Return to Cranford
Introduction '''''Return to Cranford''''' (known in the United Kingdom as the ''Cranford'' Christmas Special) is the two-part second season of a British television series directed by Simon Curtis. The teleplay by Heidi Thomas was based on material from two novellas and a short story by Elizabeth Gaskell published between 1849 and 1863: ''Cranford'', ''The Moorland Cottage'' and ''The Cage at Cranford''. Themes from ''My Lady Ludlow'', ''Mr Harrison's Confessions'' and ''The Last Generation in England'' are included to provide continuity with the ''first series''.The two-part Christmas special was transmitted in the UK by BBC One in December 2009.In the United States, it was broadcast by PBS as part of its ''Masterpiece Theatre'' series in January 2010.Cast members from the first season, including but not limited to Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Julia McKenzie, Deborah Findlay and Barbara Flynn reprised their roles, with Jonathan Pryce, Celia Imrie, Lesley Sharp, Nicholas Le Prevost, Jodie Whittaker, Tom Hiddleston, Michelle Dockery, Matthew McNulty, Rory Kinnear and Tim Curry joining the cast.The new stories, which were written by Heidi Thomas and directed by Simon Curtis, took place in August 1844; a year after the wedding of Sophy Hutton and Dr Harrison.
Cast '''Listed in alphabetical order:''' Actor Role Francesca Annis Lady Ludlow, the Lady of Hanbury Court  Claudie Blakley Martha, a maid to Matty Jenkyns  Andrew Buchan Jem Hearne, a carpenter and father of Martha's daughter Tilly Jim Carter Captain Brown, retired officer who now works for the railway Tim Curry Signor Brunoni, an Italian magician Judi Dench Matilda 'Matty' Jenkyns Lisa Dillon Mary Smith, a guest of Matty Jenkyns  Michelle Dockery Erminia, Brussels-educated ward of Mr. Buxton  Alex Etel Harry Gregson, a boy of poor parentage Emma Fielding Laurentia Galindo, a former milliner who now assists Lady Ludlow in her affairs Deborah Findlay Augusta Tomkinson, a spinster Barbara Flynn  The Honourable Mrs Jamieson, a widow with aristocratic pretensions and the owner of her beloved dog, Giuseppe  Debra Gillett Mrs. Johnson, wife of Mr. Johnson and fellow shopkeeper Tom Hiddleston William Buxton, Eton-educated son of Mr. Buxton Hannah Hobley Bertha, the maid of Miss Pole Celia Imrie Lady Glenmire, the aristocratic sister-in-law of Mrs. Jamieson Alex Jennings Reverend Hutton, former vicar to Cranford Rory Kinnear Septimus, ne’er-do-well son of Lady Ludlow, who has been living abroad in Italy Nicholas Le Prevost Peter Jenkyns, brother of Matty, returned from many years in India. Re-cast from Martin Shaw. Julia McKenzie Mrs Forrester, a widow, who owns a cow, Bessie, whom she loves as a daughter  Jonathan Pryce Mr. Buxton, a wealthy widower returning to live in Cranford after the death of his wife Adrian Scarborough Mr. Johnson, town shopkeeper Imelda Staunton Octavia Pole, the town gossip Jodie Whittaker Peggy Bell, caretaker of her mother (Lesley Sharp) and brother Edward (Matthew McNulty) Greg Wise Sir Charles Maulver, a magistrate and owner of the local railway company
Episode guide '''Part One:''' '''''August 1844'''''Matty Jenkyns has closed her tea shop and now looks after Tilly, the baby daughter of her maid Martha and carpenter Jem Hearne, while the pregnant Martha works in the kitchen. Captain Brown readies the opening of a train station at Hanbury Halt, five miles from Cranford. Lady Ludlow refuses to sell her land to enable an extension to the townMrs. Bell, a widow with two grown children, continues deep mourning fourteen months after her husband's passing. Daughter Peggy dresses in outdated clothes and has little opportunity to socialise with people her own age – including potential suitors. Wealthy Mr. Buxton has returned to his lands following the death of his wife. He brings Eton-educated son William and also his ward Erminia, educated in Brussels. William and Peggy begin to have feelings for each other.At Hanbury Court, Lady Ludlow is dying. Miss Galindo attends to her needs and has tried unsuccessfully to contact Lady Ludlow's long-absent son Septimus, living in Naples ostensibly for his health, to alert him of his mother's illness. However he eventually arrives in London en route for Cheshire.Lady Ludlow collapses and dies before her son arrives. Meanwhile, Martha has gone into labour as Jem is summoned to Hanbury Hall for his duties as undertaker. While he is gone, she begins to haemorrhage. Matty sends for a doctor, but none is available; Martha dies.Lady Ludlow's son Septimus arrives with his foppish Italian companion Giacomo. Their lavish lifestyle has drained Lady Ludlow's fortune. His mother took out a mortgage on her estate. Her former estate agent, Mr. Carter, now deceased, made provision in his will for her to be loaned the money (from his bequest to Harry Gregson) to pay off the mortgage. Septimus begrudges the fact that he must pay back this loan to Harry Gregson with interest.Septimus arranges for a carriage to fetch Harry from his school. Septimus offers to give Harry £5,000 immediately if he will agree to relinquish his claim to the balance of the money that is owed to him. Harry will then be able to pay for the village school, while Septimus will (he claims) retain the estate. Although Harry is only fourteen they seal the deal by shaking hands in a "gentlemen’s agreement. "Captain Brown calls the town together and reveals that the railway will now be able to reach Cranford, as Septimus has sold the entire Hanbury estate to the railway. Harry, dismayed, tells Miss Galindo of his agreement with Septimus and Miss Galindo intervenes to put a stop to it. Many residents are still opposed to the railway – including Mr. Buxton, who reveals that he owns a parcel of land previously thought part of Hanbury Park. He refuses to sell, blocking the railway's progress.Mary arrives to stay with Matty and says that she is engaged to Mr Turnbull, a wealthy man. Jem Hearne tells Matty that he and Tilly will have to leave Cranford if the railway does not reach the town due to lack of work.Matty realises that she will have to change. She invites her friends and neighbours to accompany her on a train journey so they can see that it is not the evil force they might think it is. Her four friends come, along with Mr. Buxton, his son William and Peggy Bell. As Matty herself begins to feel ill, others gradually relax and find themselves enjoying the trip. In a separate carriage, William and Peggy sit on opposite benches. As the train lurches, they are thrown together. He then confesses his love for her and asks her to marry him.The train returns to Hanbury Halt. Mr. Buxton's tells Matty that it took great courage to try to persuade the others. He is sorry to have stood in the way of progress; thanks to Matty's excursion, he has decided to sell his land and allow the train construction to proceed. '''Part Two:''' '''''October to December 1844'''''When Mr. Buxton discovers that William and Peggy are engaged, he refuses to give his blessing, hoping instead to match William with Erminia. He takes out his frustrations on Matty, blaming her for presenting the opportunity for the two to be alone on the train. Determined to marry Peggy anyway, William turns to Captain Brown for an apprenticeship on the railway.Meanwhile, Peggy's brother Edward becomes an agent for Mr. Buxton and takes charge of the sale of the parcel of land to the railway company. However, he embezzles some of the money. In addition, he evicts Mr. Buxton's tenants, including Harry Gregson's family, while falsely implying to Mr. Buxton that other arrangements have been made for the tenants' accommodation. Harry Gregson's family leaves Cranford after failing to get word to him.Mary's stepmother arrives in Cranford and the fact that Mary has gone back on her promise to marry Mr. Turnbull is revealed. Mary wants to pursue her writing and leaves for London, leaving Matty alone in the house with her brother Peter.Harry has been miserable at his school, where he has been beaten by some of the other students. He runs away back to Cranford to discover that his family have moved on. Miss Galindo and the Reverend Hutton are adamant that Harry must return to the school. Harry runs away, intending to stow away on the next train out of Cranford.William, while working at the railway, stumbles across evidence of Edward's embezzlement. Edward arrives home; he stole the money to pay gambling debts. The Bells are told that if convicted of the crime, Edward will be deported as an indentured labourer. Mr. Buxton seizes upon the opportunity to offer Peggy a deal. He will arrange for Edward not to be charged if she calls off her engagement to William. Peggy decides to refuse Mr. Buxton's offer. The police have a warrant for Edward's arrest and Peggy's sense of duty compels her to decide to accompany Edward on a flight to Canada. She sends a note to William via Miss Matty telling William what has happened, and he races off to catch the departing train.Whilst running away.Harry jumps from a bridge onto a wagon pulled by the train. Almost immediately after that the cow Bessie is hit by the train, derailing it. William arrives at the site of the train crash searching for Peggy. William manages to save Peggy from the wreckage, only for Edward to steal the money and flees. The locomotive explodes as he runs past and he is killed.Miss Galindo and the vicar find a seemingly dead Harry after realising he was on the train when it crashed. They realize that Harry is still breathing. They wrap him and rush him back to shelter.Miss Matty decides she will use some of the money from her shop to restore the assembly hall and hold a Christmas Eve party to bring everyone together. Invitations are sent and everyone accepts except Mrs. Jamieson, who has not forgiven her sister-in-law, the widowed Lady Glenmire, for marrying Captain Brown. Matty is also sad because she has not heard from Jem in a while. Meanwhile, Miss Galindo and the vicar put a new proposition to the recovered Harry: Miss Galindo will pool her money with Harry's and use it to buy a house near Harry's new school in Manchester, and Harry will be able to return to the house and Miss Galindo each evening. They will fulfil Mr Carter's wish that Harry be educated and improve his position in life.Mrs. Forrester is still grieving the death of Bessie; Harry approaches her on the evening of the party and presents her with a new calf to replace Bessie as he apologises. As people gather in the newly refurbished hall, Mrs. Jamieson arrives on Peter's arm, having relented, and she reconciles with the newly-wed Captain Brown and Lady Glenmire. Signor Brunoni then starts his show and asks Miss Pole to enter his "magic box". He then asks Miss Matty to come up and open the box. She finds Miss Pole inside the box holding Tilly, and Jem walks up the aisle and says that with the train coming to town he is moving back.
Production Although Cranford is supposedly in Cheshire, none of the exterior scenes was filmed there. Locations used included Surrey, Hambleden, Windsor, Radnage, Leighton Buzzard, Berkhamsted, Wycombe, Syon House in Brentford, London and Isleworth in Greater London and Oxford. Interiors were filmed in Pinewood Studios. A large portion of filming was done at Lacock in Wiltshire (a location used for many films, including ''Pride and Prejudice'' and ''Emma'' for the BBC in 1995 and 1996, respectively and also for the ''Harry Potter'' films in 2000 and 2001). Filming of the railway sequences took place in Staffordshire at the Foxfield Railway.
Awards and nominations  Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref. British Academy Television Awards Best Supporting Actress Imelda Staunton   British Academy Television Craft Awards Best Writer – Fiction Heidi Thomas   Best Costume Design Jenny Beavan  Best Sound – Fiction/Entertainment Paul Hamblin, Peter Brill, Iain Eyre, and Lee Walpole  Online Film & Television Association Awards Best Motion Picture or Miniseries   Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Judi Dench  Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Jonathan Pryce  Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Imelda Staunton  Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries  Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries  Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries  Best Cinematography in a Non-Series  Best Costume Design in a Non-Series  Best Makeup/Hairstyling in a Non-Series  Best Music in a Non-Series  Best Production Design in a Non-Series  Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries Kate Harwood and Sue Birtwistle   Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Judi Dench  Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Jonathan Pryce  Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie Donal Woods, Mark Kebby, and Trisha Edwards  Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie Ben Smithard   Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Jenny Beavan and Alison Beard   Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries or a Movie Karen Hartley  Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards Best Sound – Drama Paul Hamblin, Peter Brill, Iain Eyre, and Lee Walpole   Satellite Awards Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television Judi Dench    Golden Globe Awards Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Home media ''Return to Cranford'' was released on DVD on 28 December 2009.A DVD box set was also made available on 28 December 2009 comprising the first series, ''The Making of Cranford'' as well as ''Return to Cranford''.
References
External links ** PBS Masterpiece Website** BBC Press release re '' Cranford''* Pictures from filming of ''Cranford''* ''Cranford'' fan site* 10 November 2007 ''Telegraph'' article* 17 November 2007 ''Telegraph'' article* Episode guide at Digiguide.com
Online texts * ''The Cage at Cranford''* ''Mr. Harrison's Confessions''* ''The Last Generation in England''