In the 1830's in northern England, Riah Millican, a widow with three children, takes a job as housekeeper to a reclusive former teacher, Percival Miller.

Bob Peck - Percival Miller
Janet McTeer - Riah Millican
Geraldine Somerville - Biddy Millican
Brendan P. Healy - Tol Briston
Jean Anderson - Madame Gullmington
Christopher Benjamin - Anthony Gullmington
Wendy Williams - Grace Gullmington
David Hunt - Laurence Gullmington
Aran Bell - Stephen Gullmington
Jonathan Firth - Paul Gullmington
Louise Lombard - Lucy Gullmington
Madeleine Moffat - Jessie Hobson
Val McLane - Annie Briston
James Garbutt - Doctor Pritchard
Donald Bisset - Mr. Morgan
Lizzie McKenzie - Fanny Briggs
Margo Stanley - Mrs. Fulton
Caspar Berry - Older Davey Millican
David Oliver - Younger Davey Millican
Hywel Berry - Older Johnny Millican
Bradley Malcolm - Younger Johnny Millican
Kelly Anne Greenhalgh - Younger Biddy Millican
Joe Ging - Parson Weeks
Judith Parker - Jean Bitton
Jean Southern - Mrs. Fitzsimmons
Jon Croft - Thomas Froggett
Harry Herring - Yarrow
Alan Hockey - Lodgekeeper
Suzanne Richardson - Florrie McNulty
Jennifer Thorne - Madame Arnaud
Ian Cullen - Beckett
Dylan Barnes - George Swinburn
Roger Low - Mr. Tate