

To the Manor Born
1979–2007 · BBC One · 30 min · 3 seasons
S03E07 · Back to the Manor
Mon, 30 Nov, 6:45 am
Audrey's hopes of regaining her position as lady of the manor look like being dashed when Richard's business crisis forces him to sell up.
About
Lady Audrey fforbes-Hamilton has fallen on hard times since the death of her husband, Martin. Forced to sell Grantleigh Manor, which has been in her family for 400 years, she graciously adjusts to her new circumstances in The Lodge at the edge of the estate. The Manor is now occupied by supermarket magnate Richard DeVere and his elderly mother. Audrey is annoyed that her position on the estate has been usurped by a man who represents everything Audrey regards as bad taste. It's clearly a love-hate relationship from the beginning, but between foiling DeVere's plans and bringing his ego down a notch or two, Audrey manages to stamp her authority on the running of the Manor while the faint whisper of romance echoes across the way.
Episodes
- E01
Scout Hut
Mon, 19 Oct· 30 minAudrey upbraids Richard for not sponsoring a charity event in aid of a new scout hut.
- E02
Station Closing
Mon, 26 Oct· 30 minBritish Rail decide to close down the local station and Audrey goes into battle.
- E03
Horses vs. Cars
Mon, 2 Nov· 30 minA repair bill for Audrey's Rolls-Royce finally convinces her to revert to four-legged horsepower.
- E04
Birds vs. Bees
Mon, 9 Nov· 30 minAudrey starts a business selling honey. A rare bee-eating bird spotted by Marjorie brings lots of people to the village. Audrey sees this as an ideal opportunity to sell her honey.
- E05
Cosmetics
Mon, 16 Nov· 30 minDeVere negotiates an important business deal with the beautiful Mademoiselle Dutoit, but when she decides to mix business with pleasure, he invents a wife... Audrey!
- E06
Connections in High Places
Mon, 23 Nov· 30 minRichard's business empire hits a serious crisis.
- E07
Back to the Manor
Mon, 30 Nov· 30 minAudrey's hopes of regaining her position as lady of the manor look like being dashed when Richard's business crisis forces him to sell up.
- Special
25th Wedding Anniversary Special
Wed, 26 Dec· 60 minIt is now a quarter of a century since the last visit to Grantleigh Manor. That was the day that the indomitable Audrey fforbes-Hamilton, the dispossessed lady of the manor, finally got around to marrying Richard Devere, her usurper and supermarket tycoon of Czechoslovakian stock. It was a perfect love match, yet their romance was never less than a tempestuous on-off affair due to their one and only source of disagreement - which was pretty much everything. Audrey and Richard are still living in the manor. Marjory lives in the Lodge. Richard and Audrey's 25th wedding anniversary is coming up, so there is a party to plan. But before that, there is the local two-in-hand horse trial to conquer, as well as Audrey's nephew to attend to. But Richard has a secret which threatens to destroy the community, a happy marriage and a lifetime of friendships.
Cast

Penelope Keith
Audrey fforbes-Hamilton

Peter Bowles
Richard de Vere

Angela Thorne
Marjory Frobisher

Daphne Heard
Mrs. Polouvicka

Gerald Sim
The Rector

John Rudling
Brabinger

Michael Bilton
Old Ned

