Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Francesca Annis, Julia McKenzie and Jim Carter return in the popular award-winning BBC drama about the lives of the people of Cranford. In this two-part special, Judi Dench reprises her role as Cranford's much cherished Miss Matty Jenkyns, heading a cast that boasts some of Britain's top film, TV and stage talent including Cranford newcomers: Jonathan Pryce, Celia Imrie, Lesley Sharp, Nicholas Le Prevost, Jodie Whittaker, Tom Hiddleston, Michelle Dockery, Matthew McNulty, Rory Kinnear and Tim Curry.

Sparkling dialogue, laugh-out-loud moments, magnificent acting and drama, Cranford hit the heights this year. Here's a clip to enjoy, featuring the terrific Imelda Staunton and Julia McKenzie.

When you find out that you've been given the go-ahead to interview one of your favourite actors from the past few years, strange things start to happen. You start to shake, you start to go to the toilet more often and, after a while, you feel your face aching because you've just been smiling so much. It was safe to say I was looking forward to chatting to Philip Glenister, the man who made Gene Hunt this year's funniest and most brilliant TV character.

And it's been quite a year for him too - not only did he cement his place in TV's Hall Of Fame, but he also landed a role in the terrific Cranford. We spoke to him on the set of Ashes To Ashes, the eagerly-anticipated follow-up to Life On Mars. He was modest, funny and very happy. If you were playing Gene Hunt, I think you would be too.

When I reviewed Cranford for the first time, I got a little over-excited, and declared that I might have found the very best television show of the whole year. But now I am in more sombre mood... well I feel precisely the same way, actually, and I have absolutely no doubt that it deserves its high spot in our Top 50 of 2007.

Funnier than most comedies on TV, and more emotional than most other dramas, this is one of the most accomplished programmes I've seen all year; the perfect combination of a sparky script, and astonishingly good acting from all involved.

The juggernaut that is Cranford rolled on through its penultimate episode last night with as much social force as the incipient coming of the railway and, like the railway, which is a matter of some regret for many in the sleepy backwater, the theme for the night seemed very much to be regret and disappointment.

Still, for those of you of a nervous disposition I should say right away that at least no-one died this week, although there were so many hearts broken by the end of the episode that I shouldn't be at all surprised to find someone passes away next week. With the untimely death of Mr Holbrook, we opened with news that there was to be an auction of his belongings, to which Miss Pole referred as an unseemly affair only to be found rifling through the linen and the forks a moment later...

Three episodes into this Sunday evening costume drama, and the quality hasn't dropped an millimetre. Every single performance - from little Harry to Miss Matty - is perfectly pitched, every joke hits the mark, and the dramatic scenes are expertly handled. It's not often you can't think of single thing to criticise about a television programme, but that's certainly the case with Cranford.

There was a sombre opening this week, as we saw Sophy Hutton and her siblings at the grave of their late brother. The mournful tone is understandable seeing as though we've already seen three deaths in two episodes so far, but the warmth and wit soon returned - as always, Imelda Staunton as the chatterbox Miss Pole was on hand to provide the laughs.

The second instalment of the BBC's wonderful costume drama Cranford opened very quietly last night with the visit of Major Gordon, who from the first was clearly very enamoured with Jessie. With very little encouragement they took up the pianoforte, Jessie accompanying the Major in a rendition of Loch Lomond.

"I think it helped that you beat the time with your spoon," the Major remarked to Miss Deborah Jenkyns as they left the Brown's. "I always do when the music transports me," replied Miss Deborah, thus reminding us within the first five minutes why Cranford is such a treasure. Before I continue over the turn, if you want to catch up on Cranford, read more reviews here.

Stand back ladies and gentlemen, I feel we may have a contender for programme of the year. After just one episode, I hear you cry? Oh yes, it was that good. The fabulous Nancy Banks-Smith thinks it's excellent and if you don't believe me then I'm sure you'll believe her.

You need two basic things for a successful drama - great actors and a great script, and Cranford had an embarrassment of riches in both departments. I had high hopes when I heard that Heidi Thomas was providing the script, as I love her film adaptation of I Capture The Castle, and, while I didn't see it myself, we at TVScoop are collective fans of Lilies, and she didn't fail to deliver - I laughed more at this 'drama' than most comedies that have come out this year.

We've been a bit quiet on the subject of Cranford here on TVScoop, but the moment is almost upon us! Anyone who thought the world of costume drama began with Jane Austen and ended with Charles Dickens is about to discover there's at least one more letter in the alphabet of archaic amusement: G for Gaskell.

With a star-studded cast that rivals the Harry Potter films in the "how many British actors can you squeeze into a drama?" stakes, Dame Judi Dench leads in the role of Matty Jenkins, supported by Philip Glenister, Francesca Annis, Michael Gambon, Lesley Manville, Imelda Staunton, Julia McKenzie, Greg Wise and Julia Sawalha. Elizabeth Gaskell's many-textured stories have been sidelined for far too long in favour of more widely recognised authors of a similar era. Tonight at last the Beeb begins to redress the balance with this stunning five-parter.

Any other actor and I'd be sick of the sight of him, but Philip Glenister is more than ok in my book after his epoch-making turn as Gene Hunt in Life On Mars. It really was one of those performances, and how he didn't win a BAFTA for his efforts is beyond me completely.

But awards schmawards - it seems that Big Phil hasn't done too badly out of the show. Not only is he starring in the LOM sequel, Ashes To Ashes, but he's also put pen to paper on another BBC period drama. Except this one doesn't have any Cortinas in it.

Oscar-nominated Dame Judi Dench will star in a new five-part period drama series under development for BBC1, based on novels by Elizabeth Gaskell. The Cranford Chronicles follows the lives of ordinary people living in the small rural town of Cranford in Cheshire during the course of 1842.

Dame Judi takes the part of Matty Jenkyns. Forced to give up the man she loved, she has since spent her life in the shadow of her elder sister.