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Period drama. Miss Matty becomes concerned about an isolated youngster as Mr Buxton returns to town, and the shadow of the railway looms over Cranford.

Miss Matty's house is full of life and bustle. Her dream of having a child in the house has been realised with the birth of Tilly, daughter of her maid Martha and carpenter Jem. Elsewhere, the shadow of the railway still looms, but the line has been halted five miles outside Cranford - a disaster for the town, in Captain Brown's view.

As Lady Ludlow waits for her son Septimus to return from Italy, Harry Gregson is sent away to school.

Meanwhile, as Mr Buxton returns to town with his son, William, and his niece, Erminia, Miss Matty becomes concerned about another young person - Peggy Bell - who lives in an isolated cottage with her mother and domineering brother, Edward. Miss Matty decides to intervene and engineers an invitation that will bring the four young people together.

1 hour, 30 minutes

Last on

Christmas Eve 2011 20:00

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Credits

Role Contributor
Miss Matty Judi Dench
Miss Octavia Pole Imelda Staunton
Mr Buxton Jonathan Pryce
Mrs Forrester Julia McKenzie
Lady Ludlow Francesca Annis
Miss Tomkinson Deborah Findlay
Mrs Jamieson Barbara Flynn
The Rev Hutton Alex Jennings
Captain Brown Jim Carter
Mrs Bell Lesley Sharp
Jem Hearne Andrew Buchan
Peggy Bell Jodie Whittaker
Septimus Hanbury Rory Kinnear
Mr Peter Jenkyns Nicholas Le Prevost
Mary Smith Lisa Dillon
William Buxton Tom Hiddleston
Sir Charles Maulver Greg Wise
Harry Gregson Alex Etel
Erminia Whyte Michelle Dockery
Miss Galindo Emma Fielding
Edward Bell Matthew McNulty
Mr Johnson Adrian Scarborough
Mrs Johnson Debra Gillett
Martha Claudie Blakley
Bella Gregson Emma Lowndes
Bertha Hannah Hobley
Giacomo Nicholas Bishop
Margaret Gidman Bessie Carter
Producer Sue Birtwistle
Director Simon Curtis
Writer Heidi Thomas

Broadcasts