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The lives, loves and highs and lows of four members of the Women's Land Army working at the Hoxley Estate during World War II.
2009
Four girls have different reasons for joining the Women's Land Army: patriotic Joyce wants to 'do her bit', argumentative Nancy is there under sufferance, and sensible Annie joined so that her younger sister Bea could escape an abusive father. Bea rebels from her sister's control and finds herself enthralled by a charming GI, Cal Gillespie, while at the dance Nancy tries to get closer to Lord Hoxley.
Bea has been hiding her pregnancy from everyone for three months, but it is becoming increasingly difficult. Tucker is on the prowl for enemy sympathisers and Nancy is in his sights. Farmer Finch gets involved in a scam to flog home-made carrot whiskey, while Lord Hoxley realises that his marriage is over - and this drives him into the arms of Nancy. Meanwhile, Tucker finds Annie to tell her the devastating news that her husband has been killed in action.
Three months on, and Annie is not dealing very well with Harry's death. Nancy and Lawrence's attraction has blossomed into a full-on affair. Meanwhile, Esther is screening Nancy's letters for Sergeant Tucker, fearing that she might be a Nazi collaborator. Joyce, the patriot, has a dilemma - should she shelter her deserter husband or turn him in? Farmer Finch's old enemy Ernest Luckhurst, a food rations officer, arrives at the farm and is intent on catching him out.
Farmer Finch hires some 'trekkers', families displaced by the bombing, as cheap labour, but when there is then a break-in at the manor house Lady Hoxley orders Finch to get rid of them all. A riot ensues and Tucker gets the dogs out. The Hoxleys hold a swanky party, but after clashing with Nancy over a visit to her husband John, Joyce tells Lady Hoxley about the affair. Billy finally proposes to Bea, but she goes into labour before she can answer.
Bea prepares for her wedding to Billy and discovers that Finch has doubts about her motives. Determined to leave, Nancy is shocked to the core when Ellen reveals Lawrence's dark secret. Will Annie choose her duty to Harry or her love for Adam? Meanwhile, Tucker sets out on a trail of murderous revenge that will have shocking consequences for Nancy, Annie, Bea and Joyce.
2011
A new girl, Connie, arrives at the farm and sets her sights on Billy. The manor house has been commandeered by the Americans, which excites Lady Hoxley's sister, Diana (Raquel Cassidy). John visits Joyce at the farm and Martin has an accident. Tucker is released from prison. Finch enters his pig into a county show, so it can avoid slaughter.
Following his fall, Martin is found to have detached retinas. He is also hiding an injured man. Diana tries to help Jack find his grandson and Joyce receives bad news about John. Finch tries to keep his contraband deals from Mrs Gulliver (Carolyn Pickles). Bea becomes friends with Salvatore Zappulo (Cesare Taurasi), an Italian POW, while Connie flirts with piano player, Henry (Liam Garrigan).
Bea allows Jack to meet his grandson. Connie discovers that Henry is actually a Reverend. Joyce follows Martin and finds Ulrich Keitmeiler (Benjamin Wilkin), the German airman he has been hiding. Esther is desperate for money to pay for Martin's operation, so Finch organises a boxing match with Vernon Storey (David Schofield).
A week later, Joyce is still in shock after shooting Ulrich dead. Connie helps Joseph Price (Sam Walton), a young evacuee, reunite with his sister and mother. Tucker works with Billy to improve his shooting and Jack tries to convince Bea to come to Chicago with him. After being turned down by Lady Hoxley, Esther asks Vernon for the money for Martin's operation.
Connie stands up to the overbearing Bishop in order to win Henry's respect. Finch blows his top when he discovers how Esther received the money for Martin's operation. Joyce is angry and disillusioned with the Land Army, and she forces Tucker into an admission of guilt. Lady Hoxley's sister Diana is part of Jack's plan to make a getaway with Bea and the baby. Billy's family is being ripped apart, and he seems disinterested; what is he hiding?
Becci Gemmell
Joyce Fisher
Sophie Ward
Lady Ellen Hoxley
Mark Benton
Frederick Finch
Susan Cookson
Esther Reeves
Lou Broadbent
Iris Dawson
Nicholas Shaw
John Fisher
Mykola Allen
Martin Reeves
Selin Hizli
Connie Carter
Dominic Mafham
Dr. Richard Channing
Raquel Cassidy
Diana Granville
2011
At Hoxley Manor Lady Ellen turns the Great Hall into a hospital with the help of the land girls and ends up being confronted by a face from the past when Dr Channing shows up. At Pasture Farm, Joyce is still waiting for news about John, who is believed to be missing in action. Finch ends up drunkenly driving into Mrs Gulliver's garden and causes havoc. A telegram ends up arriving for Joyce and it has good news inside, John is still alive.
After Iris is called to the farm by Vernon for her proficiency test, the huge threshing machine ends up throwing her to the ground. Connie ends up throwing down the gauntlet and challenges Vernon to a farmers versus land girls ploughing competition. Channing attempts to reassure Joyce that John needs reassurance from her. After Connie goes to see Henry at church she is shocked to see Danny there chatting to him.
John thinks about the flashbacks he is having of his escape from France and talks to Dr Channing about them. Joyce ends up intervening when John can't take any more. Esther has to deal with her problems and starts to think about her options. Finch ends up offering her another solution. Frank informs Ellen about the suspicious man he saw in the woods and she ends up calling the police.
Danny threatens to hurt Henry if Connie doesn't submit to his will. Ellen considers if she can trust the man she loves. As Joyce and John grow closer John struggles with guilt over his infidelity. A revelation drives Martin even further away from Esther. Iris is in mourning whilst Walter and Frank square up for a fight with disastrous consequences.
Events spiral out of control for Connie when her shady past catches up with her. Iris makes a shocking discovery, whilst John is given some crushing news and Esther decides to face her critics in the village. Meanwhile, can Ellen keep up the pretence with Richard?
