Mrs Bell (Lesley Sharp)
A widow, Mrs Bell is quietly mocked by Cranford’s ladies for her dramatic display of grief at her husband’s graveside each Sunday. Though genuinely bereft by his death, she has not only locked herself into this weekly ritual but refuses all social invitations, thereby dooming her children to a lonely life with little social contact. She now lives entirely for her domineering son, Edward, of whom she is rather in awe. Peggy will always be second best and functions at home more as a drudge than as a daughter.

Erminia Whyte (Michelle Dockery)

The orphaned daughter of Mr Buxton’s younger sister and now his ward (and William’s cousin), Erminia has lived abroad and has recently finished an expensive education in Brussels. She is pretty, musical and full of life. At first Erminia befriends Peggy Bell out of a sense of kindness and duty, but she quickly sees the true value of Peggy’s character and they become firm friends.

Signor Brunoni (Tim Curry)

A character from the original novel, Cranford, Signor Brunoni is an “Italian magician” advertised as Grand Magician of Arabia and Wizard to the King of Delhi. When tragic events in Cranford lead to his show being cancelled, Peter Jenkyns determines to invite him to return for a special Christmas performance. Colourful and quick-witted, Brunoni immediately sees through Miss Pole’s attempts to discover the secrets of his show and finds ways to disconcert even the ever-certain Miss Pole.

Dame Judi Dench reprises her role as Cranford’s much cherished Miss Matty Jenkyns on BBC One this Christmas, and heads a cast that boasts some of Britain’s top film, TV and stage talent including Cranford newcomers: Jonathan Pryce, Celia Imrie, Lesley Sharp,Nicholas Le Prevost, Jodie Whittaker, Tom Hiddleston, Michelle Dockery, Matthew McNulty and Rory Kinnear.

Made by BBC Drama Production and WGBH in association withChestermead, Cranford is created by Sue Birtwistle and Susie Conklin, directed by Simon Curtis and written by Heidi Thomas, based on Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel Cranford woven together with two of her other works.

The Amazons of Cranford are reunited in this two-part special feature with Imelda Staunton back as Miss Pole, Julia McKenzie returning as Mrs Forrester, and Deborah Findlay reprising Miss Tomkinson.Barbara Flynn returns as Mrs Jamieson, whose aristocratic sister-in-law, Lady Glenmire (Celia Imrie), arrives and makes quite an impression on the friends.

It’s August 1844 and one year since the small Cheshire market town celebrated the marriage of Sophy Hutton to Dr Harrison and Miss Matty lost her beloved sister, Deborah (Eileen Atkins).

Miss Matty knows only too well that faces will always come and go in Cranford, but for now she is happy that her dear brother, Peter (Nicholas Le Prevost) is home from India and that Martha (Claudie Blakley), Jem and baby Tilly make for a lively household; Lady Ludlow (Francesca Annis) is eagerly awaiting the return of her long-absent son, Septimus (Rory Kinnear), and young Harry Gregson (Alex Etel) is about to start his education at Shrewsbury, benefiting from the late Mr Carter’s bequest and the loyal, moral support of Miss Galindo (Emma Fielding).

Then there’s news that wealthy widower, Mr Buxton (Jonathan Pryce), has returned to live quietly in Cranford bringing with him his charming ward, Erminia (Michelle Dockery) and his handsome Eton-educated son, William (Tom Hiddleston).

Whilst at nearby Thorn Cottage, Peggy Bell (Jodie Whittaker) tries to make the best of things caring for her demanding mother (Lesley Sharp) and opportunistic brother Edward (Matthew McNulty).

Elsewhere, the world continues to change, but for now the railway has stopped five miles outside Cranford in spite of the best efforts Captain Brown (Jim Carter) to bring the modern age right into the heart of King Street. But nothing can stay the same forever and all too soon life in Cranford will change in some very unexpected ways.

Cranford starts filming this June in and around Wiltshire and London.

Kate Harwood, BBC Controller of Series and Serials, and Cranford executive producer, says: “BBC One viewers are in for a treat with the return of Cranford this Christmas. Old favourites return as well as exciting new characters in a richly moving story that will once again delight, enthral and entertain our audience.”

Baz Bamigboye in the Daily Mail reports:

Cameras roll on the Cranford clan early next month for two feature-length TV specials to be screened over next Christmas.

Judi Dench returns as the much-loved Miss Matty, around whom the chronicles turn.

Shooting begins on June 1 and continues into August.

Jonathan Pryce and Celia Imrie are among the newcomers to the village. Cranford is based on novels by Elizabeth Gaskell.

Cranford captured the hearts and minds of viewers and quickly became a ratings smash hit, with almost as many people watching repeats as had watched the original broadcasts. DVD sales of the drama went through the roof.

The plot line is being kept secret. But one character who doesn’t feature is Dr Harrison, played by Simon Woods, who seemed to excite every female of a suitable age (and a few beyond) in the village.

From thisiswiltshire.co.uk

DAME Judi Dench is returning to Lacock this summer after it was announced the BBC want to return to the village to film a Cranford Christmas special.

Stars were filmed in the village in April 2007 for the period drama, The Cranford Chronicles, amidst great excitement from locals and tourists.

Residents have been invited to a meeting with the BBC, Lacock Tenants Association and the parish council at 7pm on March 16 for a meeting about the plans where they will be given the chance to vote it through or not.

If the residents of the National trust village agree, filming will take place from Monday, June 8 to Saturday, June 13.

The cast will include Imelda Staunton, Julia McKenzie, Greg Wise and Francesca Annis as well as Oscar winner, Dame Judi.

The show will again be produced by Sue Birtwhistle and Rupert Ryle Hodges, who will both be at the meeting this month to talk to Lacock residents.

Jan Harris, general manager of the George Inn in Lacock said she would embrace the filming after last year.

She said: “We are really looking forward to it and I understand they also want to film in West Street, which is where we are, so that is very exciting.

“The film crew were very nice last time and people love it. It also brings in revenue for the area as people want to retrace the steps of the filming and see where scenes were shot after it is all over too, so they come to the village.”

Filming will involve scenes set in the High Street, Church Street and West Street and an outline schedule proposes dividing filming into two areas.

Casting will also be held for villagers interested in becoming extras.

Dame Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Francesca Annis, Julia McKenzie and Jim Carter return in the popular award-winning BBC One drama about the lives of the people of Cranford, in a two-part special for Christmas 2009, it was announced today.

Fresh from four BAFTA Television nominations, seven BAFTA Craft nominations and six Broadcasting Press Guild nominations, as well as the TRIC Award 2007 for Best Drama Programme earlier this month and the RTS Award for Best Writer, the two-part special will be produced by co-creator Sue Birtwistle (Pride And Prejudice), directed by Simon Curtis (Five Days, Freezing) and written by Heidi Thomas (Ballet Shoes, Lilies).

BBC One viewers became addicted and entranced by Cranford, a small Cheshire market town in the early 1840s on the cusp of great change. The railway was pushing its way relentlessly towards the town from Manchester, bringing fears of migrant workers and the breakdown of law and order.

The Christmas special picks up the story in September 1844, a year after the town celebrates the wedding of Sophy (Kimberley Nixon) and Dr Harrison (Simon Woods).

Kate Harwood, BBC Head of Series and Serials and executive producer of Cranford, comments: “Cranford captured the hearts of the nation last year as every week, nearly 8 million viewers tuned in to catch up with Miss Matty and her fellow villagers. I am delighted that we are able to bring these much-loved characters back to life for a Christmas special in 2009 and once again uniting an unprecedented pool of talent to thrill and entertain our audiences.”

The Cranford 2009 Christmas special will film in and around Wiltshire and London.

The Cranford 2009 Christmas special was recommissioned by Jane Tranter, Controller, BBC Fiction.

BBC1 period drama Cranford has picked up three nominations in this year’s Golden Globe awards.

The series, co-produced by the BBC Drama and WGBH, is the only UK show in the running for best mini-series or film made for TV. The other nominees in the category are John Adams, Recount, Bernard & Doris and A Raisin in the Sun.

Judi Dench is up for best actress, while co-star and Bafta winner Eileen Atkins is nominated as best supporting actress.

The winners of both the TV and film Golden Globes will be announced on 11 January.

Cranford, broadcast in the US as part of public service broadcaster PBS’s Masterpiece Theatre strand, features the lives of the residents of a small Cheshire market town in the 1840s.

The BBC1 costume drama will be up against HBO’s John Adams, Sci-Fi Channel’s Tin Man and A&E’s The Andromeda Strain in the best miniseries category.

Dench, nominated in the best actress in a miniseries or movie category for her role as kindhearted spinster Matty Jenkyns, will compete against Susan Sarandon in HBO’s Bernard and Doris; Laura Linney in John Adams; Catherine Keener in Showtime’s American Crime; and Phylicia Rashad in ABC’s A Raisin in the Sun.

Dame Eileen Atkins, nominated in the best supporting actress in a miniseries or movie category for her role as Cranford’s Miss Deborah, will compete with against fellow Briton Ashley Jensen for her role in the final Extras, screened on HBO in the US; Laura Dern in HBO’s Recount; Alfre Woodard in CBS’s Pictures of Hollis Woods; and Audra McDonald in A Raisin in the Sun.

Synopsis: A three-part adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s “Cranford,” about life in an 1840s Cheshire village. Judi Dench and Eileen Atkins star as sisters Matty and Deborah Jenkyns who, in the opener, welcome an old friend (Lisa Dillon) to live with them. Also, the town’s new doctor (Simon Woods) introduces new medical procedures and causes hearts to swoon; and a railroad headed Cranford’s way causes some concern.

Airs: Sunday, May 4, 2008; PBS; 9-11 PM EST

Part 2 on Sunday, May 11, 2008

Part 3 on Sunday, May 18, 2008