Downton Abbey

[CaptainWaggett]

Could this be the new Upstairs Downstairs?



ITV gambles on Sunday night viewers getting the Downton Abbey habit

The launch of ITV's period drama, Downton Abbey, this month reminds viewers the network is capable of a richer mix, beyond talent searches, soaps and gritty drama.



"We are immensely proud of having made this, it takes us into a world ITV drama doesn't usually take us to," says Peter Fincham, the director of television. He emphasises it is an original piece by Julian Fellowes, in the Gosford Park mould, not a remake (a dig at the revival of Upstairs Downstairs, coming soon to BBC1), or an adaptation of a classic novel.



But the producer, Carnival Film & Television, tempted ITV into investing, in the depths of last year's advertising recession, by agreeing to substantially help fund the £7m, seven-part project itself. Carnival was purchased two years ago by America's NBC Universal, filling its coffers with cash to invest.



The Sunday night series is also a timely illustration of one solution to the problem of affording top-end drama, a live issue at the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television festival, where the BBC director general Mark Thompson and screenwriter Paul Abbott warned that change had to come. Gareth Neame, who runs Carnival, says that, contrary to reports, there are no big American players eager to stump up co-production money for British period pieces – in contrast to the global appetite for sci-fi, exploited by Primeval, Doctor Who and Torchwood.



"There are very few outlets, a lot of countries in the world have no interest in our history," he says. But he adds: "I am very optimistic it will travel."



Filmed on location at Highclere Castle, Hampshire, the drama, set in 1912, has an 18-strong core cast, divided into 12 servants and six toffs, headed by Maggie Smith and Hugh Bonneville. "The world they inhabit is recognisable – electricity, motor cars, trains, telephones. It is not Jane Austen," says Fellowes. "We chose a time when the destabilising of it is just around the corner."



The hope is that this venture will become a returning series, and scripts for a second run are more than a glint in Neame's eyes. For that it will need upmarket audiences of more than five million – and buckets of critical acclaim.

Not for viewers in Scotland. Obviously.

[jaycad]

have been looking forward to this for months since having to airbrush an electric fence out of a scene backdrop for the production,i was half expecting the series to be canned due to the cash problems at ITV.

[chuffnobbler]

This looks like a larf, despite being on ITV. Pics of Maggie Smith in full flow. A mention of

  Spoiler:

the lovely Rob James Collier going homo.

Sound promising so far.



Any ideas when it's on?

[Rick C]

name='chuffnobbler' timestamp='1284840122' post='475473']

This looks like a larf, despite being on ITV. Pics of Maggie Smith in full flow. A mention of

  Spoiler:

the lovely Rob James Collier going homo.

Sound promising so far.



Any ideas when it's on?

26 September. There's a studio discussion on the BBC Radio 4 Saturday night theatre, cinema, and art gallery programme "Saturday Review" broadcast yesterday (Sat 18 September) at 7.15 pm. Still available on the i-player.

[jaycad]

i saw the trailer for this yesterday and was trying to think of what the programme was as the footage used looked 'classic' so i presumed (until the title graphics) it was a repeat-none of the 'shhhuummp' and 'dummpppphhtttt' bang noises that seem so prominent in period drama today-here's hoping that they're a thing of the past as they remind me of bloody 'eastenders'.

[Mark O]

There seems to be a lot of hype about this drama, I felt a bit lukewarm about it at first but the Radio station Classic FM is going on about it with it's Edwardian themes, plus the Radio Times have it on the front cover and an interview with Maggie Smith, I'm going to watch it, I note Rob-James Collier is in it who played Liam Connor in Corrie, hmmmm, he left Corrie as he didn't want to be typecast, another ex-Corrie actress in it is Joanne Froggat, I have admiration for her, she always plays her roles well.



Scottish viewers can recieve ITV London on Freesat 977, Sky 993, Virgin 853.

[faginsgirl]

Hmm I don`t have a good feeling about this one, it sounds too Gosforth park which I didn`t like. And as it opposes Jean Marsh`s new drama out soon so I am wondering if ITV have purposely rushed ahead in the competition.



Just my thoughts.



xx

[jaycad]

name='faginsgirl' timestamp='1285183597' post='476476']

Hmm I don`t have a good feeling about this one, it sounds too Gosforth park which I didn`t like. And as it opposes Jean Marsh`s new drama out soon so I am wondering if ITV have purposely rushed ahead in the competition.



Just my thoughts.



xx

IIRC 'downton abbey' was planned before the new UD and obviously was completed before the new UD (which is being filmed at present) so i wouldn't say that ITV have rushed it out to compete-it won't be like 'gosford park' which is basically 'cluedo' (i enjoyed GP personally!),i imagine it will be closer to 'the forstye saga' (but set later) if anything? ITV have to be given credit for producing an original series with a decent cast AND showing it!! we've all criticised ITV for taking the easy route by re-making the same period dramas and/or taking an eternity in actually getting new material on tv!

[faginsgirl]

name='jaycad' timestamp='1285184690' post='476487']

IIRC 'downton abbey' was planned before the new UD

How do you know?



xx

[Carmel]

I cant wait to see this one it looks like it's going to be good.

[jaycad]

name='faginsgirl' timestamp='1285186636' post='476504']

How do you know?



xx

i should have said 'commissioned' rather than 'planned' as obviously no one can be certain of whose idea originated first but i remember reading something on 'the stage'about a bit of a hoo haw between BBC and ITV around 2 years ago after ITV announced 'downton abbey' had been commissioned,the BBC claimed that they had begun talks regarding reviving 'upstairs downstairs' before ITVs plans

were announced.

ITV seem to have the upper hand as their production is complete and will be aired first even though their series is much longer than the new 'upstairs downstairs'-personally i'm not bothered if both series are vieing for ratings as maybe some people at both stations will remember the point of television?

[faginsgirl]

name='jaycad' timestamp='1285189374' post='476528']

personally i'm not bothered if both series are vieing for ratings as maybe some people at both stations will remember the point of television?

Agreed!



xx

[chuffnobbler]

The new UD is being filmed at the moment: there was a piece on BBC Midlands Today about it, last week. It's all well and good for the BBC to get narky, but ITV have well and truly beaten them to it, here.



Gosh: I am actually excited about a new ITV drama. What are the chances of that happening?!

[jaycad]

name='chuffnobbler' timestamp='1285256965' post='476708']

The new UD is being filmed at the moment: there was a piece on BBC Midlands Today about it, last week. It's all well and good for the BBC to get narky, but ITV have well and truly beaten them to it, here.



Gosh: I am actually excited about a new ITV drama. What are the chances of that happening?!

according to my dads work colleague,UD interor shots are being filmed in her street in stratford upon avon presently!

what are the chances of being excited about three new dramas? 'upstairs downstairs','downton abbey' and filming is due to start on the second series of 'sherlock' as the scene backdrops were printed last week!

[CaptainWaggett]

name='jaycad' timestamp='1285258289' post='476716']

according to my dads work colleague,UD interor shots are being filmed in her street in stratford upon avon presently!

what are the chances of being excited about three new dramas? 'upstairs downstairs','downton abbey' and filming is due to start on the second series of 'sherlock' as the scene backdrops were printed last week!

I'm sure you're equally excited about the filming of this series

[jaycad]

name='CaptainWaggett' timestamp='1285258693' post='476719']

I'm sure you're equally excited about the filming of this series

oh my god-it cannot get any worse! dr who AND an ex corrie 'star'!!

i used to console myself with the idea that doctor who was getting younger with each new body and would soon be in utero thus no more programmes! unfortunately that ceased to be the case with the bloke after peter davison!

[Ray]

I have been looking forward to this series ever since it was first announced, and I must say that it was even better than I had hoped. I knew that Dame Maggie would be as watchable as ever, but I was very surprised, and impressed with Rob James Collier and Joanne Froggett. I thought that the whole production was just perfect.

[jaycad]

name='Ray' timestamp='1285538717' post='477849']

I have been looking forward to this series ever since it was first announced, and I must say that it was even better than I had hoped. I knew that Dame Maggie would be as watchable as ever, but I was very surprised, and impressed with Rob James Collier and Joanne Froggett. I thought that the whole production was just perfect.

glad to hear that it was good-i'll watch it tonight as i had to go to a bloody christening yesterday and recorded it instead!

[Ray]

name='jaycad' timestamp='1285582590' post='477929']

glad to hear that it was good-i'll watch it tonight as i had to go to a bloody christening yesterday and recorded it instead!

I do hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

I am surprised that no one else has commented since last night's showing. I don't expect that everyone will share my enthusiam, but I thought that there would be some reaction one way or the other.

[Windthrop]

name='Ray' timestamp='1285583224' post='477934']

I do hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

I am surprised that no one else has commented since last night's showing. I don't expect that everyone will share my enthusiam, but I thought that there would be some reaction one way or the other.

No I agree. I don't usually like long 90 min episode series but so far so good. I was worried the whole thing was going to be a bit homogenised with the cast looking like it had been generated by a computer print out. If the standard is maintained it is going to be a winner IMHO.