The problem with the revival of the 1970’s Upstairs Downstairs in 2010 is that it lacked the interactions of the original cast and concentrated on trying to upstage the ITV’s successful Downton Abbey by introducing historical contemporary characters such as Wallis Simpson and the abdication crisis as well as her relationship with Von Ribbontrop. It also had the black sheep of the family, the sister in law Lady Persephone Towyn running off to Germany with her Nazi lover suggesting echoes of Diana Mitford and her relationship with Adolph Hitler.
I am not surprised that so little attention has been given in the media to the second new series and even Wikipedia has ignored the showing of the first three episodes. Could it be that there is displeasure being exerted from some quarters? If so I can well understand the reaction.
Eileen Atkins who helped to create the original series appeared briefly as the mother Maud, Lady Holland, but she departed said to be in huff over the first season’s script which in addition to the abdication crisis also included the more notorious of the Queen’s uncles, Prince George, The Duke of Kent.
In the second series Lady Holland continues to play a role in the Household from a position on the mantelpiece that is her ashes. Her loyal friend and factotum, Mr Amanjit played by Art Malik and her sister Dr Blanche Mottershead who works at the British Museum and whose forte is organising, cataloguing and systems has moved into 165 Eaton Place and starts to sort out her sisters papers apparently as a self appointed Executor or stake holder in the property.
The opening episode entitled A Faraway Country about which we know Nothing follows the National events leading to the signing of the Munich Agreement with Peace in Our Time. Sir Hallam Holland works at the Foreign Office and belongs to the Churchill Eden viewpoint, who wants the country to rearm and prepare for war with Germany because of Hitler’s ambitions and because of Nazi methods. His wife is among those who plead for compromise and a peaceful solution and is anxious about her sister who lives in Germany as the mistress of a married Nazi officer.
Sir Hallam continues to be friends with the Duke of Kent, Prince George as he was, fourth son of the then late King. The Duke was bi sexual and was known for a series of high profile sexual relationships which included the African-American cabaret singer Florence Mills; banking heiress Poppy Baring; socialite Margaret Whigham (later Duchess of Argyll and involved in a notoriously scandalous divorce case); Barbara Cartland, later known as a romantic novelist; and musical star Jessie Matthews. Claims that he had a 19-year affair with Noël Coward were denied by Coward's long-term partner, Graham Payn.Intimate letters from the Duke to Coward are believed to have been stolen from Coward’s house in 1942 and reminds of a similar situation which arose in Downton Abbey. He was also said to have been addicted to morphine and cocaine and reportedly was blackmailed by a male prostitute to whom he wrote intimate letters.
Another of his reported sexual liaisons was with his distant cousin Louis Ferdinand, Prince of Prussia; art historian Anthony Blunt who was a Russian spy was reputedly another intimate. The Duke was known to have attempted to court Crown Princess Juliana of the Netherlands. She spurned the overture and married Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld instead.
In addition to his legitimate children, the Duke is said to have had a son by Kiki Preston (née Alice Gwynne, 1898–1946), an American socialite whom he reportedly shared in a ménage à trois with Jorge Ferrara, the bisexual son of the Argentine ambassador to the Court of St. James's. Another reputed illegitimate lovechild was Raine McCorquodale, daughter of Barbara Cartland, whose step-granddaughter Diana Spencer married George's great-nephew Charles.
In the programme the Duke is portrayed as wanting to avoid War with Germany at any price with the thinly veiled suggestion that he was sympathetic to the regime and asks Hallam to take a letter with him to Germany for Hitler in secret when he is sent to Germany to try and stiffen the resolve of Chamberlain not to yield Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland or at least try and prevent the subsequent annexation of the rest of Czechoslovakia. The programme sees Hallam storm out of negotiations after Chamberlain refuses to include key sentences suggested by him
Meanwhile back at Eaton Place there are preparations for war with the allocation of the gas masks and with Pritchard the Butler becoming the local Air Raid warden. Lady Agnes has given birth to her first child by Caesarean and she had the child barely survived. She is warned that further pregnancy could see her demise and that she must advise her husband to take appropriate action to prevent this. Understandably she is concerned about the fact that everyone in the household is provided with a gas mask except the baby and Pritchard uses his influence to bring home an experimental baby respirator. This concerns the rescued from prison Johnny Proude who tests out the device by placing Mr Amanjit’s monkey and turning on the car in the garage with the consequence that it suffocates. Unfortunately the attempt to hide the death fails as it is discovered by the Sir Hallam’s sister (she with learning difficulties) who has returned to Eaton Place because the institution has closed from the threat of war. She contacts the police who investigate and then arrest Pritchard who has taken the blame to protect Proude only to find himself under attack by Amanjit, the Housekeeper Cook, Mrs Thackeray and the arresting officer when it is found that Pritchard served time as a Conscientious Objector during World War I.
The first episode also sees the arrival a Nursery Nurse Beryl Ballard who sparks off in mutual attraction with the Chauffer Harry Spargo. Beryl has to share a double bed with Maid Eunice McCabe which both find unsatisfactory.
In the second episode The Love that Pays the Price the centre of the attention is a dinner party given for the American Ambassador who brings along his son Jack Kennedy and a wealth American business man Caspar Landry who takes the mutual eye of her Ladyship. The episode has the hosts taking out Jack to sample London Night Life with a visit to a club and dancing.
Relationships between Pritchard. Mrs Thackeray and Amanjit reach boiling point. Amanjit who served in the Indian Army during World War I is provided with a family hand gun by Sir Hallam who is off to Germany in case there is an invasion while he is away or duty. Amanjit undertakes some target practice in the grounds in order to make a point to Pritchard and its Lady Agnes who insists on a working truce. Pritchard gets his own back on Mrs Thackeray who meets up with her nephew and his wife and children when they come to England from Ireland where the nephews has gained a job selling insurance. She makes for him some special macrons and Pritchard makes her pay for the ingredients used and for the tin. However when the home baked Florentines which Mrs Kennedy has requested are spoiled Pritchard uses most of the macrons for the dinner party with their coffee. This is the last straw and Mrs Pritchard who decides to walk out and go and live with her relatives much to the surprise and questioning of her niece in law.
In Germany Sir Hallam has encountered his sister in law who he has fancied and given the limitation now placed on marital relations with his wife he responds to the challenging interest shown by Lady Persephone, who also states that she is content with her life in Germany even as a kept woman.
Meanwhile back at Eaton Place there is another historical moment introduced when Amanjit represents Sir Hallam at the residential school where the Jewish daughter the family took in has been placed. The head mistress expresses concern about the plight of other Jewish children and her wish for the school to provide refuge for others.
Amanjit becomes involved with a Jewish organisation besieged by request for help in a situation where the British Government is applying strict and time consuming rules. He turns to Blanche who throws herself readily in the task of going through all the requests and from this they help mount a campaign with the support of Sir Hallam and his wife first to persuade the British Government to change the regulations and then to recruit foster families for a train load of several hundred Jewish children who were allowed out of Germany and to come to the UK, the aspect which is based on fact.
There are three main aspects to the third episode which was shown on Sunday A Perfect Specimen of Womanhood, The first is the changing relationship between households and their staff. The accommodation, hours of work and conditions of service had been worked out by the original housekeeper for the series Miss Rose Buck played by Jean Marsh one the 1970’s series creators and actors. Unfortunately she had a stroke but has sufficiently recovered to have a brief appearance during this episode when Lady Agnes visits her in a Nursing home to transfer responsibility for the ex Barnardo’s Maid she employed to herself.
The new nursery maid has proved herself such an asset that Lady Agnes decides that she should also act as her personal maid changing the duties of others. However the outcome is longer hours for no additional pay. The maid makes contact with her staff association and the premises are expected with several changes required if it is not to be blacklisted. The two maids are provided with single beds. They are to have an upgraded toilet and proper breaks during the day. There is to be a comfortable settee provided in the servant’s quarters.
Mrs Thackeray quickly overstayed her welcome by providing the same kind of meals she prepared at Eaton Place thus amassing a great bill for which she had to use her savings and disrupting the household and their way of life. In order to financially help out the son who is not selling as much insurance as before because the threat of war increases, she gains a contract for her macrons which in turn creates havoc in he kitchen. Meanwhile the household is facing problems because of the absence of the cook and while it is all hands to the pump they are unable to deliver meals to the usual standards. Pritchard is forced to go and make peace and Mrs Thackeray returns in time for the new staff regime.
The domestic revolution occurred because Lady Penelope decided to participate in the Women’s League of Health and Beauty which are to hold a Torchlight exhibition in Hyde Park on evening. She insists that the younger maids join her using their official time off. However after the revolution they volunteer and participate in the display intended to herald the role women are to play in the Second World War and that class distinctions were to become blurred, a questionable fact.
Lady Persephone, Persie contacts her brother in law for help after being thrown out by her lover and Sir Hallam has to pull strings to bring he destitute woman back. She discloses to her brother in law that she is pregnant and wants his help to gain an abortion which he refuses. She insists that her sister is not told adding to the pressure on him. On a visit to Germany he makes contact with the child’s father who shows no interest or concern giving the impression that his attitude is part of the new German morality. He has three children with his wife. Back hone Persie as she is called within the family takes matter into her own hands and arranges a back street abortion going to recover at the Dorchester hotel but is cling suffering after effects and the chauffer contacts his lordship who is on his way back from Germany and they cover the situation by claiming that the flight back was delayed.
The main story line of this episode is the resurrection of love relationship between Blanche and another aristocrat who has written a novel about the relationship and which the media identify as the relationship between the two. There is considerable publicity and gossip. However the family and household take this in their stride as yet another indication of changing times. The women recommence their relationship. One wonders what more is to come in the three episodes which end with World War II.
I am not surprised that so little attention has been given in the media to the second new series and even Wikipedia has ignored the showing of the first three episodes. Could it be that there is displeasure being exerted from some quarters? If so I can well understand the reaction.
Eileen Atkins who helped to create the original series appeared briefly as the mother Maud, Lady Holland, but she departed said to be in huff over the first season’s script which in addition to the abdication crisis also included the more notorious of the Queen’s uncles, Prince George, The Duke of Kent.
In the second series Lady Holland continues to play a role in the Household from a position on the mantelpiece that is her ashes. Her loyal friend and factotum, Mr Amanjit played by Art Malik and her sister Dr Blanche Mottershead who works at the British Museum and whose forte is organising, cataloguing and systems has moved into 165 Eaton Place and starts to sort out her sisters papers apparently as a self appointed Executor or stake holder in the property.
The opening episode entitled A Faraway Country about which we know Nothing follows the National events leading to the signing of the Munich Agreement with Peace in Our Time. Sir Hallam Holland works at the Foreign Office and belongs to the Churchill Eden viewpoint, who wants the country to rearm and prepare for war with Germany because of Hitler’s ambitions and because of Nazi methods. His wife is among those who plead for compromise and a peaceful solution and is anxious about her sister who lives in Germany as the mistress of a married Nazi officer.
Sir Hallam continues to be friends with the Duke of Kent, Prince George as he was, fourth son of the then late King. The Duke was bi sexual and was known for a series of high profile sexual relationships which included the African-American cabaret singer Florence Mills; banking heiress Poppy Baring; socialite Margaret Whigham (later Duchess of Argyll and involved in a notoriously scandalous divorce case); Barbara Cartland, later known as a romantic novelist; and musical star Jessie Matthews. Claims that he had a 19-year affair with Noël Coward were denied by Coward's long-term partner, Graham Payn.Intimate letters from the Duke to Coward are believed to have been stolen from Coward’s house in 1942 and reminds of a similar situation which arose in Downton Abbey. He was also said to have been addicted to morphine and cocaine and reportedly was blackmailed by a male prostitute to whom he wrote intimate letters.
Another of his reported sexual liaisons was with his distant cousin Louis Ferdinand, Prince of Prussia; art historian Anthony Blunt who was a Russian spy was reputedly another intimate. The Duke was known to have attempted to court Crown Princess Juliana of the Netherlands. She spurned the overture and married Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld instead.
In addition to his legitimate children, the Duke is said to have had a son by Kiki Preston (née Alice Gwynne, 1898–1946), an American socialite whom he reportedly shared in a ménage à trois with Jorge Ferrara, the bisexual son of the Argentine ambassador to the Court of St. James's. Another reputed illegitimate lovechild was Raine McCorquodale, daughter of Barbara Cartland, whose step-granddaughter Diana Spencer married George's great-nephew Charles.
In the programme the Duke is portrayed as wanting to avoid War with Germany at any price with the thinly veiled suggestion that he was sympathetic to the regime and asks Hallam to take a letter with him to Germany for Hitler in secret when he is sent to Germany to try and stiffen the resolve of Chamberlain not to yield Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland or at least try and prevent the subsequent annexation of the rest of Czechoslovakia. The programme sees Hallam storm out of negotiations after Chamberlain refuses to include key sentences suggested by him
Meanwhile back at Eaton Place there are preparations for war with the allocation of the gas masks and with Pritchard the Butler becoming the local Air Raid warden. Lady Agnes has given birth to her first child by Caesarean and she had the child barely survived. She is warned that further pregnancy could see her demise and that she must advise her husband to take appropriate action to prevent this. Understandably she is concerned about the fact that everyone in the household is provided with a gas mask except the baby and Pritchard uses his influence to bring home an experimental baby respirator. This concerns the rescued from prison Johnny Proude who tests out the device by placing Mr Amanjit’s monkey and turning on the car in the garage with the consequence that it suffocates. Unfortunately the attempt to hide the death fails as it is discovered by the Sir Hallam’s sister (she with learning difficulties) who has returned to Eaton Place because the institution has closed from the threat of war. She contacts the police who investigate and then arrest Pritchard who has taken the blame to protect Proude only to find himself under attack by Amanjit, the Housekeeper Cook, Mrs Thackeray and the arresting officer when it is found that Pritchard served time as a Conscientious Objector during World War I.
The first episode also sees the arrival a Nursery Nurse Beryl Ballard who sparks off in mutual attraction with the Chauffer Harry Spargo. Beryl has to share a double bed with Maid Eunice McCabe which both find unsatisfactory.
In the second episode The Love that Pays the Price the centre of the attention is a dinner party given for the American Ambassador who brings along his son Jack Kennedy and a wealth American business man Caspar Landry who takes the mutual eye of her Ladyship. The episode has the hosts taking out Jack to sample London Night Life with a visit to a club and dancing.
Relationships between Pritchard. Mrs Thackeray and Amanjit reach boiling point. Amanjit who served in the Indian Army during World War I is provided with a family hand gun by Sir Hallam who is off to Germany in case there is an invasion while he is away or duty. Amanjit undertakes some target practice in the grounds in order to make a point to Pritchard and its Lady Agnes who insists on a working truce. Pritchard gets his own back on Mrs Thackeray who meets up with her nephew and his wife and children when they come to England from Ireland where the nephews has gained a job selling insurance. She makes for him some special macrons and Pritchard makes her pay for the ingredients used and for the tin. However when the home baked Florentines which Mrs Kennedy has requested are spoiled Pritchard uses most of the macrons for the dinner party with their coffee. This is the last straw and Mrs Pritchard who decides to walk out and go and live with her relatives much to the surprise and questioning of her niece in law.
In Germany Sir Hallam has encountered his sister in law who he has fancied and given the limitation now placed on marital relations with his wife he responds to the challenging interest shown by Lady Persephone, who also states that she is content with her life in Germany even as a kept woman.
Meanwhile back at Eaton Place there is another historical moment introduced when Amanjit represents Sir Hallam at the residential school where the Jewish daughter the family took in has been placed. The head mistress expresses concern about the plight of other Jewish children and her wish for the school to provide refuge for others.
Amanjit becomes involved with a Jewish organisation besieged by request for help in a situation where the British Government is applying strict and time consuming rules. He turns to Blanche who throws herself readily in the task of going through all the requests and from this they help mount a campaign with the support of Sir Hallam and his wife first to persuade the British Government to change the regulations and then to recruit foster families for a train load of several hundred Jewish children who were allowed out of Germany and to come to the UK, the aspect which is based on fact.
There are three main aspects to the third episode which was shown on Sunday A Perfect Specimen of Womanhood, The first is the changing relationship between households and their staff. The accommodation, hours of work and conditions of service had been worked out by the original housekeeper for the series Miss Rose Buck played by Jean Marsh one the 1970’s series creators and actors. Unfortunately she had a stroke but has sufficiently recovered to have a brief appearance during this episode when Lady Agnes visits her in a Nursing home to transfer responsibility for the ex Barnardo’s Maid she employed to herself.
The new nursery maid has proved herself such an asset that Lady Agnes decides that she should also act as her personal maid changing the duties of others. However the outcome is longer hours for no additional pay. The maid makes contact with her staff association and the premises are expected with several changes required if it is not to be blacklisted. The two maids are provided with single beds. They are to have an upgraded toilet and proper breaks during the day. There is to be a comfortable settee provided in the servant’s quarters.
Mrs Thackeray quickly overstayed her welcome by providing the same kind of meals she prepared at Eaton Place thus amassing a great bill for which she had to use her savings and disrupting the household and their way of life. In order to financially help out the son who is not selling as much insurance as before because the threat of war increases, she gains a contract for her macrons which in turn creates havoc in he kitchen. Meanwhile the household is facing problems because of the absence of the cook and while it is all hands to the pump they are unable to deliver meals to the usual standards. Pritchard is forced to go and make peace and Mrs Thackeray returns in time for the new staff regime.
The domestic revolution occurred because Lady Penelope decided to participate in the Women’s League of Health and Beauty which are to hold a Torchlight exhibition in Hyde Park on evening. She insists that the younger maids join her using their official time off. However after the revolution they volunteer and participate in the display intended to herald the role women are to play in the Second World War and that class distinctions were to become blurred, a questionable fact.
Lady Persephone, Persie contacts her brother in law for help after being thrown out by her lover and Sir Hallam has to pull strings to bring he destitute woman back. She discloses to her brother in law that she is pregnant and wants his help to gain an abortion which he refuses. She insists that her sister is not told adding to the pressure on him. On a visit to Germany he makes contact with the child’s father who shows no interest or concern giving the impression that his attitude is part of the new German morality. He has three children with his wife. Back hone Persie as she is called within the family takes matter into her own hands and arranges a back street abortion going to recover at the Dorchester hotel but is cling suffering after effects and the chauffer contacts his lordship who is on his way back from Germany and they cover the situation by claiming that the flight back was delayed.
The main story line of this episode is the resurrection of love relationship between Blanche and another aristocrat who has written a novel about the relationship and which the media identify as the relationship between the two. There is considerable publicity and gossip. However the family and household take this in their stride as yet another indication of changing times. The women recommence their relationship. One wonders what more is to come in the three episodes which end with World War II.
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