Lark Rise to Candleford | Sugar Rush | News |

A bit more about Lark Rise, Candleford and Sugar Rush

Lark Rise to Candleford is adapted from Flora Thompson’s semi-autobiographical trilogy of books about the English countryside. Lark Rise and Candleford are Thompson’s fictional names for Juniper Hill and Fringford, both in Oxfordshire. Although it is known that Thompson blended features from several towns including Bicester, Banbury, Brackley and Buckingham.

The colourful scenery and set design is reminiscent of picture post cards from the period. Olivia Hallinan plays Laura Timmins an apprentice working in Canldleford post office. It is much different character to that of Kim Daniels in Sugar Rush. Olivia Hallinan played the part of teenage lesbian in channel 4’s drama series alongside Richard Lumsden. Lumsden played her hapless father, Nathan in the controversial series. If you missed Sugar Rush when it was shown on Channel 4 it is now available on DVD. You can also watch the video versions through the channel 4oD service.

Olivia Hallinan ability to play such two diverse characters so convincingly shows how talented she really is. After working with Richard Lumsden and Sara Stewart, who played her mother Stella in Sugar Rush, Hallinan finds herself working along side a very different cast of actors and actresses. Julia Sawalha plays the character of Dorcas Lane the Candleford post mistress who always has one little weakness to suit any occasion or situation. Comedienne Dawn French plays the character of Caroline Arless, a poverty stricken resident of Lark Rise. Many of the storylines revolve around the relationship between the poverty of Lark Rise and the wealthy town of Candleford. Mark Heap is excellent as the overtly religious post man.