The Big Upstairs Downstairs Thread

[Maria No. 1.]

I used to love watching Upstairs and Downstairs in the 1970's.  I have the boxed set and repeats are currently being shown on ITV 3. 

What I would love to know is the actress Rachel Gurney who played Lady Marjorie Bellamy, was she sacked from the programme, or was it her decision to leave ?  Lady Marjorie (mother of James and Elizabeth) was one of the main characters, and she was supposedly on board the Titanic when it sunk.  Not that we saw any of this, all off camera.

[Douggie]

Rachel decided to leave the series, much to the dismay of the producers, as she wasn't fond of her character. She wanted Lady Majorie to be more like Richard in her attitudes and less harsh but the writers/producers didn't want that. She always referred to Majorie has "Lady Wasp".

[Maria No. 1.]

Rachel decided to leave the series, much to the dismay of the producers, as she wasn't fond of her character. She wanted Lady Majorie to be more like Richard in her attitudes and less harsh but the writers/producers didn't want that. She always referred to Majorie has "Lady Wasp".

Thanks Douggie, now I know.  It has bugged me for years.  I know Rachel Gurney died a couple of years ago, but Jean Marsh appeared on Paul O'Grady Show with Simon Williams saying the production staff used to give Rachel preferential treatment because she was the "lady" which Rachel expected and it used to nark others in the cast, notably Jean.  Simon jokingly said to Jean "the poor lady has died now, let her rest in piece" to laughter.

[Douggie]

Yes I think there was a "divide" amongst the cast which was quite unintentional but because of the characters they played the "Upstairs" cast tended to stick together and the "Downstairs" cast stuck together and the two didn't really meet.

[paul ross]

I never watched it - although I catch the odd bits when it's repeated on sky. Raymond Bowers wrote a an ep - love to see that and his gorgeous Oscar Wildian dialogues!

[Rosemary Hunter]

Yes I think there was a "divide" amongst the cast which was quite unintentional but because of the characters they played the "Upstairs" cast tended to stick together and the "Downstairs" cast stuck together and the two didn't really meet.

Oh it was the same at the Motel - I can tell you that much. There were some of us, such as me darling, who wouldn't mix with the likes of Amy or Benny in the Motel Bar after hours. After all in terms of Crossroads I was royalty, or at the very least gentry, and they were peasants.

[DJB]

Paul,
      You really should give Upstairs,Downstairs a go.Bowers' only episode "The Swedish Tiger" is from the First series.It's generally regarded as something of a curio amongst fans of the series.The whole tone is completely different to the rest of the series.Some of the actors and production team discuss it in the documentary that accompanies the Network Series One set.

[Douggie]

I love Upstairs, Downstairs - it's one fine drama! Some of the best actors/writers of its time and it's a delight to watch.

[Aston Cross]

Upstairs Downstairs is superb drama with the fourth series (set throughout WW1) being particularly poignant.  The worst episode is The Swedish Tiger - spectacularly bad, considering the other episodes throughout the show's run.

[Maria No. 1.]

I love Upstairs, Downstairs - it's one fine drama! Some of the best actors/writers of its time and it's a delight to watch.

I agree Douggie.  Absolutely fantastic.  I actually liked Rachel Gurney as an actress, and thought Episode 2 Magic Casements which involved her having an affair with an army officer was one of the best of the series.

[DJB]

I never watched it - although I catch the odd bits when it's repeated on sky. Raymond Bowers wrote a an ep - love to see that and his gorgeous Oscar Wildian dialogues!

Paul,I don't know if you're aware that your namesake(Sandor Eles)actually guest starred in one episode "Desirous Of Change" in the 3rd Series.

[paul ross]

Yes, I recall briefly seeing him in an ep that was screened some Sunday morning not long ago. Ross was a fav of mine! I know from reading a letter he had sent to a fan (parts or whole appearing online somewhere - can't recall) that he was not too fond of remembering Crossroads. Shame. He said 'the many banal storylines would surely drive one to the edge!'. May he rest.

[Daniel Freeman]

Yes, I recall briefly seeing him in an ep that was screened some Sunday morning not long ago. Ross was a fav of mine! I know from reading a letter he had sent to a fan (parts or whole appearing online somewhere - can't recall) that he was not too fond of remembering Crossroads. Shame. He said 'the many banal storylines would surely drive one to the edge!'. May he rest.

I saw that too. I have also either seen you or this "Sandor" person impersonating a german officer back in 1940 in Timeslip! Are you a spy?

[Aston Cross]

And I've seen you in an episode of Strange Report with a guy who looked remarkably like Ray Doyle from The Professionals!  I think we should be told.

[Castlewich]

Rachel decided to leave the series, much to the dismay of the producers, as she wasn't fond of her character. She wanted Lady Majorie to be more like Richard in her attitudes and less harsh but the writers/producers didn't want that. She always referred to Majorie has "Lady Wasp".

I read that she regretted, eventually, leaving UD. And - apparently - the Lady Marjorie part was originally offered to Honor Blackman who turned it down...