Land Girls

Follow the lives, loves and highs and lows of four members of the Women's Land Army who are working at the Hoxley Estate during World War II.

Genre: Drama

Cast:Becci Gemmell , Susan Cookson , Mark Benton , Mykola Allen , Sophie Ward , Jo Woodcock , Selin Hizli , Liam Boyle , Danny Webb , Nicholas Shaw , Carolyn Pickles , David Schofield , Summer Strallen , Christine Bottomley , Dominic Mafham , Lou Broadbent , Raquel Cassidy , Clive Wood

1Season 1

S1.E1 ∙ Childhood's End

Mon, Sep 7, 2009

Halfway through World War Two sensible Joyce, a war orphan with a husband in the R.A.F. and vain Nancy, a reluctant conscript, arrive at the village of Helmstead to work as land girls at Pasture Farm with Frederick Finch and his son Billy. Along with married Annie and her teenaged sister Bea - whom Annie has brought along following an incident back home - they are billeted at Hoxley Hall. Lady Ellen Hoxley, a haughty aristocrat, runs local war charities but her husband Lawrence, a wounded Great War hero, is kind and approachable, inviting everyone to his wife's charity dance. Bea befriends some black G.I.s and asks them along in contravention of a colour bar and is upset when they are refused entry. She gets drunk and allows herself to be used for sex by sneaky American corporal Cal Gillespie and then gets thrown out after trying to punch him. Nancy sets her sights at his Lordship and Lady Ellen is not amused.

2Season 1

S1.E2 ∙ Secrets

Tue, Sep 8, 2009

Bea is pregnant by G.I. Cal, and tells a shocked Annie - who cannot have children herself - that she wants an abortion. Annie dissuades her and, with Billy, confronts Cal in the pub where a fight breaks out. Bullying Home Guard Sergeant Tucker is convinced there is a collaborator on the farm and settles on Nancy, who can speak Italian. He gets Ellen, the Land Girls leader, to spy for him. She is reluctant but searches Nancy's room whereupon Nancy accuses Bea of going through her clothes. Billy tips Nancy off as to Tucker's suspicions.Joyce wins Lord Hoxley's respect when she helps him with his sick horse, though it is ultimately shot, causing a further rift between him and his wife. He ends up kissing Nancy. Annie meanwhile learns that her husband has been killed in action.

3Season 1

S1.E3 ∙ Codes of Honour

Wed, Sep 9, 2009

As Lawrence and Nancy continue their affair Esther, the Land Girls' supervisor, reluctantly hands Nancy's letters to Tucker, who arrests her as a spy because her father is Italian and her real surname is Morrelli but Lawrence steps in and has her released. Esther finds out that Bea is pregnant but, for the time being, decides to keep her secret. Farmer Finch has a narrow escape when a Rations Officer comes close to arresting him as a black marketeer. Joyce's husband John is less fortunate. He temporarily deserts to see her as he is scared his first bombing mission will be his last. Nancy unintentionally puts Tucker onto him but he escapes when Tucker has a car crash.

4Season 1

S1.E4 ∙ Trekkers

Thu, Sep 10, 2009

John returns to his base and is posted on active service. Nancy is going to drive Joyce to see him but cries off when Lawrence tells her that his wife will be away for the weekend and they can spend the time together. Joyce catches them kissing and tells Lady Ellen, who makes Lawrence take Joyce instead. 'Trekkers' - bombed out families - arrive at the farm, looking for work and Annie befriends Adam Blackfield and his sick, shell-shocked mother who get left behind when the other trekkers are forced to leave,following a burglary at Hoxley Hall. She fetches a doctor for the old lady but she dies. Billy proposes to Bea, just before she goes into labour and gives birth to a son. Annie is told that her husband has been found - alive,

5Season 1

S1.E5 ∙ Destinies

Fri, Sep 11, 2009

Billy marries Bea, having convinced himself that she is not using him and they love each other. John Fisher attends the wedding, as does Adam, with whom Annie is now in love and prepared to ask her husband Harry for a divorce. Bea is disapproving, given that her sister's marriage to Harry got them away from an abusive father. Lawrence tells his wife he is leaving her for Nancy. She tries to bribe Nancy with a hundred pounds and tells her Lawrence was not a war hero. However, when an increasingly deranged Tucker accuses Adam of sabotage after a faulty grenade explodes and points a gun at him, Lawrence intervenes and is killed. Nancy leaves the farm,having made it up with Joyce. Annie is shocked to find that Harry is disfigured and an invalid but nevertheless tells him that she wants to move on.

1Season 2

S2.E1 ∙ Back to the Land

Mon, Jan 17, 2011

Lady Ellen is frustrated when Tucker is released from the charge of murdering her husband and her flighty, selfish sister Diana comes to Hoxley Hall. Rather than help Ellen with the billeting of U.S. soldiers, the married Diana flirts with Jack Gillespie, an American arms manufacturer whose late son fathered Bea's son, whom he wants to see. Another new arrival is brash Cockney Land Girl Connie, whose free and easy manner annoys Esther. Connie makes a play for Billy, observed by Esther's son Martin, who bangs his head whilst trying to escape detection. He has detached retinas and will need an operation. He runs off into the woods and meets a fugitive in hiding, who claims to be a conscientious objector and for whom the boy steals food.

2Season 2

S2.E2 ∙ Displaced Loyalties

Tue, Jan 18, 2011

A group of Italian POWs come to work in the fields, and Bea is charmed by the romantic, anti-Fascist Salvatore, to the disapproval of Joyce, whose husband is missing in action. Billy hits the Italian and there seems to be a rift in his marriage. Connie learns that Billy is not the father of Bea's child before singing at a local dance where she is attracted to the pianist, Henry. Thanks to Diana, Gillespie discovers the whereabouts of his grandson, whilst Tucker finds himself an outcast, and Martin's fugitive turns out to be a German pilot, who threatens to kill him if betrayed.

3Season 2

S2.E3 ∙ Final Reckoning

Wed, Jan 19, 2011

Farmer Finch finds Tucker sleeping rough in the barn and assumes he is responsible for the missing food. To raise funds for Martin's operation Finch agrees to a prize fight between Billy and the son of another farmer, Vernon, who has designs on Esther. Tucker, a former boxing champion, coaches Billy in return for work and lodgings on the farm. However, Vernon enters a different son than the one who was expected to fight. He is bigger and heavier and easily beats Billy. The money is lost to Esther. However Bea is proud of her husband, and they unite against Gillespie, who wants to take his grand-son back to the States. Connie finds out that Henry is the local vicar and is cool towards him, feeling he tricked her. Joyce follows Martin, and both are captured by the German. However, on learning that he bombed Coventry, where her family were killed, Joyce gets his gun from him and shoots him.

4Season 2

S2.E4 ∙ Fight the Good Fight

Thu, Jan 20, 2011

At an inquiry into the death of the German pilot Joyce is declared a heroine, but with her husband missing she empathises with the widow. Connie intervenes on behalf of two evacuees who are being ill-treated by a pair of dotty, elderly sisters. She has them rehomed, with some help from Henry, whom she kisses. The normally sour-faced Mrs. Gulliver gives Fred Finch money for Martin's operation, but Esther has already been to see Vernon, whose generosity comes at a price. About to be called up and unsure if he will return, Billy advises Bea to take up Gillespie's offer and move to America with him and the baby.

5Season 2

S2.E5 ∙ Darkest Hours

Fri, Jan 21, 2011

Angry that Gillespie used her for sex and has no intention of taking her to Chicago, Diana tips Billy off that the American plans to snatch baby William and leave Bea behind. Billy races to the air-strip and is reunited with his wife and her baby. Lady Ellen also sees through Gillespie and reconciles with her sister. Joyce still blames Dennis Tucker for turning her husband in, but when he gets his foot caught in a snare and reflects on his torment at having killed Lord Hoxley, she frees him and they call a truce. Connie tries to impress the bishop when he comes to tea with Henry, but he is so patronizing towards her that Henry throws him out and proposes to her. She accepts. Martin's operation is a success, but Finch is shocked to learn that Esther funded it via an 'arrangement' with Vernon Storey. However Dennis Tucker gets revenge on their behalf. Everybody gathers for William's christening before Billy leaves for war knowing that Bea loves him and will wait for him.

1Season 3

S3.E1 ∙ Home to Roost

Mon, Nov 7, 2011

Lady Ellen turns Hoxley Manor into a military hospital and is confronted by a man from her past. Joyce awaits news of her missing husband; Connie is surprised by an old flame at her engagement party; and a new Land Girl, Iris, arrives.

2Season 3

S3.E2 ∙ The War in the Fields

Tue, Nov 8, 2011

After a farm accident, Connie challenges Vernon to a farmers versus land girls competition. At the military hospital, Joyce worries about her husband John's recovery.

3Season 3

S3.E3 ∙ The Enemy Within

Wed, Nov 9, 2011

Dr Channing encourages John to recall his escape from France, but Joyce intervenes when the memories become too upsetting. Reverend Jameson finds out about Connie's past history with Danny Sparks.

4Season 3

S3.E4 ∙ Farewell My Lovely

Thu, Nov 10, 2011

Lady Ellen wonders if she can trust Dr Channing when he refuses to tell her where he's been. Danny Sparks threatens to harm Henry unless Connie helps him with a heist he's planning. John confesses a guilty secret to Joyce.

5Season 3

S3.E5 ∙ Last Days of Summer

Fri, Nov 11, 2011

Connie is determined to put things right when her past catches up with her. John's visit to an RAF base helps with his memory loss.