The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes continue....

Following another action packed series, the BBC have announced that 'Sherlock' will return for a third installment. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch in the main role, the series has been praised by both critics and audiences alike, with viewing figures of 10.7 million for its first episode.

Its creator, Stephen Moffat, had been coy when asked about a possible return, telling the BBC that there was 'no guarantee we'll be bringing him back'. Yet following the series' conclusion, 'The Reichenbach Falls' last night, Moffat wrote on Twitter, 'Of course there's going to be a third series - it was commissioned at the same time as the second. Gotcha!' The commission echoes Conan Doyle's own ressurection of the character who had supposedly been killed off after toppling off the Reichenbach Falls with Moriarty in 'The Final Problem'. Dates of filming and broadcasting have yet to be announced.

Downton Abbey - the new Gosford Park?

Sunday sees the premier of this year's latest period drama. Although 'Downton Abbey' is not based on a novel, the writing is sure to be superb, with author Julian Fellowes having won an Oscar in 2002 for the screenplay of 'Gosford Park'. Set in a country house in 1912, the drama follows a typical 'upstairs downstairs' theme, juxtaposing the aristocratic Crawley family with their secretive servants to critque Edwardian society. Starring Dame Maggie Smith and Hugh Bonneville among others, the drama will be on at 9 o'clock on ITV. A trailer can be seen here

Snape and Trelawney together again...

Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman will once again take to the screen together as Christopher Reid's poem 'The Song of the Lunch' is launched as a BBC 2 adaptation. The 'truly ambitious project and a stellar cast' will include the pair, who have previously starred together in 'Love Actually' and 'Harry Potter', and promises the audience will feel 'inspired'. Reid's collection 'A Scattering' won the Costa Book of the Year for 2009, and 'The Song of the Lunch' will be shown on October 7th to coincide with National Poetry Day.

Lark Rise to Candleford ends on a high...

Today has seen the end of popular BBC series 'Lark Rise to Candleford'. Based on the Flora Thompson trilogy of semi-autobiographical novels, the drama features a sparkling cast, including, of course, Julia Sawalha. Although set in the latter half of the 19th century, the programme features several anachronisms, including misdated artefacts and misplaced institutions. Ever popular, the series this year has seen audience peaks of 7.49 million, and has consistently raked in an average of 6 million. Series 4 is said to be in the making, yet after cuts to BBC period dramas, it will only be six episodes. The latest and last episode of the current series can be seen here

The glittering career of a postmistress...

As yet another episode of ever popular 'Lark Rise to Candleford' airs tonight, it appears an appropriate moment to examine the career of actress Julia Sawalha. As postmistress Dorcas Lane, she has produced her own band of followers, yet she has assumed numerous other roles of literary consequence. Her first notable role was that of Mercy Pecksniff, in an adaptation of Dickens' picaresque novel 'Martin Chuzzlewit', a work which he proclaimed to be his best.

She followed this success with arguably her most well-known role, that of Lydia Bennet in the phenomenon that was the BBC's 'Pride and Prejudice'. Starring alongside Colin Firth, she played the youngest of Austen's Bennet sisters, who eloped with the dashing Captain Wickham. Most recently, she appeared in Elizabeth Gaskell's 'Cranford' as Jessie Brown, daughter of the railway entrepreneur. The drama, led by Dame Judi Dench, made its appearance just months before 'Lark Rise to Candleford', shot Sawalha to the level of screen recognition she enjoys today. And thus will she continue for many a year yet.

Lark Rise to Candleford: My one weakness...

Tonight saw the BBC relaunch one of its most popular and enduring period dramas - 'Lark Rise to Candleford'. Based on a trilogy of semi-autobiographical novels by English novelist Flora Thompson, the drama is now into its third series, and boasts in its cast names such as Julia Sawalha, Linda Basset, and formerly Dawn French. Although the novels themselves were set in and around the 1890s, the time frame of the television series is ambiguous and includes numerous ananchronisms in the events its portrays. The current run is set to last for 12 episodes and will be sure to pull in large audiences along the way. The first episode can be seen here

David Tennant speaks daggers...

On a similarly Shakespearian theme, David Tennant has reprised his award winning role as Hamlet. The some time Time Lord combined with fellow actor Patrick Stewart to recreate the Royal Shakespeare Company's production, which proved a sellout success in London's West End. The three hour long drama was aired today on BBC2, and can be seen here. 'Hamlet' is Shakespeare's longest play, and is often one of the most popular to perform, given the numerous interpretations that can be applied to it. Other actors to have played the role include Jude Law and Sam Waterston, with John Simm taking it up later this year.

Cranford at Christmas...

Period drama 'Cranford' has reappeared for a two part Christmas special. The series is based on a novel by Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell of the same name, which was first published in Charles Dickens' literary journal 'Household Words'. Gaskell's works often centre around matters of rural concern, and 'Cranford' is no different; based on Knutsford in Chesire, the town of Cranford faces the contemporary issues of industrialisation and railway expansion. The first episode can be seen here, and the next episode will be aired on December 27th.

Austen's Emma makes TV appearance...

The BBC is currently showing an adaptation of the Jane Austen novel 'Emma'. Published in 1815, it was the last of her novels to be published before her death in 1817. In her lifetime she earned less than forty pounds from the book, yet her admirers included The Prince Regent, to whom she dedicated the novel. The drama stars Romola Garai, Johnny Lee Miller and Michael Gambon among others. The fourth and final part is being shown this Sunday, but all the episodes are still available on iplayer.