"Cranford" (2007) TV mini-series

Creators:

Sue Birtwistle
Susie Conklin

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

18 November 2007 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | England | Doctor | Gossip | Small Town

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 12 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Judi Dench	...	Miss Matty Jenkyns (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Julia McKenzie	...	Mrs. Forrester / ... (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Imelda Staunton	...	Miss Pole / ... (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Lisa Dillon	...	Mary Smith (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Deborah Findlay	...	Miss Tomkinson (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Barbara Flynn	...	Mrs. Jamieson / ... (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Alex Etel	...	Harry Gregson (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Claudie Blakley	...	Martha (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Alex Jennings	...	Reverend Hutton / ... (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Jim Carter	...	Captain Brown (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Francesca Annis	...	Lady Ludlow (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Adrian Scarborough	...	Mr. Johnson (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Emma Fielding	...	Miss Galindo (6 episodes, 2007-2009)
Simon Woods	...	Dr. Harrison (5 episodes, 2007)
Andrew Buchan	...	Jem Hearne (5 episodes, 2007-2009)
Rosy Byrne	...	Lizzie Hutton (5 episodes, 2007)
Kimberley Nixon	...	Sophy Hutton (5 episodes, 2007)
John Bowe	...	Dr. Morgan (5 episodes, 2007)
Selina Griffiths	...	Caroline Tomkinson (5 episodes, 2007)
Philip Glenister	...	Mr. Carter (5 episodes, 2007)
Debra Gillett	...	Mrs. Johnson (5 episodes, 2007-2009)
Lesley Manville	...	Mrs. Rose (5 episodes, 2007)
Hester Odgers	...	Helen Hutton (5 episodes, 2007)
Julia Sawalha	...	Jessie Brown (5 episodes, 2007)
Emma Lowndes	...	Bella Gregson (5 episodes, 2007-2009)
Greg Wise	...	Sir Charles Maulver (4 episodes, 2007-2009)
Hannah Stokely	...	Bessie (4 episodes, 2007)
Hannah Hobley	...	Bertha (3 episodes, 2007-2009)
Dean Lennox Kelly	...	Job Gregson (3 episodes, 2007)
Andrew Byrne	...	Malachi Gregson (3 episodes, 2007)
Joe McFadden	...	Jack Marshland / ... (3 episodes, 2007)
Eileen Atkins	...	Miss Deborah Jenkyns (2 episodes, 2007)
Haydon Downing	...	Walter Hutton (2 episodes, 2007)
Bessie Carter	...	Margaret Gidman (2 episodes, 2007-2009)
Alistair Petrie	...	Major Gordon (2 episodes, 2007)
Michael Gambon	...	Mr. Holbrook / ... (2 episodes, 2007)
Adam Henderson Scott	...	Assistant Auctioneer (2 episodes, 2007)
Roger Ennals	...	Mulliner (2 episodes, 2007)
Patricia Leach	...	Gypsy Woman (2 episodes, 2007)
Andrew Westfield	...	Farmer Graves (2 episodes, 2007)
Finty Williams	...	Clara Smith (2 episodes, 2007)
Imogen Byron	...	Kate (2 episodes, 2007)
Philippa Burt	...	Villager (2 episodes, 2007)

Also Known As:

Cranford Chronicles (UK) (working title)
Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford (UK) (complete title)

Runtime:

60 min (5 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Netherlands:6 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Ashridge Park, Little Gaddesden, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Sue Birtwistle found out about the novel Cranford after finishing another project. Despite liking it immensely, she felt it wasn't enough to create a drama series, so she read a large portion of Gaskell's other material, and came up with the idea of adapting three of Elizabeth Gaskell novellas into a BBC Drama series; hence Cranford. The three novels were "Cranford", "Mr Harrison's Confessions" and "My Lady Ludlow." Birtwistle and her co-creator Susie Conklin spent several weeks in Birtwistle's apartment in New York using color coded cards to piece the stories together. When writer Heidi Thomas came on board, she mentioned that they had married off someone twice.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2009) (TV)

Just wonderful in every way

I cannot believe that anyone could miss this wonderful piece of work. I have just watched the final episode with tears streaming down my face! Partly due to the content and partly due to the fact that there will be no more of this feast of period drama/comedy/social comment.Not one performance has jarred not one piece of dialogue does not uplift ones heart. I cannot praise the whole thing enough (perhaps you may have noticed)!! It would be unfair to single out one of the actors for special praise as they were all so exemplary and masters of their craft. Versatility, though, was seen by Philip Glenister's part. To have seen him as the detective in Life on Mars then see him do Cranford just shows what a wealth of talent the British scene has. I want to see it again!!