Upstairs Downstairs 2010 cast revealed
BBC One has announced the cast for their revival of the classic TV series Upstairs Downstairs.
Who's in the cast?
Keeley Hawes (Ashes To Ashes, Spooks), Ed Stoppard (Brideshead Revisited), Anne Reid (Bleak House), Claire Foy (Little Dorrit), Adrian Scarborough (Gavin & Stacey) and Art Malik (Holby City) will all be entering through the doors of the iconic 165 Eaton Place. Also joining the cast are Ellie Kendrick (Diary Of Anne Frank) and Nico Mirallegro (Hollyoaks).
What's the show about?
Set in 1936, the three, hour-long episodes will take viewers back to the lavish world of Belgravia, London. A new set of occupants will reside at the iconic address and viewers will see how external and internal influences of the tumultuous pre-war period shape and mould the lives of this wealthy family and their servants.
Who's who, Upstairs?
Keeley Hawes is Lady Agnes Holland, the beautiful, spirited and socially ambitious woman who plans to take society by storm. Her husband and master of the house, diplomat Sir Hallam Holland, has his work cut out keeping the peace between his wife and mother and will be played by Ed Stoppard.
Dame Eileen Atkins will play Maud, Lady Holland – the straight-speaking mother-in-law who causes sparks to fly as soon as she arrives. And Claire Foy plays Lady Persephone – the beautiful, younger sister of Lady Agnes who refuses to adhere to the rules of 165 Eaton Place.
And who's who, Downstairs?
Jean Marsh reprises her role as Rose Buck - and is now the reliable housekeeper. Anne Reid will play Mrs Thackeray, the resident cook, Adrian Scarborough plays the highly strung, teetotal butler, Mr Pritchard and Art Malik plays Mr Amanjit, loyal servant to Maud.
What should we expect?
Writer Heidi Thomas (Cranford, Ballet Shoes) says: "Bringing 165 Eaton Place back to life has been the greatest honour and privilege of my career. It really is a dream come true for me, and I am thrilled that our actors feel the same."
The original series, created by Jean Marsh and Dame Eileen Atkins, was first broadcast in 1971. Marsh says: "This series has been beautifully cast and I was completely enthralled listening to them bring the scripts to life at the read through. I feel very happy and very comfortable - I feel very lucky. For the rest of the cast it was their first episode of Upstairs Downstairs. For me, it was my 56th. I am very much looking forward to the start of filming and I am very much looking forward to returning to 165 Eaton Place."
