Lacock-based TV drama begins (From Wiltshire Times)

Lacock-based TV drama begins

11:03am Saturday 17th November 2007 in Corsham By Charley Morgan

TOMORROW sees the first episode of the new BBC drama Cranford, which was filmed in Lacock with a star-studded cast including Dame Judi Dench.

The five-part series is an adaptation of three of Elizabeth Gaskell's novels set in the fictional North West town of Cranford.

The witty and poignant story follows the small absurdities and major tragedies in the lives of the people of Cranford during one extraordinary year.

The drama was filmed in Lacock this summer and despite Dame Judi Dench, 72, being under contract to start work on the next Bond film, she put 15 weeks aside to complete the project.

She said: "It was lovely to all be on location, even when it was pouring with rain.

"That was actually a big help in terms of getting to know the actors I'd never worked with before - there's nothing like sitting under a tent in the rain for bringing a company together! It was hugely good fun."

During breaks the actors would sit around drinking tea and coffee and playing games such as wink murder - Judi was often the ringleader according to her co-stars.

Cranford in the 1840s is a small Cheshire market town on the cusp of change.

The railway is pushing its way relentlessly towards the town from Manchester, bringing fears of migrant workers and the breakdown of law and order.

The arrival of handsome a new doctor from London causes a stir not only because of his revolutionary medical methods, but also because of the effect he has on many of the ladies' hearts in the town.

Judi Dench plays Miss Matty Jenkyns whose hopes and rebellious spirit are crushed when she was forced as a young woman to give up Mr Holbrook (Michael Gambon) the man she loved.

Cranford starts on Sunday at 9pm on BBC1.