When the master of 165 Eaton Place, Sir Hallam Holland, carries his wife across the threshold of their new home, Lady Agnes exclaims with pleasure, "What a ghastly old mausoleum!" Neglect has strewn cobwebs everywhere and furred the surfaces with dust. But with a sumptuous renovation and the help of the indomitable housekeeper Rose Buck (Jean Marsh), the iconic address so beloved in the original series Upstairs Downstairs is soon restored to its former glory.
It's 1936, a tumultuous time in Britain, and within the walls of 165 Eaton Place, characters from an orphanage, a damp Welsh castle, the heart of the British Raj and elsewhere together will face a changing world, not just upstairs and downstairs, but side by side. Written by Heidi Thomas (Cranford, Madame Bovary), Upstairs Downstairs stars co-creators of the original series Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins (Cranford, Bertie and Elizabeth). Also starring are Ed Stoppard (Any Human Heart), Keeley Hawes (Wives and Daughters), and Claire Foy (Little Dorrit). Catch the slideshow here.
WATCH THE PREVIEW
Sunday, October 7 at 9:00 p.m.
A Faraway Country About Which We Know Nothing
As 165 Eaton Place reopens its doors, two new arrivals make their mark. Sir Hallam’s forthright aunt, Blanche, disrupts life upstairs, while feisty new maid Beryl struggles to adjust to life in service. Meanwhile, Lady Agnes’ concern for her children reveals a dark secret about Mr. Pritchard. Sir Hallam’s preoccupation with Nazi Germany leads him into dangerous waters, and a chance meeting unlocks a hidden desire.
Sunday, October 14 at 9:00 p.m.
The Love That Pays the Price
Lady Agnes catches the eye of charismatic American millionaire Caspar Landry, but as she and Sir Hallam look to their future, a tragic turn of events leaves their promised dreams, and a close family member, in jeopardy. Downstairs, Mrs. Thackeray makes a momentous decision that throws the running of 165 into chaos. Blanche and Mr. Amanjit continue to clash, until a heart-breaking cause compels them to reconsider their differences.
.Sunday, October 21 at 9:00 p.m.
A Perfect Specimen of Womanhood
Blanche comes face-to-face with her former lover when a scandalous novel is published; when the passion between the pair reignites, she begins to consider a life away from Eaton Place. Downstairs, Beryl’s decision to take a stand causes serious disruptions in the running of the house until a familiar face offers wise words. Meanwhile, when Lady Persie reveals a shocking secret to Sir Hallam, the pair becomes ever closer as Persie is forced to make a life-changing decision about her future.
.Sunday, October 28 at 9:00 p.m.
All the Things You Are
Harry’s desire to impress Beryl leads him and Johnny into the world of boxing and, as their big fight draws closer, the boys are determined to reign victorious. Upstairs, as Lady Agnes and Sir Hallam drift further apart, she is reacquainted with someone who shows her an exciting world away from 165 Eaton Place; Sir Hallam makes a dangerous decision that will change his life forever.
**Stay tuned for more airings of Upstairs, Downstairs!**
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