Lark Rise to Candleford: Complete BBC Series 1 [2008]

Customer Reviews:

Almost Perfect.......2008-03-11

This is a very fine production with some excellent perfomances. It would be almost perfect except for the, perhaps, relatively poor performance from Dawn French who appears rather out of her depth in this production. That aside it is a delight to watch and very 'user friendly'.

Pure Joy.......2008-03-01

The BBC have produced yet another fantastic costume drama. Based on three of Flora Thompson's books that make Lark Rise to Candleford, the BBC have adapted and brought these remarkable stories to life. The acting is excellent, and the choice of actors is perfect.

Based around life in turn of the century Oxforshire this series brings to life the story of people living in a small town and hamlet outside Oxford. The trials and tribulations of these people really make convulsive viewing, and the scenery and buildings really bring alive the feeling of the places. If you liked Cranford (based on The Cranford Chronicles) you will love this adaptation. A definite must have.

Marvellous Lark Rise.......2008-02-26

This series is a real delight. Well done to the BBC for their production, choice of an excellent cast and the way they have maintained the fact, humour, pathos and wit of the original books, which I've loved for many years. This series reflects my forefathers' life in Oxfordshire during the period and now my whole family really looks forward to the Sunday evening showings for a glimpse of what is now a 'lost' rural past.
If I have a 'quibble' it is that some of the costumes are a little too good - Laura's many changes of outfit are rather more than one would expect of a girl from a 'poor' family; neither could one imagine that Miss Lane would have provided them. Miss Lane's outfits are on a par with those of the lady of the manor. But it's a small quibble which does nothing to detract from the overall excellence of (yet another) first class BBC drama.

A Perfect Delight!.......2008-02-11

I've been following this series on BBC1 every Sunday evening and as it's so brilliant that I couldn't wait to write a review. It's based on the semi-autobiographical books of Flora Thompson who grew up in Oxfordshire at the end of the 19th century.

The series stars a young woman, Laura, who leaves her family in the poor village of Lark Rise to work as an assistant to the post mistress in the posher town of Candleford. This series has everything. Light-hearted moments, tender scenes, forbidden love across the social divide, hideous snobs in the form of the two brilliantly named and brillinatly played Pratt sisters, and bags and bags of humour. There is grace personified by the post mistress Dorcas Lane who is fantastically played by Julia Sawalha, and the dashing young squire portrayed by Ben Miles.

This is the perfect Sunday evening drama series which you can happily watch with your whole family, both young and old. If you have actually read the books you may be slightly disappointed as some liberties have been taken with the text, but for those of us who haven't it's a perfect delight.

So far, so good........2008-02-04

After Cranford and Sense and Sensibility ended I was beginning to get withdrawal symptoms, so thank god for Lark Rise to Candleford, it's the perfect sunday evening programme, perfect for families to watch, with so much humour and a fantastic cast. Maybe this review is a bit too early as there have only been 4 episodes out of 10 shown on tv so far, but I'm pretty sure that the rest will be just as good.

UK DVD:

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