William Houston

Margaret Hale is uprooted from rural Hampshire to a northern mill town, where her eyes are opened to the social cost of the Industrial Revolution. In Milton, Margaret forms a disagreeable first impression of the owner of the local cotton mill, John Thornton.

The workers of Milton go on strike and Margaret finds herself caught between them and the Thorntons. Tensions rise further when John Thornton brings in labourers from Ireland. Meanwhile, Margaret tells Bessy her family's secret and learns that her own mother's health is deteriorating.

Deeply hurt at the refusal of his marriage proposal, Thornton and Margaret's relationship becomes more tense and difficult. Just in time, Frederick comes home to visit his dying mother. Thornton mistakes him for Margaret's lover. As Margaret realizes that she might have been mistaking in her harsh and hasty criticism of Thornton, she has to sadly observe his opinion of her altering.

When a North Oxford housewife, Rachel Mallory (Emma Croft), is found hanged at home, it appears to be an open and shut case of suicide. She leaves devastated husband Hugh (James Wilby), and two young daughters, 8-year-old Anna, and 9-year-old Izzie. Hugh’s business partner, David Hayward and his wife, Louise were the Mallorys’ closest friends. With two boys of their own, they’re concerned that the girls are protected from the trauma of their mother’s death. Much to the chagrin of CSI Innocent (Rebecca Front), Inspector Lewis’ instincts tell him something’s wrong about the suicide verdict. But whether it’s the lack of a note, or the fact that Rachel’s life seemed perfect, he’s not yet sure. Stars: Emma Croft as Rachel Mallory, Eva Sayer as Anna Mallory, James Wilby as Hugh Mallory, Adam Parkinson as Michael Hayward, Julia Joyce

Endeavour himself deeply embroiled in the affairs of the factory and its owners, the darkly dysfunctional Broom family. For an unpopular worker, Percy Malleson, has been found murdered in a secluded area of the shop floor.