Upstairs, Downstairs

Upstairs, Downstairs was a 1970s British television series set in a grand Edwardian town house in London and depicting the events of the early twentieth century as they affected the servants ('downstairs') and masters ('upstairs').

Production

The series was first offered to Granada Television in Manchester who passed on it as they were working on another period drama (A Family At War) but London Weekend Television liked the concept and in April 1970 commissioned a series of thirteen plays with an option for a second. Because of a technician's strike the first six episodes were shot in black and white; when colour production eventually began, the opening episode was remade in two different versions, which could be shown depending on whether or not stations broadcast the black and white episodes. The original black and white pilot is believed to have been wiped.

Related Topics:
Granada Television - Manchester - A Family At War - London Weekend Television - 1970 - Black and white - Wiped

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Upstairs, Downstairs eventually ran for five seasons totalling 68 episodes. In 1979 a 13-episode spinoff series entitled Thomas and Sarah was made.

Related Topics:
1979 - Thomas and Sarah

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The series won many awards, including seven Emmys and a Golden Globe. The theme tune by Alexander Faris won an Ivor Novello award.

Related Topics:
Emmys - Golden Globe - Alexander Faris - Ivor Novello

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