Clatterford: Season 3

Clatterford, the gentle comedy written by Jennifer Saunders, is back with a 3rd season!
This season Sal Vine continues to build her new life, after the death of her husband. Her daughter has moved out, but only as far as the old van that is parked next to the house.
Even more vexing, the barn at the back of Sal's house is being developed. Jock the builder upsets Sal and half the town, until the ladies of the Women's Guild put two and two together and presume that the barn s being developed for a famous actor to live in.
Despite her distrust of Jock, Sal finds she is becoming drawn to him. Could there be romance in the air, and more importantly, will Jock get the well known actor to come to the special event laid on by the Women's Guild?

Episodes 1 & 2 :Sal discovers a planning application to convert the barn in the field behind her house.

Sal is devastated to discover (via a Council Planning Notice) that a barn renovation is to take place in the field that backs onto her house. When she informs the Women's Guild, she finds that they have been well-aware of the construction for some time. Sal tries her best to convince the Guild to help her fight the application.

The Guild rallies around Sal, until Rosie makes an exciting discovery from Clatterford's newest member, site manager Jock - he refuses to deny that the house is being built for actor Charles Dance. Suddenly, the appearance of a celebrity in the town changes everyone's opinion. Sal remains unconvinced though, and vows to carry on the fight alone.

Construction begins on the renovation and Sal's protest has collapsed, as the Guild is more in favor of having a celebrity neighbor than of protecting the area. As the work begins, Jock notices various men, including the vicar, going in and out of Sal's house, and he becomes suspicious.

The truth is that Sal has decided to turn her kitchen into a miniature surgery for the less-mobile locals who cannot get to the main surgery. With rumors spreading around the village, Sal is forced to come clean to her sensible doctor son, James. He, in the meantime, is becoming increasingly involved in politics, meeting the local Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament.

Episode 3 & 4 : Caroline plans a dinner party for husband John and his friends from London.

Sal starts to snoop around the construction site with a camera and a note pad and is determined to find some wrongdoing. Instead, she finds Jock the builder, who manages to offend her during a heated exchange. He tries to make it up to her by killing the rogue turkey that has recently been terrorising anyone who strays into her garden. In fact, he only makes a bad situation worse, as Sal was more fond of the turkey than Jock imagined.

Meanwhile, Caroline organizes a dinner party for her husband John's London friends, although her thoughts are really with their soldier son who has recently been drafted to Afghanistan. Caroline accidentally invites Rosie and the vicar, and then has to ask Sal along to look after Rosie.

When Caroline's guests (the ones she really wanted to see) get stuck on the train, she is left to entertain just Rosie, Sal and the vicar. On the way home Sal meets Jock, who again attempts to make amends. This time Sal finds it harder to be angry with him.

Eileen is organizing the biannual Guild Charity Fashion Show. Sal tries to duck out but is told that attendance is mandatory. Sal's relationship with Jock is evolving and she is beginning to enjoy his company.

The vicar has gone missing, leaving the Guild locked out of the church. Kate eventually finds him up on the moor. He seems to be having a mid-life crisis and Kate, in her own unusual way, tries to comfort him. The pair spark a friendship and soon share a kiss...

The fashion show has made Rosie feel unhappy about her appearance and, after harsh words from her alter ego, she pulls out of the event. Sal is determined to help her regain her confidence, and gives her a make-over which ends up stealing the show - parading on the cat walk with Jock on her arm.

Episode 5 & 6 :Tash attempts to move out of the family home.

Tash and Spike finish restoring their van and Tash finally moves out of the family home. Sal is emotional as she realises that both her children have now grown up and that she is going to be left alone in the house. But as Tash's van starts up, it reverses straight into the side of Sal's house. Sal's dreams of a quiet life lie in ruins; Tash and Spike are clearly going nowhere. Jock offers to repair the damage to Sal's house while he works on the barn conversion. So things are not so bad after all; Sal enjoys Jock's company and looks forward to seeing him.

Sal joins a gym, though it is her growing friendship with Jock that is actually making her feel younger and look fitter. But when she comes home to find that Tash and her van have disappeared, she rushes around in a panic trying to find her. Tash, however, has just moved the van into the field behind the house and explains that Jock has let her and Spike set up home there.

Meanwhile, Eileen makes the exciting announcement that Jock has secured Charles Dance as a guest speaker for the Guild. As Eileen makes frantic arrangements, Sal realizes that if Charles owns the field, then Jock cannot grant Tash permission to stay there. She confronts Jock, who admits that he only told people that Charles was moving into the barn in order to get people off his back about renovating it - for himself. Jock refuses to do anything about letting Eileen and the rest of the Guild down gently, and he and Sal have a big argument.

The event gets underway, with only Sal and Tip knowing that the whole thing is a lie. They are both at the marquee as Eileen rushes around trying to entertain the crowd. Sal finally steps up to tell Eileen the truth. Just as she does, Charles Dance appears.

While the Guild sits in rapture as Charles gives his speech, Sal learns that Jock, feeling guilty, has personally tracked him down and paid him to give a speech. Sal cannot believe what Jock has done and her faith in him is restored.

Directed by Mandie Fletcher
Written by Jennifer Saunders, Abigail Wilson
Produced by Jo Sargent, Peter Thornton, Francis Gilson
Executive Produced by Jon Plowman
Original Music by Kate Rusby, John McCusker< br> Cinematography by Chris Goodger
Film Editing by Jake Bernard
Costume Design by Lucia Santa Maria, Rachel Beek, Mariel Gimeno-Bayón, Debbie O'Brien

"The endearing goings-on in the county town of Clatterford are back for a third series, reliably dispensng laughs and surreal eccentricity with the help of several generations of the finest British comedy performances ... a rosily entertaining return for the Jennifer Saunders-scripted comedy, with many laugh-out-loud moments..." Mail On Sunday

"Jennifer Saunders' brilliant comedy is back. Most village sitcoms ... have quirky characters who are funny to watch but would drive you mad in real life. Except in Clatterford, where everyone is properly bonkers but you can also actually imagine living next door. ... and Charles Dance is joining them. Ooh!" Sunday Mirror

"It's gentle stuff, but blessed with some good lines..." James Walton, Guardian

"...if you're a fan of village life, chances are you'll adore this." Daily Star

"...real and recognisable characters have taken over from comedy stereotypes and no one is pushing for laughs ... a strong, underplayed central performance from Sue Johnston..."
David Chater, The Times

"Fabulous choices ... our favourite." News of the World

"The whimsical wit may split sofa opinion, but there's no doubting the quality of the cast, which is a Who's Who of Britcom..." Mike Hogan, Daily Telegraph

"Gently amusing." Mike Ward, Observer

"Well cast ... and good hearted..." Sunday Times

"Everyone's favourite Women's Guild is back for more West Country drama in Clatterford."
Daily Mirror

"With the eccentric sense of humour that characterises Jam & Jerusalem ... The new series promises more quirky bucolic charm." James Rampton, Daily Express

"The star-studded countryside comedy is back." Clare Stronge, Sun

"We're all so excited about the return of Jam & Jerusalem." People

"...Jennifer Saunders and a cast crammed with more familiar faces than you can shake a stick at."
Mike Ward, Daily Express

"Sally Phillips ... her portrayal of Tash, the fabulously irritating new-age daughter of Sue Johnston's character, is scene-stealingly good." Rachel Corcoran, Sunday Express