South Riding — Season 1, Episode 5: The Facts of Life

Episode synopsis

It's Easter 1933 now, and squire Robert Carne is reduced to selling the family heirlooms to make ends meet as his farming business continues to struggle. Sarah discovers why Lydia Holly's schoolwork has deteriorated when she learns that her mother has died and she is now having to raise her siblings. Determined to do something for a girl with promise she lobbies Mrs Beddows into doing something, but she is in for a surprise. Tom Sawdon, landlord of The Nag's Head, has bought his wife Lily and Alsatian dog to keep her company but she struggles to cope with it and goes to extreme methods in her way to get rid of it. And there is worse to come for South Riding when an outbreak of measles hits the community.

About South Riding

Headmistress Sarah Burton, a left-wing feminist, is disgusted by the social injustices faced by her pupils. In spite of her beliefs, she reluctantly finds herself falling in love with a Tory landowner whose wife is suffering from insanity.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1The Powers That Be
• E2A Land of Hope and Glory?
• E3Those For and Those Against
• E4A Time to Live and a Time to Die
• E6In Sickness and in Health
• E7Dreams and Destinations
• E8Beggars and Choosers
• E9Take What You Want ~ and Pay for It
• E10The Lord Giveth and the Lord Taketh Away
• E11The Number of Our Days
• E12Forgive Us Our Trespasses
• E13Give Us This Day