Lark Rise to Candleford

Daniel Parish, a handsome and ambitious young journalist, arrives in Lark Rise with exciting news for the Timmins family. Emma's aunt has died, leaving her a large inheritance. All Daniel seeks in return for this information is permission to write their rags-to-riches story for his newspaper.

Daniel Parish returns to Candleford to try to win back Laura's affections. The first person he encounters is Robert, who challenges him to make amends with the people he has offended. Daniel promises not to see Laura until he has completed his task.

Alf throws a party to celebrate moving into a cottage of his own. He entertains his guests with a song, and its haunting words have a profound effect on all of them.

It's harvest time and, when Alf is crowned "king of the mowers", he vows to bring in the harvest in record time. Every man, woman and child in the hamlet is employed cutting the wheat and collecting the "leazings", or leftover wheat, which will feed them through the winter. Dorcas decides a day of fun with the Lark Rise children at the harvest is just what her serious little boy, Sydney, needs.

Everyone is talking about Mr Reppington, the mysterious recluse at the Golden Lion Hotel. Dorcas is determined to entice him back into the world, but can she succeed?

Daniel starts a newspaper campaign against Peg Leg's lack of a war pension, but Emma learns that he is not all he seems, which threatens to destroy Daniel's venture.

The locals are rehearsing for a production of St George and the Dragon when they hear rumours that Sir Timothy has returned. They are thrilled - but where is he?

A talented seamstress arrives in Candleford and strikes up an instant bond with Pearl, but Pearl must confront her deepest prejudices to save their new friendship.

When the Lark Rise school loses its teacher, Emma steps in and discovers a talent she never knew she had. But Margaret also covets the role of schoolteacher, and the two women become rivals for the job. Over in Candleford, Thomas and Dorcas are at odds. The postman is agitating for better working conditions, and Dorcas isn't taking it well.

When the local Lark Rise gossip Mrs Mullins discovers her daughter Emily is pregnant, she leaps to the conclusion that Daniel is the father. Everyone, including Laura, rallies round to defend him. But when Daniel's behaviour starts to arouse suspicion, and people begin to doubt him, Dorcas is determined to uncover the truth.

Mischief Night is approaching and the folks of Lark Rise and Candleford are excitedly planning tricks to play on their neighbours. But Laura is in no mood for silly pranks - Fisher Bloom has returned, intent on winning her back, and it has thrown her feelings for Daniel into turmoil.

When the postmaster at Inglestone, with an old score to settle, tries to force Dorcas into selling up, she is faced with the heartbreaking prospect of losing her home and denying Sydney his dream of running the post office one day.