Wondered if the second episode could be as good as the first - silly me, of course it was. Probably better now it is getting into its stride. I am currently reading Lady Ludlow and it is very interesting to see how they have slotted this story into Cranford. You really cannot see the join. I mentioned that in order to get hold of this particular story quickly I had to purchase the 'now a major TV serial' version and I have to say that the production values are not up to scratch. Paper dull and rough and altogether very cheap looking. 
I shall have to keep an eye out for another second hand copy in my future searches. I like the look of this one much better
Have noticed that some of the story lines have been changed - not a huge amount, but enough to make it more dramatic and visual and it has been done well. The cast list continues to amaze. This week we had first sight of Sir Michael Gambon who is not exactly an oil painting, let's face it, and yet with that warm seductive voice of his, is just so attractive. He greeted Miss Matty, obviously an old love, with such style and charm and the next episode is going to be so touching. I won't give any further information as I don't want to reveal any story lines.
Letter of the Week in the new Radio Times, which I purchased this morning laments the fact that new dramatisations of Oliver Twist and Sense and Sensibility are in the pipeline, asking what new slant could they bring? This is a moot point. When it comes to dramatisation on the Beeb they do tend to go for Bronte, Dickens and Eliot with the odd Hardy or Gaskell slung in for good measure and don't think outside the box much in this respect.
this correspondent suggests more Hardy, Wilkie Colllins and also mentions an 'untapped mine of literature from the 1950s or 60s' ie Nevil Shute, Hammond Innes. The editor of the page has asked readers to write in and tell them which books we would like to see as TV dramas.
I can think of a few that I would love, but no guessing that they go down the same well worn track of VicLit, but I would be very interested to receive any suggestions and I will forward them on to the BBC. Would be nice if they actually took viewers wishes into account for once.
