To the Manor Born lead role in "Dinnerladies", as well as lead roles in "Kingdom" and "After You've Gone". The 2007 Christmas special features four of the original cast members: Penelope Keith, Peter Bowles, Angela Thorne, and Gerald Sim. New characters include Alexander Armstrong as Adam fforbes-Hamilton, Audrey's nephew-by-marriage and godson; Alan David as Emmeridge, Audrey and Richard's outspoken butler; and Michael Cochrane as Archie Pennington-Booth, a neighbouring landowner. While the Rector makes only a brief appearance, the other three original characters are main characters throughout and are credited in the opening credits. "To the Manor Born" is set in the fictional village of
Early Autumn of the "old line" families have either died off or moved away, while many "nouveau riche" have moved into the area who do not share the same old-fashioned values and observe the same old-fashioned norms of behavior that the Pentlands do. The patriarch of the family is old John Pentland. He lives in Pentland Manor, a large and old-fashioned manor house, with his sister, Cassie. Cassie is a fussy, moralistic, snobbish old maid who sticks her nose into everybody's business and who is firmly determined to see that the Pentlands uphold the "old ways." Her companion is Miss Peavey, who