Last Tango in Lavenham

The last episode of Lovejoy finds our hero gearing himself up to marry Charlotte, and his old life beginning to splinter around him. The catalyst is Tinker: his decision to leave the antiques trade and open a pub prompts Lovejoy to finally pop the question. What should be a settled commitment turns complicated at once, because Jane Felsham returns from America, with a splash and without Alexander in tow. Lovejoy may have to choose between her and Charlotte. The finale went out on 4 December 1994, and it proved to be the last episode the series ever made.

The story moves through this emotional terrain while pulling together threads from the whole run of the show. Beth, Eric, Sam Cavendish, Professor Lowry, Addey and Kate Henshaw all populate the web of lives around the firm, and the personal stakes rise higher than any mystery Lovejoy ever uncovered in an auction room. Even the historical puzzles step aside for once: the last episode is about people, not things. Lady Jane was Lovejoy's great love from the first series, and her return here brings the story full circle. The farewell gathers the regulars one last time, and the episode treats each of them with proper respect.

Ian La Frenais, Jonathan Gash and Dick Clement wrote this poignant conclusion, Baz Taylor directed, and it aired in 1994. Ian McShane is Lovejoy, Dudley Sutton is Tinker Dill, Caroline Langrishe is Charlotte Cavendish, and Diane Parish is Beth Taylor. Phyllis Logan returns as Lady Jane Felsham, Chris Jury is Eric Catchpole, David Ryall is Sam Cavendish, Shelagh McLeod is Professor Lowry, Brian Croucher is Addey, and Maggie Ollerenshaw is Kate Henshaw.

It is a richly textured curtain call, weaving professional commitments, personal changes and lingering affections into one satisfyingly complex ending. The connections forged in this small corner of English life always mattered more than any artefact, and the finale finally says so out loud.