Cater Street Hangman

Set in 1881, Inspector Pitt (Eoin McCarthy) is a working-class police detective in Victorian London, investigating a series of murders of young girls. The only thing the victims share are recent visits to the same vicarage in a wealthy neighborhood. With the help of headstrong, aristocratic Charlotte Ellison (Keeley Hawes), Pitt races to find the culprit before another girl is killed. To his surprise, he becomes the object of Ellison's affection along the way.
[1st in series of Inspector Pitt novels by Anne Perry]

Wikipedia
IMDb

Here's a 10 minute video with scenes from the film:

Watch film on Youtube

Thanks to:
gsbohn for trailer video, Bimbobean for posting film,
and to Nita for recommending it!

source for following screencaps

Screenwriter Heidi Thomas talks of Upstairs, Downstairs

"And so it came to pass that,

over a miniature cream tea served at 30,000 feet,
I first broached the subject of reviving 'Updown'."

Screenwriter Heidi Thomas expounds on remaking Upstairs, Downstairs:

"In two weeks' time, I will get the Christmas present of a lifetime. Upstairs Downstairs - one of the best-loved television programmes in history - is coming back. I'm so excited, I keep forgetting that I've written it myself. The revived Upstairs Downstairs begins with an empty house - 165 Eaton Place, former home of the Bellamys, has not been lived in for five years.

As Lady Agnes Holland, the new chatelaine, remarks: 'What a ghastly old mausoleum!' She gets the decorators in immediately. Over the course of the three-hour drama, a dozen new characters converge upon the house, and it becomes home to two distinct families..."

Read the entire article at Daily Mail

"Without Jean, we could not have made the sequel.
Jean is Rose, and Rose is Upstairs Downstairs."

"We whisked a glorious Humber limousine from under Madonna's nose
- she'd been after it for a film she was making. "

More information on UpDown

Upstairs, Downstairs - photo shoot for Radio Times

We get a sneak peek at some promo photos from BBC's

upcoming remake of Upstairs, Downstairs.
Thanks to riddler at KeeleyHawes.co for finding the images
which were part of a photo shoot for the Radio Times.

Read more details of the series in Daily Mail

(© Radio Times)

More information on Upstairs, Downstairs

Trailer for BBC Christmas Dramas incl. Upstairs, Downstairs

Here's an ad for the various Christmas specials that will air on BBC

which features some scenes from updated Upstairs, Downstairs

More details of Christmas shows here

More info on Upstairs, Downstairs

Upstairs, Downstairs: Interview with Keeley Hawes

What was it that appealed to you about working on Upstairs Downstairs?
I had never seen the original series. So it was actually like getting any other script and reading it and not having an idea of what was going to be inside. I didn't come to it with any baggage. One of the first things that appealed to me was that it is written by Heidi Thomas. She is just such a brilliant writer. The scripts were so easy to read, and I was thrilled. I just wanted to do it immediately.

Can you tell us about your character Lady Agnes Holland?
She's absolutely lovely! She's very ambitious – but she's probably more ambitious for her husband. She doesn't work and has a lot of time on her hands. She's come from a very posh family and has good breeding. But it's when she and Sir Hallam move back to London, having inherited money, she suddenly finds that she's in a world of material things that she's never had.

It's quite exciting for her really – but also quite difficult. She's not greedy at all – it's not just about having things. She's very excited at the prospect of everything that London has to offer them. And actually, this is all in place of the child that they've never been able to have. Sadly, she lost her first baby when she and Hallam were in America. So all her energy goes into her husband and her home – but there is a wonderful surprise for them when she discovers she is pregnant again. She doesn't want to believe that it might be true because it would be too heartbreaking if it were to happen again. And when the baby comes, it turns everything on its head.

Lady Agnes is very glamorous. Did you enjoy wearing the costumes?
It was absolutely brilliant! Amy Roberts, our costume designer, is a genius. And she made it very easy for me to feel comfortable as Lady Agnes. There was rarely a time when I didn't feel comfortable in the costume that she had chosen. When someone is as good at their job as she is it makes everything so much easier for you as an actor.

Did you enjoy inhabiting 165 Eaton Place?
The sets are amazing. They are the best sets I've seen anywhere! Eve Stewart – our production designer – has done an amazing job. Again, it just emphasises how we've had the best people we possibly could to make this such a special production. And that really does come across on screen. Along with the writing, of course!

There is a stellar cast line-up on this series. What was it like working with them?
We've got Dame Eileen Atkins and Jean Marsh! I'd worked with Art Malik about 12 years ago. And I've also worked with Ed – I ended up murdering the person I thought his character was having an affair with! It was wonderful to have the history of Eileen and Jean. There is scene where Lady Agnes says to Rose: "Welcome home". Even now, it's heartbreaking. She was a young woman in the original. I know that she found a lot of it quite moving. For her more than anybody it was quite an emotional experience – a huge part of her life.

Do you think this new revival will appeal to a younger generation?
We cover all bases on that one! The range of cast is quite perfect – we go from birth to 76 years old. There is something for everyone and they are all such strong characters. You could have ended up filling that house with people and that could have watered things down.

In Upstairs Downstairs there's a perfect amount of time spent on each character. No one's storyline is diluted. You get to know every person.

There was also something for us as actors, too. There was always somebody lovely to chat with. I loved sitting with the older ladies. Or Ellie, or one of the younger ones. We were all thrown in together and it was a very nice set to work on.

How did you find filming in south Wales?
It was lovely. I stayed in Penarth, which was beautiful. The Welsh crew were great, and everyone is so very excited about the industry there at the moment.

Interview from BBC

More information on Upstairs, Downstairs

Upstairs, Downstairs (2010)

Character descriptions

&
cast interviews

"Set in 1936, this lavish three-part serial sees diplomat Sir Hallam Holland (Ed Stoppard) move into the iconic townhouse along with his wife, Lady Agnes (Keeley Hawes). With the help of former parlourmaid Rose Buck (Jean Marsh), they launch a new whole new era for the sumptuous home at the heart of Upstairs Downstairs.

As Lady Agnes remarks: "This house is going to see such life!"But storm clouds are gathering in Europe, and servants are no longer biddable and cheap. The Hollands' first year at Eaton Place does not unfold as either Lady Agnes or Rose anticipates.

The drama that results sets exquisite domestic detail against a sweeping historical backdrop. There may be two families living in 165 – one upstairs and one down – but their fates are intimately linked. Touching, funny, romantic and savage, the revived Upstairs Downstairs is set to enrapture a whole new audience."

To air BBC One: December 26, 27 and 28, 2010

To air on PBS Masterpiece: April 10, 17 and 24, 2011

Source: BBC Press

Jean Marsh (shown in original series), cast promo pic, Claire Foy on set

MORE INFO:
> Video: watch 3 preview clips from episode 1 (new)
> Video: view scenes in BBC's Christmas trailer
> Promo photos for Radio Times (new)
> Daily Mail: article by screenwriter HEIDI THOMAS (new)
> Daily Mail: Downton It Ain't (new)
> first photos of some of the cast in costume
> more photos from the set, BBC press release
> site dedicated to original series of Upstairs, Downstairs
> Daily Mail: photos of cast, similarities to Downton Abbey
> Telegraph: first article about casting of series
> Telegraph: Jean Marsh article Dec 16
>Ian Wylie: Dec 16 Preview and Q&A
> Interview: Eve Stewart, production designer
> Episode 1 Synopsis
> Episode 1 selected screencaps
> Screencaps for Episode 1
> Screencaps for Episode 2
> Screencaps for Episode 3
> More articles on UpDown (new)

> Interview with screenwriter HEIDI THOMAS

~ UPSTAIRS ~

Sir Hallam Holland, played by Ed Stoppard: The Master
Diplomat Sir Hallam appears to have everything. In his mid-30s, he has risen rapidly through the ranks of the Foreign Office, and has recently inherited not just 165 Eaton Place but a considerable fortune and a baronetcy. After a lonely childhood spent in boarding schools, he also has found deep love and solace with his wife Lady Agnes. However, he must also find room in his heart, and his home, for his formidable mother Maud, Lady Holland. The events of 1936 will challenge and change him in ways he could not have foreseen.
Read interview


Lady Agnes Holland, played by Keeley Hawes: The Chatelaine
The eldest daughter of the 12th Earl Towyn, Lady Agnes was reared in a very damp castle in Wales. Beautiful and aristocratic, she has never been well off. Despite financial hardship, and their failure to have children, her marriage to Sir Hallam has been happy and devoted. The sudden rush of new money thrills her, and she is determined to put her husband, and her home, at the heart of London high society. But even as her dreams come true, Lady Agnes is forced to digest unpalatable truths, and fight to preserve the things she holds most dear.
Read interview


Maud, Lady Holland, played by Dame Eileen Atkins: The Dowager
Maud, Lady Holland is Sir Hallam's mother, and one of the women who helped to build the Raj. A fiercely intelligent and complex woman, she spent her whole adult life in support of her husband, the late Sir Greville Holland, seeing him rise to the very top of the Indian Civil Service. Newly widowed, she returns to England to write her memoirs, and secretly hopes to build a new relationship with her grown-up son. But thirty years of distance are not easily undone, and there will be shocks and heartache along the way.
Read interview


Lady Persie Towyn, played by Claire Foy: The Debutante
Lady Persephone Towyn is the 20-year-old sister of Lady Agnes. Ravishing but gauche, she has been marooned in Wales due to lack of family funds – a situation Lady Agnes is delighted to reverse. But Lady Persie's lack of education, and the stimulation of the London scene, make for a highly combustible mix.
Read interview

~ DOWNSTAIRS ~

Miss Rose Buck, played by Jean Marsh: The Housekeeper
Rose Buck was the upper house parlourmaid at Eaton Place for almost forty years. Since 1932 she has eked out a living running a domestic employment agency – but a twist of fate brings Lady Agnes to her door. Initially engaged purely to recruit the servants for the Hollands, Rose soon proves herself indispensible to the running of the house. A business deal becomes an emotional adventure, and Rose returns, in triumph, as a permanent member of the staff of 165.
Read interview


Mr Pritchard, played by Adrian Scarborough: The Butler
Warwick Pritchard is sleek, discreet and quite beautifully spoken – but Rose has distinct reservations at first. Mr Pritchard comes to 165 Eaton Place after a lengthy career on the Cunard cruise ships, and has a reference from film star Errol Flynn. Teetotal and highly strung, his exacting façade conceals deep kindness and real integrity. As the downstairs family settles in, he gradually becomes the moral centre of the household – though he still has a few surprises up his sleeve.
Read interview


Mrs Thackeray, played by Anne Reid: The Cook
Clarice Thackeray is a widow. Passionate about her work, she expects the highest standards of herself and others. She follows the workings of high society through the pages of the Tatler, and even cuts out pictures of the family upstairs. Romantic and affectionate by nature, she is also nosey, judgemental and a monumental snob.
Read interview


Mr Amanjit, played by Art Malik: The Secretary
Educated, gentle, and imposing, Amanjit Singh comes to Eaton Place as secretary to Maud, Lady Holland. Having been in her service in India for many years, he is devoted to her welfare. Occupying a position that is neither upstairs nor down, he is at first a shadowy and isolated figure. However, he rose to his current position from very humble origins, and longs to be included in the servants' social world. Once he manages to break the ice, he becomes a welcome and respected member of their tribe.
Read interview


Harry Spargo, played by Neil Jackson: The Chauffeur
Good-looking and cocksure, Harry Spargo enjoys his position with Hollands, but resents the social system that keeps him there. He enjoys a cautious camaraderie with Sir Hallam, but this is put to the test by the events of 1936. His passionate nature and desire for easy fulfilment will take him into dark pastures, politically and emotionally.
Read interview


Ivy Morris, played by Ellie Kendrick: The Housemaid
Orphaned Ivy Morris comes to 165 from a Barnardo's home, where she was trained as a domestic servant. Just 15 years old, she is spirited, wilful, and likes red nail varnish and singing in the bath. Rose only hires her out of desperation, and has a hard time wrangling disobedience and tantrums. But Ivy, who has never had a proper home, knows she has found one in 165. She would never willingly risk her newfound security – but her hunger for love leads her, and others, into danger.
Read interview


Johnny Proude, played by Nico Mirallegro: The Footman
Aged 16, Johnny Proude was born in a mining village near Nottingham. He launches a career in domestic service in an effort to escape a life spent down the pit. Charming and hard-working, he is popular with the other servants – especially Ivy – but comes to 165 with a troubling secret that, once revealed, will shatter the whole household.
Read interview


Rachel Perlmutter, played by Helen Bradbury: The Parlourmaid
Rachel Perlmutter is a German-Jewish refugee who comes to 165 as the new parlourmaid, in May 1936. Reserved and sophisticated, Rachel knows little about basic household chores, but is determined to make the best of her circumstances. An unexpected friendship with Mr Amanjit has lasting consequences for both of them.

~ Other characters ~

HRH The Duke of Kent, played by Blake Ritson
Kent is new King Edward VIII's youngest brother, and Sir Hallam's closest friend. They shared some wild nights out when they were younger, but both have now settled into domesticity. As the Abdication scandal rises to a rolling boil, Kent leans on Sir Hallam for support – and 165 Eaton Place finds itself at the heart of a national crisis.



Joachim von Ribbentrop, played by Edward Baker-Duly
A German diplomat who answers directly to Hitler, Ribbentrop is out to solicit the British establishment. Charismatic and manipulative, Ribbentrop's flirtation with Lady Persie has significant repercussions for 165.





Anthony Eden, played by Anthony Calf
The Foreign Secretary, with whom Sir Hallam works closely at the Foreign Office. His personal opinions often run counter to the government policy of the day, and Sir Hallam finds his own political assumptions challenged.




Wallis Simpson, played by Emma Clifford
- the foreign visitor causing a stir will be the glamorous Wallis Simpson, the American divorcée for whom King Edward VIII abdicated.

Source: BBC Press

Upstairs, Downstairs - update

BFI Screening on December 15, 2010:
There will be a showing of the first episode of Upstairs, Downstairs (60 minutes) followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with members of the cast and production team. Book your seat

Synopsis found at British Film Institute:
"The return of the legendary TV series Upstairs Downstairs takes viewers, old and new, back to the lavish world of 165 Eaton Place in Belgravia, London. A new set of occupants move into the iconic address, as storm clouds gather in Europe. The lives of the wealthy Holland family and their servants will never be the same again."

Claire Foy (Lady Persephone) shown on right

I was surprised to read that Upstairs, Downstairs will only be 3 episodes of 60 minutes (December 2010 in U.K., April 2011 in U.S.) but an article in December's Marie Claire magazine mentions that they are planning to make it into a full series next year.

More information on UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS