Lark Rise to Candleford

The new season opens with the arrival of Gabriel Cochrane, the once wealthy owner of a large Iron Foundry. The bank has repossessed his home and business, his young wife has died, and Gabriel finds himself looking for a new start. The people of Candleford take him to their hearts, and Dorcas offers him a job and a home.

When Daniel announces that his newspaper is launching a poetry competition, the folks of Lark Rise and Candleford are thrown into a frenzy of creative writing. Pearl, Margaret and Alfie all vie to take home the trophy with their poetic offerings, but Ruby is spreading a rumor that Laura and Daniel have fixed the outcome of the competition.

Thomas is euphoric when he lands the job of organizing the church bazaar. But his joy soon evaporates when the vicar falls ill, and the controversial and free-thinking Reverend Marley takes charge. Thomas is convinced that Marley is evil incarnate, and when he comes across a snake on his postal rounds, he sees it as a sign that the devil is indeed amongst them.

The Fair has come to town, and the locals are celebrating - Alf has been crowned King of the Fair, while Queenie has won a whole pig! The Lark Risers start fattening up the pig in preparation for a sumptuous pig feast, but Twister can't resist the temptation of selling off cuts of the animal to the people of Candleford. At the post office, Gabriel is proving to be a less than perfect house guest.

Daniel is planning a cricket match against a neighboring village team. He's determined to restore Candleford's honor, but most of his regular players are away, and the men of Larkrise are cricketing novices. Defeat looks certain until he discovers that the finest batsman in the county is right under his nose. The only problem is, his batsman is a batswoman, and the rules state women cannot play.

Gabriel has finally completed the machine which he hopes will restore his fortunes and farmers are soon asking to buy his invention. Dorcas is delighted for him, until she realizes it could mean his departure from Candleford. Meanwhile, Caroline has returned to Lark Rise, and Minnie assumes it's only a matter of time before Alf comes to propose, now that his ma is back to look after her children.