In the 1830's in northern England, Riah Millican, a widow with three children, takes a job as housekeeper to a reclusive former teacher, Percival Miller. Miller makes Riah the gift of a black velvet gown, and even educates her children. But when Riah discovers the reason behind Miller's gifts, she vows to leave his house, but Miller has a hold on her, even after his death, when he leaves his house to her on the condition that she never marry. Riah's daughter, Biddy, grows up and becomes a laundress in a large house where her education keeps her from fitting in and makes her a target. But it also catches the eye of a son of the house, and with Miller's legacies, Biddy may yet find her way to happiness.
Cast
Bob Peck
Percival Miller
Janet McTeer
Riah Millican
Geraldine Somerville
Biddy Millican
Jonathan Firth
Paul Gallmington
David Hunt
Laurence Gallmington
Brendan P. Healy
Tol Briston
Jean Anderson
Madame Gallmington
Christopher Benjamin
Anthony Gallington
Wendy Williams
Grace Gallmington
Aran Bell
Stephen Gallmington
Louise Lombard
Lucy Gallmington
Madeleine Moffat
Jessie Hobson
Val McLane
Annie Griston
James Garbutt
Doctor Pritchard
Donald Bisset
Mr. Morgan
Lizzie McKenzie
Fanny Briggs
Margo Stanley
Mrs. Fulton
Caspar Berry
Older Davey Millican
David Oliver
Younger Davey Millican
Hywel Berry
Older Johnny Millican
Bradley Malcolm
Younger Johnny Millican
Kelly Anne Greenhalgh
Younger Biddy Millican
Joe Ging
Parson Weeks
Judith Parker
Jean Bitton
Jean Southern
Mrs. Fitzsimmons
Jon Croft
Thomas Froggett
Harry Herring
Yarrow
Alan Hockey
Lodgekeeper
Suzanne Richardson
Florrie McNulty
Jennifer Thorne
Madame Arnaud
Ian Cullen
Beckett
Crew
Norman Stone
Director
Gordon Hann
Writer
Catherine Cookson
Writer
Nicole Cauverien
Script Editor
John MacDonnell
Editor
Ken Westbury
Director of Photography
Peter McAleese
First Assistant Director, Second Unit Director
Neil Calder
Second Assistant Director
Nael Abbas
Third Assistant Director
Tommy Gormley
Third Assistant Director
Thomas Mattinson
Production Coordinator
Michael Chaplin
Executive Producer
Ray Marshall
Executive Producer, Producer
Don Bell
Associate Producer
Jill Graham
Production Assistant
Ashley Wilkinson
Production Design
Alistair McKenzie
Camera Operator
Susie Bruffin
Casting Director
Amanda Newland
Casting Assistant
Delphine Roche-Gordon
Costume Designer
Martin Boagey
Wardrobe Master
Katherine Hyland
Wardrobe Assistant
Jennifer Boost
Hair Department Head, Makeup Department Head
Nadia El-Saffar
Assistant Makeup Artist
Gillian Garner
Assistant Makeup Artist
Ian Frame
Sound Editor
Nic Grant
Sound Mixer
John Hughes
Boom Operator
Carl Davis
Music
Gary Crumpton
Construction Manager
Angela Marks
Script Supervisor
Christine Llewellyn Reeve
Location Manager
Andrew Gunn
Clapper Loader
Jim Will
Grip
Ken Campbell
Gaffer
Ian Jackson
Focus Puller
Tim Puttnam
Art Direction
Helen Mallon
Production Secretary
Pauline Hume
Graphic Designer
