Lark Rise to Candleford: Nan?
SPOILER ALERT for those who haven’t caught up to Season 3.
Molly left a comment on my Lark Rise post: did anyone know, she wondered, what happened to Alf’s girlfriend Nan?
I replied:
I was wondering that myself. She seems to have been written out between seasons two and three. Which is strange, considering how the season two finale devoted so much time to her—wasn’t that the episode that culminated in Emma’s speech about Nan not believing she deserved a good guy like Alf?
Didn’t that episode end with a kiss for Nan and Alf? It seemed like Emma’s words had made an impact. But in Season 3 (we’re up to episode 4, so far), it’s as if Nan never existed. There’s the hamlet giving Alf a housewarming, but no mention of any impending nuptials.
I can’t say I’m terribly disappointed she’s gone—she tended toward peevishness—but I do like my stories to explain themselves. This seems like an outside-the-story development. (Did audiences dislike her, so the writers have gone another direction? Or was the actress, Rebecca Night, perhaps unavailable? Wikipedia tells me she’s been busy making films.)
Anyway—now I’m seeing “what happened to Nan on Lark Rise” searches show up in my stats, so I thought I’d bring the question up top in case any of you have a more substantive answer than my speculations.
And now it seems we’re being prepped for an Alf-and-Minnie romance? They are (with Queenie) my two favorite characters by far, but as a couple? Seems contrived…
Kathryn says:
I wondered the same. My guess is the actress was unavailable. Same with Caroline Arless I should think (Dawn French, who plays her, is a high profile British TV actress). At least they came up with an explanation for her absence from Lark Rise.
On May 6, 2010 at 8:29 am
Lisa says:
I tried and tried, but failed to get into this show. It sounded like just my thing. Maybe I’ll try it again!
On May 6, 2010 at 11:04 am
Constance says:
I liked the book but my PBS station didn’t show the series (or if it did, I missed it). Perhaps by now it is available on DVD?
On May 6, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Michael P. says:
We just completed episode 3 of season 3 on Netflix DVD and we are wondering if we missed something, Nan is just gone without any explanation…
On August 9, 2011 at 5:27 pm
Melissa Wiley says:
They never did explain, as far as I know. I think the actress took a role elsewhere and didn’t return, but the storyline never explained what happened. Frustrating!
On August 9, 2011 at 5:39 pm
sia says:
Found the answer? 🙂 I was frustrated too when nan studdenly dissapeared… But I thought the look on alfie`s eyes when she gave away her kiss so easy to buy him a present, maybe he could not live with that?
On September 7, 2011 at 2:05 pm
Sam says:
I too am frustrated with Nan’s absence. It is sad to see such a good series be hurt by crucial plot holes. Why could they have not at least opened a moment in the 3rd season for Alf to say – ‘Nan went to another village to work with her uncle, and I am sad, but feel at peace because it wasn’t working out’ The viewers are due an explanation, and it is simply poor writing to leave us out like that!
On April 19, 2013 at 9:26 am
Dani says:
I was also disappointed by the absence of an explanation. I didn’t ever really like Nan as a character. I felt Alf deserved better somehow. But they still should have given some explanation. I’m bummed because I was hoping it was just me and I didn’t catch the little explanation or something, but it looks like I’m not the only one that noticed the hole. Tsk Tsk, writers!
On May 16, 2013 at 1:27 am