BBC remakes Upstairs, Downstairs

[Captain Shaw]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8303620.stm

The series was created by actresses Jean Marsh and Dame Eileen Atkins. Both will have roles in the new version, which will be set in 1936.
It will be relaunched with two 90-minute films next year. Heidi Thomas who wrote Cranford, will pen the drama.

Was the original series on ITV?

 

[Marc]

Gordon Jackson will be spinning in his grave.

 

[Australis]

<sigh>

Why? Just... why?

 

[22 Stars]

Looks more like a sequel, not a remake. Sounds good to me!

 

[WillsBabe]

I didn't see the original as I was just a young kid in the 70s. I did see a limited run of episodes when Gordon Jackson passed away, and I really enjoyed them. I think I might give this a go.

 

[ITL]

I remember this show being required viewing for my mum way back when along with The Duchess Of Duke Street and All Creatures Great And Small...

 

[Starkers]

I used to watch it when I was little--not sure I really understood the nature of the show but I watched it. I remember liking the romance between Paulin Collins and, I think John duttine, it was Pauline Collins real life husband anyway!

Will people ever run out of things to remake/bring back I wonder?

 

[Haggis and tatties]

Gordon Jackson will be spinning in his grave.

He is not in his grave, his ghost haunts Martin Shaw for stopping reruns of The professions and in the process stopping any repeat fee's he would have got if he had not passed away.

But Upstairs downstairs was required weekend viewing in the late 70s, followed by The two Ronnies.

 

[Australis]

When I was a young teen, the Two Ronnies was the Best (non-SF) Show Ever. I still miss it.

 

[Marc]

Gordon Jackson will be spinning in his grave.

He is not in his grave, his ghost haunts Martin Shaw for stopping reruns of The professions and in the process stopping any repeat fee's he would have got if he had not passed away.

I gather at one point that Shaw lifted it out saying it was doing so out of respect for Jackson (this was just after he died). Don't what happened then but the professionals did get a re-run on UKTV which is an Australian paytv channel a few years back.

But Upstairs downstairs was required weekend viewing in the late 70s, followed by The two Ronnies.

never really saw the Upstairs Downstairs (didn't interest me and my mum couldn't stand it) but the Two Ronnies was a classic.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

This and the Forsythe Saga pretty much made Masterpiece Theatre.

 

[WillsBabe]

I gather at one point that Shaw lifted it out saying it was doing so out of respect for Jackson (this was just after he died).

I think it was so Gordon Jackson's widow could benefit from repeat fees. I've been reading a Professionals book recently that details the amount of money each of the leads would have made from repeats. Not an inconsiderable sum of money at all.

 

[T'Bonz]

Upstairs, Downstairs and the Henry VIII/Elizabeth R series made PBS worth watching in my teens.

I'll have to check out this sequel.

 

[Captain Shaw]

I have seen some of the series on ITV 3 and i have to say the house is like doctor who's tardis i remember watching a episode where a door suddenly appeared on the left wall of the drawing room revealing a room never to be seen again.
Also one week it looked like Lord Bellamy office was at the front of the house then next week it was the dinning room.

 

[auntiehill]

Wow. I remember this show from when I was a kid. It really put PBS on the map, as far as I recall.

I don't know about a remake....but a sequel? I might actually watch that.