List of Upstairs, Downstairs characters
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This is a list of characters from the ITV drama Upstairs, Downstairs, that aired from 1970 to 1975.
[edit] Upstairs
[edit] Richard Bellamy
Richard was the Master of the household, who was married to Lady Marjorie until her death in 1912 and had two children, James and Elizabeth. He later married Mrs. Virginia Hamilton. A Conservative MP, and a junior minister connected with the Admiralty in the Balfour ministry, he was later created Viscount Bellamy of Haversham. Portrayed by David Langton.
[edit] The Lady Marjorie Bellamy
[edit] James Bellamy
[edit] Elizabeth Bellamy
[edit] Hazel Bellamy
Hazel Patricia Forrest enters the programme in "Miss Forrest" as secretary to Richard. James takes an instant liking to her, and within two years they marry, after her initially declining his proposal, having been married before to a violent alcoholic. However, the class divide between James and Hazel, her middle-class and James upper-class, often causes conflicts and disagreements, and during the war both see other people; Hazel a young airman Jack Dyson, who dies in action. Hazel is particularly close to Richard, Georgina and Rose, but Hudson never truly accepts a middle-class woman as mistress of the house. Hazel dies from the Spanish flu pandemic days before the end of the First World War in 1918. Portrayed by Meg Wynn Owen.
[edit] Georgina Worsley
Georgina's father died when she was 6, and her mother later married Lady Marjorie's brother Hugo, who died along with Georgina's mother and Lady Marjorie when the Titanic sunk. So after finishing her education, she went and lived with Richard, whom she called "Uncle Richard". In 1930, she married Robert, Marquess of Stockbridge. Portrayed by Lesley-Anne Down.
[edit] Virginia Bellamy
Virginia Hamilton was the widow of a Naval Officer when she went to Richard and asked for his help when her elder son Michael was up for a court-martial. She had two other children, Alice and William. Virginia later married Richard and became Viscountess Bellamy of Haversham. Portrayed by Hannah Gordon
[edit] Lawrence Kirbridge
Lawrence Arthur Kirbridge was the first husband of Elizabeth. The maternal grandson of a Dorset baronet, he was educated at the University of Cambridge. Kirbridge was a socialist poet and married Elizabeth in June 1909[1]. They marriage didn't last as Lawrence was unable to consummate it, so arranged for his publisher to make Elizabeth pregnant. When this was discovered, he was given an allowance and sent abroad. Portrayed by Ian Ogilvy.
[edit] Robert, Marquis of Stockbridge
Robert Charles Algernon St. John Stockbridge, Marquis of Stockbridge was the son of the Duke and Duchess of Buckminster and held the courtesy title Marquis of Stockbridge. He was a somewhat reluctant member of Georgina and Lady Dolly's social group of wild young things. He came to Georgina's aid at the inquest into the man she had accidentally run over. Lord Stockbridge soon fell in love with Georgina, and she also fell in love with him. However, his parents insisted that to test their love he be sent on a long trip around the world. When he got back they got his parents blessing to marry, and married in summer 1930 in St. Margaret's, Westminster. Portrayed by Anthony Andrews.
[edit] Lady Prudence Fairfax
The Lady Prudence Fairfax was Lady Marjorie's oldest and closest friend, always there at times of tragedy. Her husband was Archie, and she had one daughter, Agatha. Portrayed by Joan Benham.
[edit] Sir Geoffrey Dillon
Sir Geoffrey Dillon was the Talbot-Carey family solicitor, and a personal friend, who was always brought in to sort out the legal problems. He often disagreed with Richard as his loyalty to the Talbot-Carey's, Lady Marjorie's family, meant that he didn't help Richard. Portrayed by Raymond Huntley.
[edit] Bunny, Marquess of Newbury
Bunny, Marquess of Newbury was the best friend of James Bellamy, Bunny became the Marquess of Newbury in later episodes. He married The Lady Diana Russell. Portrayed by John Quayle.
[edit] Diana Newbury
Diana, Marchioness of Newbury (nee Lady Diana Russell) was a friend of James's, but she later married Bunny Newbury. However, James always appeared to be in love with her, and at one point they eloped togeather, but it didn't last. Portrayed by Celia Bannerman.
[edit] Henrietta Winchmore
Henrietta Winchmore was the best friend of Elizabeth, and a fellow feminist. She later disappeared from the series. Elizabeth stayed at Henrietta's when she ran away from home. Portrayed by Jenifer Armitage.
[edit] Julius Karekin
Julius Karekin was a wealthy "social climber" of Armenian descent who had an affair with the recently separated Elizabeth Kirbridge, to whom he gave a hat shop. He also bought 165, Eaton Place when the lease was up for sale upon Lord Southwold's death. However, he soon split from Elizabeth as he was a serial philanderer. Portrayed by Donald Burton.
[edit] Lady Dolly Hale
The Lady Dorothy "Dolly" Beatrice Louisa Hale is one of Georgina's closest friends and a fellow "Bright Young Thing". Lady Dolly is the daughter of the Earl of Shelbourne and lives, in 1928, in Mayfair. She is present at Eaton Place in 1921 when Robin Eliott, who was in love with Georgina, shot himself. In 1927, while visiting Georgina, Lady Dolly first meets Frederick, the footman, and they soon start an affair. Lady Dolly then secretly arranges for Georgina and Frederick to have to kiss in a film that they are starring in. Despite this, Georgina and Lady Dolly remain friends, although Frederick leaves service. However, in the summer of 1928, Lady Dolly, Georgina, Lord Stockbridge and three others take part in a scavenger hunt, Georgina drives them down to finish the hunt and Georgina runs over and kills a man on his bicycle. At the following inquest, Lady Dolly, who takes cocaine, gives evidence which harms Georgina's case. After the inquest, Georgina states she never wants to see Lady Dolly again. Portrayed by Madeleine Cannon.
[edit] Downstairs
[edit] Mr Angus Hudson
Mr Hudson was the Scottish butler of the house throughout the whole series. Portrayed by Gordon Jackson, who won an Emmy (Supporting Actor, Single Performance, Comedy or Drama Series, for "The Beastly Hun.").
[edit] Mrs. Kate Bridges
Kate Bridges, who took the customary style of 'Mrs' but was not married, was the cook of 165, Eaton Place throughout the whole series. Portrayed by Angela Baddeley, who was nominated twice for an Emmy (Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress).
[edit] Rose Buck
Rose Buck, who came from the Southwold estate, was originally the Head House Parlourmaid from 1903 to 1919, and Virginia Bellamy's Lady's Maid from 1919 to 1930. Portrayed by Jean Marsh, who was nominated for an Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama series four times, winning once.
[edit] Miss Roberts
Miss Maude Roberts was Lady Marjorie's Lady's Maid and was onboard the Titanic when it sank. She survived, but was distraught as her mistress didn't. Later Rose reveals that Miss Roberts has been "put away" — a common euphemism of the time for confinement in a psychiatric asylum. Portrayed by Patsy Smart.
[edit] Sarah Moffat
[edit] Pearce
Mr Pearce, whose first name is never known, was the coachman from the start of the programme until 1909, when he was replaced by Thomas Watkins. Portrayed by Brian Osborne.
[edit] Emily
Emily (died April 1907) was the Irish kitchen maid, whose real name was Aoibhinn. After being split from the man she loved, a footman in another household, she hanged herself in 1907. Portrayed by Evin Crowley.
[edit] Alfred Harris
Alfred Harris (died 1913) was the original footman. He left the house in disgrace in 1905 after being caught in a sexual situation with a German baron. He returned to the house in 1913 seeking refuge after murdering his employer. Hudson told Mr Bellamy that Alfred was back and the police were notified. A dramatic standoff resulted, with Alfred holding Edward hostage at knifepoint. Edward managed to get the knife and Alfred was apprehended and subsequently hanged. Portrayed by George Innes.
[edit] Thomas Watkins
[edit] Edward Barnes
Edward Barnes replaced Alfred as footman in 1906, and stayed until 1915 when he went to war. He had married Daisy in 1914. In 1919, he became chauffeur and in 1930 went to work for Georgina and her new husband Lord Stockbridge. Portrayed by Christopher Beeny.
[edit] Daisy Barnes
Originally Daisy Peel, she married Edward in 1914. She was the Under House Parlourmaid from 1913 to 1918, and the Head House Parlourmaid from 1919 to 1930, when she went to work for Georgina and her new husband Lord Stockbridge. Portrayed by Jacqueline Tong, who was nominated once for an Emmy (Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress).
[edit] Ruby Finch
The dim-witted Ruby was the long lasting kitchen and scullery maid. She first came to Eaton Place in 1909, but left in 1915 to work in a munitions factory in Silvertown for the war effort. However, she came back early in the following year after the factory was destroyed in an explosion. She briefly left in 1929 after getting fed up of Mrs Bridges but soon came back. Portrayed by Jenny Tomasin.
[edit] Lily Hawkins
Lily Hawkins (c. 1901 – ?) arrived at Eaton Place as the Under House Parlourmaid in January or May 1919 replacing Daisy, who had left for a new life with Edward, and came from Shoreditch in London. Lily was a quiet, hardworking and caring girl. In spring 1924, Lily and Hudson started to spend their time off together, and Hudson expressed a desire to marry her. However, Lily did not feel the same way, seeing Hudson as more of a father figure. However, it took her a while to tell him this, and when she did she was deliberately hurtful, in an attempt to make Hudson stop caring for her. The morning after Lily did this, she left Eaton Place without telling anyone, and returned to live with her widowed mother in Banbury. In a letter, she asked for a reference, and Lady Bellamy gave her a very positive and complementary reference. Portrayed by Karen Dotrice.
[edit] Frederick Norton
Frederick Norton was firstly, as Trooper Norton, James's Army batman and first came to Eaton Place to return some of James's belongings when he was believed killed in October 1917. James was soon found, and after the war had ended in 1919 Frederick was employed by James as footman, following Edward's departure. During the 1926 General Strike, Frederick was strongly opposed to the strike, and assisted James, who had volunteered to drive a bus. That September, Hudson had a heart attack, and a temporary replacement butler was needed. Despite James's strong backing, Edward was chosen. In June 1927 Frederick and Lady Dolly Hale started an affair. She soon secretly arranged for him and Georgina to star in a film where they would have to kiss. When they discovered this, at the last minute and in front of James and Lady Prudence, Frederick left the film studio. Later that day, Frederick went to see a furious James and he resigned. Before he left that day, he told the other servants that he had seen a new life while seeing Lady Dolly, and was leaving to make a living from starring in films and going out with rich women. Portrayed by Gareth Hunt.
[edit] Gregory Wilmot
Gregory Walter Wilmot (c.1879 – 1916) was Rose's fiancé. He was a sheep farmer from Australia and held socialist views. Gregory met Rose on a tram in April 1914 when he accidentally sat on a cake she was taking to a friend of Mrs Bridges. They soon started courting, and within a week, on 12 April, he had asked Rose to go back to Australia with him and become his wife. She agreed, but at the port she got cold feet and ran off the ship. After the outbreak of war he joined the ANZACs and became a Sergeant. He fought at the Battle of Gallipoli. While on leave in 1916, he met up with Rose. After a few days he told her that he no longer loved her, but when she ran off, Gregory went after her. They talked and he told he told her how Gallipoli had changed his thoughts. They then agreed to marry when the war ended. However, later in 1916 Sgt. Wilmot was shot by a sniper while returning from patrol. He left Rose £1200 in his will. Portrayed by Keith Barron.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ According to Series One, he and Elizabeth married in 1909, however in Series Two everything was put back a year, and they were said to have married in 1908. This article follows the Series One date.
[edit] References
- Richard Marson, "Inside UpDown - The Story of Upstairs, Downstairs", Kaleidoscope Publishing, 2005
- Updown.org.uk - Upstairs, Downstairs Fansite
- Transcript of a story by Alfred Shaughnessy published in Woman magazine, 1975 [1]
