BBC pack 'Lark Rise' with all-star cast

The BBC has confirmed an all-star cast for its adaptation of Flora Thompson's memoirs of her Oxfordshire childhood, Lark Rise To Candleford.

Brendan Coyle, Dawn French, Olivia Grant, Olivia Hallinan, Mark Heap, Ben Miles, Julia Sawalha and Liz Smith will star in the ten-part series.

Set in the small hamlet of Lark Rise and the wealthier neighbouring market town, Candleford, at the end of the 19th century, the series chronicles the daily lives of farm-workers, craftsmen and gentry, observing characters in loving, boisterous and competing communities of families, rivals, friends and neighbours.

The story follows Laura Timmins (Olivia Hallinan - Sugar Rush, Torchwood) as she leaves Lark Rise to start a new life under the wing of the independent and effervescent Dorcas Lane (Julia Sawalha) who is post-mistress at the local post office in Candleford.

Lark Rise To Candleford is produced by BBC Drama Production and written by Bill Gallagher. The book was written by Flora Thompson and first published in 1945.

Jane Tranter, controller of BBC Fiction says: "Bill Gallagher has created a strong, funny and heart-warming ten-part drama series from Flora Thompson's novel. His drama naturally displays the enduring beauty of the English countryside, but more than that, it displays the enduring power of human landscape: the comedy, the whimsy, the moments of pain and heartbreak, and the collective and courageous force of family, friends and neighbours that see our characters through the best and worst of times."

Filming will take place in and around Bristol and Gloucestershire this summer. The producer is Grainne Marmion (The State Within) and executive producers are Susan Hogg and Bill Gallagher.