Upstairs Downstairs: The Complete Series

The story follows the lives and loves of the Bellamy family who reside in a fashionable house in Eaton Place. Downstairs, their loyal and lively servants uphold their own code of values whilst trying to come to terms with an ever-changing world. UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS covers the years 1903-1930, and features fantastic writing and direction, not to mention top-drawer performances from a gloriously talented cast.

Season 1 - We are introduced to the Bellamy family: Richard (David Langton), his wife Lady Marjorie (Rachel Gurney) and their grown-up children James (Simon Williams) and Elizabeth (Nicola Pagett). In the first episode, "On Trial", we also meet the vivacious Clemence (Pauline Collins) who arrives at 165 Eaton Place looking for a job. After Lady Marjorie re-names the girl Sarah, she's quickly inducted into the household, but finds life as a servant frustrating and unnatural.

Later choice moments in the season include "Magic Casements", where Lady Marjorie has a brief and tender affair with a young army captain; "The Path of Duty" features the rebellious Elizabeth running away from home on the eve of her society debut; "Why is Her Door Locked?" recounts the unhappy, emotionally-disturbed Mrs Bridges (Angela Baddeley) kidnapping a small child. The season ends on a hopeful note as Elizabeth marries the romantic poet Lawrence Kirbridge (Ian Ogilvy) in "For Love of Love".

Season 2 - Picks up the story following Elizabeth and Lawrence's honeymoon, and their household in Greenwich. Humorous scenes downstairs featuring Rose (Jean Marsh), Thomas (John Alderton) and Mrs Fellowes (Dorothy Frere) contrast dramatically with the unhappy marriage of Elizabeth and Lawrence upstairs.

Other standout episodes include "Your Obediant Servant", where Hudson (Gordon Jackson) dresses up as a toff in order to impress his brother's family who are visiting from India; "The Property of a Lady" where Sarah and Thomas attempt to help Lady Marjorie who's being blackmailed about her secret affair from Season 1; and "Out of the Everywhere" where the resourceful Sarah once again saves the day for the Bellamy's. Perhaps the season is best-remembered for "Guest of Honour" in which King Edward comes to dine at 165. This season marked the last for Elizabeth, Thomas and Sarah.

Season 3 - Another strong season, which gets off to a cracking start in "Miss Forrest", in which Richard has hired the services of secretary Hazel Forrest (Meg Wynn Owen) while he is busy writing Lord Southwold's political biography. Lady Marjorie is getting ready for a voyage on the Titanic...

Later standouts include "A Perfect Stranger" where Rose gets her first taste of real love when she meets charming Gregory Wilmot (Keith Barron), an Australian sheep-farmer. Romance also keeps up James who impetuously proposes to and marries the mild-mannered Hazel; "Goodwill to all Men" introduces us to Lord Southwold's young ward Georgina Worsley (Lesley-Anne Down), and a charming storyline featuring the second (and last) appearance of Cathleen Nesbitt as Dowager Lady Southwold. The season ends on a dramatic note when World War One is declared.

Season 4 - Generally regarded by fans as the strongest of the five seasons, with superb acting and cracker storylines. The season starts off with "A Patriotic Offering" where Lady Prudence (Joan Benham) suggests that Hazel takes in a family of Belgian refugees. "The Beastly Hun" features an Emmy-winning performance from Gordon Jackson; whilst "If You Were the Only Girl in the World" has Hazel falling in love with a handsome young airman who is later tragically killed in a bombing strike. The season also introduces us to the charming naval widow Virginia Hamilton (Hannah Gordon), who turns to Richard for help when her oldest son is to be court-martialled. The season ends on a tragic note when Hazel contracts a severe and dangerous strain of the flu virus just as peace is declared by England.

Season 5 - James and Georgina settle into a party lifestyle with their mindless society friends, whilst the newly-married Richard and Virginia settle into life at Eaton Place with her two young children Alice (Anne Yarker) and William (Jonathan Seely). "A Place in the World" details bored and dissatisfied James following his father in politics; "Disillusion" follows an ill-fated romance between Hudson and young maid Lily (Karen Dotrice), and Georgina toys with a career as a movie actress in "Alberto". The season ends with the marriage of Georgina and Robert, the Marquis of Stockbridge (Anthony Andrews). James returns from a trip to America with big dreams about the Stock Exchange, but then the Wall Street crash puts the financial future of the Bellamy's in doubt...

There aren't enough words to express how much I love UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS. My favorite moments from the series come mostly from seasons 1 and 2, and while I love the entire series, I particularly love the performances of Nicola Pagett (Elizabeth) and Pauline Collins (Sarah).

If you are a fan of the series or a fan of British period drama, then I highly-recommend this superb series! A must-own.