---

Soundtracks

Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly
(uncredited)
Traditional tune, lyrics by Thomas Oliphant
Performed by Dawn French and John Dagleish

User Reviews

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 December 2008 (UK)

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Color:

Color