Upstairs Downstairs (BBC)

[didi-5]

If they were going to do a sequel to 'Upstairs Downstairs' (assuming that 'Thomas and Sarah' doesn't count as such), they should have done it within a couple of years, perhaps following Lord and Lady Stockbridge in their new life, with Edward and Daisy and perhaps occasional guest appearances from Rose, Ruby, and Lord and Lady Bellamy. They might have had to write out both Mr and Mrs Hudson due to Angela Baddeley's sad death so soon after the original series wrapped, but there was mileage in those characters.

This new series suffered from Jean Marsh being far too old to reprise the role of Rose, given a time lapse of thirty plus years.

[Rowdon]

if it's absolutely definite that there will be no more Upstairs Downstairs, I think it's a great pity. A soap opera set in the second world war in London, as class barriers and everything people were used to comes crashing down around them, literally and metaphorically - I think it would have been excellent. I love Downton Abbey, but it's a pity that these two clashed, because there's really very little common ground except the fact that both are houses with servants. Surely there's room for both - and wasn't Upstairs Downstairs getting good audience figures?

[Windyridge]

if it's absolutely definite that there will be no more Upstairs Downstairs, I think it's a great pity. A soap opera set in the second world war in London, as class barriers and everything people were used to comes crashing down around them, literally and metaphorically - I think it would have been excellent. I love Downton Abbey, but it's a pity that these two clashed, because there's really very little common ground except the fact that both are houses with servants. Surely there's room for both - and wasn't Upstairs Downstairs getting good audience figures?

When popular (ish) series aren't recommissioned, it's very rarely for the reasons the networks give in their press releases. No more Waking The Dead, for example, had nothing to do with the BBC feeling the series had run its course. The usual reason is that the actors/writers/directors want too much money, or there is such a conflict of egos on the show, some people pull out (one very very popular series isn't going on because of this).

[faginsgirl]

if it's absolutely definite that there will be no more Upstairs Downstairs, I think it's a great pity. A soap opera set in the second world war in London, as class barriers and everything people were used to comes crashing down around them, literally and metaphorically - I think it would have been excellent. I love Downton Abbey, but it's a pity that these two clashed, because there's really very little common ground except the fact that both are houses with servants. Surely there's room for both - and wasn't Upstairs Downstairs getting good audience figures?

Exactly Rowdon!

[Rowdon]

When popular (ish) series aren't recommissioned, it's very rarely for the reasons the networks give in their press releases. No more Waking The Dead, for example, had nothing to do with the BBC feeling the series had run its course. The usual reason is that the actors/writers/directors want too much money, or there is such a conflict of egos on the show, some people pull out (one very very popular series isn't going on because of this).

Name names! This is so frustrating!

I wonder what the actual reason for Upstairs Downstairs going is, then? I'm very glad Jean Marsh saw it remade, and saw it was successful and worth the wait and the trouble, but I'm sorry it didn't last longer. Whatever happened, I hope there's a rethink.

But then I'm still hoping for a rethink about Whites ...

[Windyridge]

Name names! This is so frustrating!

I'm sorry, that was annoying! It's initials are N and T. But you didn't hear it from me.

[faginsgirl]

I'm sorry, that was annoying! It's initials are N and T. But you didn't hear it from me.

Not KH with UP DS is it?

[Rowdon]

I'm sorry, that was annoying! It's initials are N and T. But you didn't hear it from me.

Thanks! I was only joking, actually - I didn't expect any beans to be spilt!



Mind you, I thought Never the Twain finished ages ago.

[TimR]

If they were going to do a sequel to 'Upstairs Downstairs' (assuming that 'Thomas and Sarah' doesn't count as such), they should have done it within a couple of years, perhaps following Lord and Lady Stockbridge in their new life, with Edward and Daisy and perhaps occasional guest appearances from Rose, Ruby, and Lord and Lady Bellamy. They might have had to write out both Mr and Mrs Hudson due to Angela Baddeley's sad death so soon after the original series wrapped, but there was mileage in those characters.

This new series suffered from Jean Marsh being far too old to reprise the role of Rose, given a time lapse of thirty plus years.

It might have better to just start a new series set in the late 1930s without any reference to the original Upstairs Downstairs. As it is, they were competing against the original - which really was incomparable, and the only example I know of where a soap turned into a genuine drama - and with the lavish steamroller of Downton Abbey, which is the 'show of the moment'. All of that competition was too much, I suppose.

What little I saw did look a bit boring - but it's not my sort of show anyway. It was professional and the acting was top quality, but it looked like a quieter show with plenty of detail and shows like that require patience. It just needed some time to develop an audience.

[wadey]

It just didn't have that something and at times it looked a bit stagey if you know what I mean