To The Manor Born ran for three series between 1979 and 1981

Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles will reunite as the aristocratic Audrey fforbes-Hamilton and the dashing, self-made businessman Richard DeVere.

Viewers last saw Audrey and Richard in 1981, when the couple finally married following a turbulent relationship.

Keith said: "It's enormous fun to be filming for the Christmas special and a great joy to be returning to BBC One."

The cast are currently filming on location in Somerset.

Humble lifestyle

The hour-long special will see a major event threaten to disturb life at the estate in Grantleigh as Audrey and Richard prepare to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary.

With the help of her schoolfriend Marjory (Angela Thorne), a fearless Audrey goes into battle to defend a community, safeguard 400 years of history and save her marriage.

Three hugely successful series of To The Manor Born were screened on BBC One between 1979 and 1981.

It followed the recently widowed Audrey, who, having been forced to sell the Manor to cover the debts incurred by her late husband, is forced to adapt to a more humble lifestyle and new social status.

Her fall from grace is made all the more painful by her distaste for nouveau riche millionaire supermarket owner Richard DeVere, the new owner of the Manor.

Their love-hate relationship was eventually resolved when they married in the 1981 finale.