Upstairs, Downstairs - Season Three

Upstairs, Downstairs Season Three abandons the idea of keeping the series within the reign of Edward VII and jumps forward two years to cover the pre-war period 1912-14. A higher budget than before is evident with a greater use of location shooting.

A few cast changes are apparent. Rachel Gurney expressed a desire to move on from the series, afraid of being type-cast. She did however agree to guest star in the first episode so that a suitable plot could be written for Lady Marjorie's leaving. Middle-class secretary Hazel is introduced as the new mistress of the house.

Nicola Pagett had walked out on the show after the previous season following a disagreement about her non-appearance in a proposed (but never made) cinema feature film based on the series (which would have seen Sarah having an affair with Lady Marjorie's brother, Hugo). Her character, Elizabeth, is mentioned as having moved to America. A new character, Richard's ward Georgina Worsley, is introduced later in the season in order to maintain the correct balance of types within the programme.

The run of episodes is more consistent than the previous seasons - there being fewer high and low points. One of the best segments is A Change of Scene, the "downstairs" thread of which finds Hudson indulging in much soul-searching as to whether his loyalty to the Bellamys outweighs his desire to accept a satisfying new job that he has been offered at a large country house. Also enjoyable is Goodwill to All Men which sees Daisy, a new maid, and Georgina planning an ill-fated Christmas visit to Daisy's estranged family in the East End of London. Rose's Pigeon sees the return to Eaton Place of Alfred the footman from the first series, this time on the run after killing his homosexual lover.

Desirous of Change sees Richard Bellamy falling in love with a gold-digging French countess. It is a somewhat strange episode which, by the third part, is even taking on overtones of a trouser-dropping Brian Rix farce!

This season won an Emmy, and the corresponding Golden Globe, for Outstanding Drama Series. Jean Marsh picked up an Emmy as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. As if these weren't enough, Angela Baddeley was also nominated for the Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress Emmy! Back in its home country, Season Three won the BAFTA for Best Drama Series.

Factfiles have been added for each episode. These detail character backgrounds, continuity points, and bloopers. Click on the

icon on the left of each episode's entry.

Most plot synopses are taken directly from the original issues of the TV Times. Sometimes these might contain spoilers.

In addition to the listed writer/s, it should be assumed that the script-editor, Alfred Shaughnessy, also had story input into each episode to a greater or lesser extent. Shaughnessy's own scripts were edited by John Hawkesworth, the producer. All episodes (except A Suitable Marriage) were story-lined by Shaughnessy.

The cast lists credit extras and walk-ons where the information is available, but these details should not be considered exhaustive. Spellings of names in these cases is sometimes uncertain!

All timings are from the UK DVDs of the show as released by Network - these will vary slightly on other releases of the show (e.g. US DVDs). Timings are given as mm'ss". All the Factfiile notes are drawn from what was actually shown on the screen - additional or contradictory material from the novelisations (etc) is not included. To print a Factfile, press CTRL-P.

Regular cast: Gordon Jackson (Hudson), David Langton (Richard Bellamy), Jean Marsh (Rose), Jenny Tomasin (Ruby), Angela Baddeley (Mrs Bridges), Christopher Beeny (Edward), Meg Wynn Owen (Hazel Forrest/Bellamy), Simon Williams (James Bellamy), Raymond Huntley (Sir Geoffrey Dillon), Jacqueline Tong (Daisy), Anthony Ainley (Lord Charles Gilmour), Lesley-Anne Down (Georgina Worsley), Celia Bannerman (Lady Diana Russell/Newbury), Tony Bateman (Joseph), Joan Benham (Lady Prudence Fairfax), Anthony Dawes (Breeze), Elisabeth Day (Cecile), John Flint (Henry), Helen Lindsay (Mrs Cochrane-Danby), John Quayle (Bunny Newbury), Patsy Smart (Roberts), Leonard Trolley (Mr Forrest), Richard Vernon (Major Cochrane-Danby), Valerie White (Mrs Forrest)

Miss Forrest
3.1 (27)
UK: 27 October 1973
US: 3 November 1974

Studio rec: 20 June 1973 (1/13)
Cert:

The third series of Upstairs, Downstairs opens in 1912 against a background of social change. The Edwardian era is over and the new age of ragtime and the flying machine is just beginning. Richard is at work on a political biography, assisted by a young typist, Hazel Forrest, who comes daily to the house. James Bellamy, still unmarried and bored by his dull job, acts unwisely and precipitates a serious household crisis. Lady Marjorie leaves for America on the maiden voyage of an "unsinkable" new ship, The Titanic...

Writer: Alfred Shaughnessy
Designer: John Clements
Director: Bill Bain
Regular cast: James Bellamy, Hudson, Rose, Richard Bellamy, Hazel Forrest, Mrs Bridges, Edward, Ruby, Roberts
Guest cast: Rachel Gurney (Lady Marjorie Bellamy)

A House Divided
3.2 (28)
UK: 3 November 1973
US: 10 November 1974

Studio rec: 4 July* 1973 (2/13)
(*some sources say 4 June)
Cert:

Hazel Forrest, Richard Bellamy's new secretary, is caught in the Edwardian no-man's-land, between servants and master. Undaunted, she determines to find a less isolated niche at a tragedy-stricken Eaton Place.

Writer: Rosemary Anne Sisson
Designer: John Clements
Director: Christopher Hodson
Regular cast: Mrs Bridges, Rose, Hudson, Hazel Forrest, Richard Bellamy, James Bellamy, Sir Geoffrey Dillon, Edward, Mrs Forrest, Mr Forrest, Roberts, Ruby
Guest cast: Arthur Brough (Stallinbrass)

A Change of Scene
3.3 (29)
UK: 10 November 1973
US: 17 November 1974

Studio rec: 26 October 1973 (10/13)
Location: 29 & 30 October 1973
Cert:

James Bellamy is invited to a grand weekend house-party by his old friend from the Life Guards, Bunny Newbury, who is now a Marquis. Hudson, who accompanies James, is attracted by the splendours and pleasures of gracious living and proves his worth at a shooting party. This leads him to a personal crisis - ambition versus his loyalty to the Bellamy family.

Writer: Rosemary Anne Sisson
Designer: John Clements
Director: Bill Bain
Regular cast: James Bellamy, Richard Bellamy, Hudson, Mrs Bridges, Hazel Forrest, Major Cochrane-Danby, Mrs Cochrane-Danby, Lady Diana Russell, Lord Charles Gilmour, Bunny Newbury, Breeze, Henry, Cecile
Guest cast: Clive Morton (Makepiece), Annette Wollett (Celia Grey), Christopher Benjamin (Max Weinberg), Jane Baxter (The Dowager Lady Newbury), Patricia Lawrence (Mrs Kenton), Tricia Scott (Betsy) [Uncredited: Joss Hanbury (Bunny's loader)]

A Family Secret
3.4 (30)
UK: 17 November 1973
US: 24 November 1974

Studio rec: 18 July 1973 (3/13)
Cert:

Upset by his mother's death, James Bellamy has been finding sympathy from his father's secretary, Hazel Forrest. But Hazel tearfully declines James' offer of marriage without giving her reasons. What incident in her past makes Hazel's marriage into the Bellamy family quite out of the question?

Writer: Alfred Shaughnessy
Designer: John Clements
Director: Derek Bennett
Regular cast: Hazel Forrest, Hudson, Rose, Lady Prudence Fairfax, Richard Bellamy, James Bellamy, Mrs Bridges, Ruby, Mrs Forrest, Mr Forrest
Guest cast: none

Rose's Pigeon
3.5 (31)
UK: 24 November 1973
US: 1 December 1974

Studio rec: 3 August 1973 (4/13)
Cert:

Rose opens the back door to a hungry down-and-out and recognises Alfred, a former servant at Eaton Place who left in disgrace. Out of pity she feeds the man and hides him in the basement. Hudson, however, discovers Rose's little secret and plunges the entire household into a dangerous and terrifying situation.

Writer: Jeremy Paul
Designer: Roger Hall
Director: Bill Bain
Regular cast: Rose, Edward, Mrs Bridges, Richard Bellamy, Hudson, Sir Geoffrey Dillon, Ruby
Guest cast: George Innes (Alfred), Leon Sinden (Det. Inspector Bowles), Bernard Barnsley (Police Sergeant)

Desirous of Change
3.6 (32)
UK: 1 December 1973
US: 8 December 1974

Studio rec: 31 August 1973 (6/13)
Cert:

The arrival of an attractive, but penniless, French Countess to Eaton Place brings a change of atmosphere upstairs. Indeed, a touch of romance is in the air as Richard Bellamy smiles again for the first time since the death of his wife. A change downstairs, too, with Gwyneth, the new underhousemaid, who also has romantic fantasies. Despite some shocks, life at 165 gradually resumes its even tenor.

Writer: Fay Weldon
Designer: Roger Hall
Director: Lionel Harris
Regular cast: Rose, Hudson, Mrs Bridges, Hazel Bellamy, James Bellamy, Richard Bellamy, Edward, Ruby
Guest cast: Angela Browne (Contesse Lili de Ternay), Sandor Eles (Kurt Schnabel), Janet Lees Price (Gwyneth Davies)

This episode had a working title of A Polished Surface.

Word of Honour
3.7 (33)
UK: 8 December 1973
US: 15 December 1974

Studio rec: 17 August 1973 (5/13)
Cert:

Businessman Jack Challen recommends some engineering shares to Richard Bellamy MP as a good bargain...advice that is destined to involve Bellamy in a public scandal when the shares soar in value. Once more Sir Geoffrey Dillon is called in to get the Bellamys out of trouble.

Writer: Anthony Skene
Designer: John Clements
Director: Christopher Hodson
Regular cast: Mrs Bridges, Hudson, Richard Bellamy, Hazel Bellamy, James Bellamy, Sir Geoffrey Dillon, Edward, Ruby
Guest cast: John Horsley (Jack Challen), Edward Palmer (Bunting), Peter Cellier (Henry Pritchett MP), Kenneth Watson (Arthur Naws), Anthony Sharp (Johnson Munby MP), Geoffrey Lumsden (Sir William Trevanion KC MP), John Gabriel (Reuben Chantry MP), Alastair Hunter (Sir Percy Devenish MP)

The Bolter
3.8 (34)
UK: 15 December 1973
US: 22 December 1974

Studio rec: 9 November 1973 (11/13)
Location: 31 October & 1 November 1973
Cert:

James Bellamy and his wife Hazel attend a smart, fox-hunting weekend at a large country house. There, Hazel is persuaded to take part in a practical joke which backfires to expose James to ridicule, herself to personal danger, their marriage to a serious crisis...and both of them to their first big row.

Writer: John Hawkesworth
Designer: John Clements
Director: Cyril Coke
Regular cast: Hazel Bellamy, Richard Bellamy, Rose, James Bellamy, Major Cochrane-Danby, Edward, Mrs Cochrane-Danby, Diana Newbury, Breeze, Joseph, Cecile, Henry, Bunny Newbury, Lord Charles Gilmour
Guest cast: Kate Coleridge (Mrs Tewkesbury) [Uncredited: Irene Peters (Maid), Rachel Gibson (Double for Meg Wynn Owen), The Cottesmore Hunt]

Goodwill to All Men
3.9 (35)
UK: 22 December 1973
US: 29 December 1974

Studio rec: 12 October 1973 (9/13)
Cert:

Over a rather quiet and formal Christmas at the Bellamy residence, Georgina Worsley, Richard's ward, befriends Daisy, the new under-house parlourmaid. While the servants make merry the girls set out on a charitable adventure with distressing consequences...

Writers: [Alfred Shaughnessy and] Deborah Mortimer^*
Designer: John Clements
Director: Christopher Hodson
Regular cast: Daisy, Hudson, Mrs Bridges, Richard Bellamy, Edward, Rose, Ruby, Georgina
Guest cast: Cathleen Nesbitt (Lady Southwold), Jennifer McEvoy (Mrs Peel), Dan Gillan (Bill)

^* This episode was largely rewritten by script-editor Alfred Shaughnessy.

What the Footman Saw
3.10 (36)
UK: 29 December 1973
US: 5 January 1975

Studio rec: 28 September 1973 (8/13)
Cert:

Butlers, footmen and valets of the big houses in Belgravia habitually frequent the Crown and Anchor. The pub is full when Edward, the Bellamy's young footman, describes to two friends something he witnessed at a country-house party...a revelation destined to land him in trouble.

Writer: Jeremy Paul
Designer: John Clements
Director: Cyril Coke
Regular cast: Rose, Hudson, Sir Geoffrey Dillon, Richard Bellamy, Lady Prudence Fairfax, Edward, Lord Charles Gilmour, Daisy, Ruby, Joseph
Guest cast: Bernard Archard (Colonel Harry Tewkesbury), Walter Horsbrugh (Trumper), Thomas Heathcote (Clough), Robin Sachs (Robert), David Goodland (John), Frank Tregear (Dillon's Clerk)

A Perfect Stranger
3.11 (37)
UK: 5 January 1974
US: 12 January 1975

Studio rec: 23 November 1973 (12/13)
Location: 19 November 1973
Cert:

On her afternoon off, Rose meets a young Australian sheep farmer. The speed of Rose's blossoming romance bewilders the servants' hall. Is this really Rose's first great love? Would she really be able to take the lonely life on a sheep station?

Writer: Jeremy Paul
Designer: Roger Hall
Director: Christopher Hodson
Regular cast: Mrs Bridges, Hudson, Rose, James Bellamy, Hazel Bellamy, Edward, Ruby
Guest cast: Keith Barron (Gregory Wilmot), Mitzi McKenzie (Teashop Assistant), Robin Ford (Shipping Clerk), Julia Sutton (Dorothy Mathews^*), Robert McBain (Hamish Mathews^*), Joyce Windsor (Mother) [Uncredited: Derek Chafer (Tram Conductor), Diana Chapman (Teashop Waitress), Colin Barrie (Son), Laurence Archer (Second Shipping Clerk), Jill Goldstone, Barbara Bermel, Lesley Hand, David Cleeve, Richard King, Roy Pearce (Dancers), Bill Povey, Julian Gaillard, Jock Cummings, Judd Proctor, Max Harris (Musicians), Romeo Bertie (?), Kevin Moran, Ken Tracey, Karen Burch, Alan Peters, Pat Qualye, Kathleen Morris, David Billa, Dennis Plenty, Ronald Gough, Ann Plenty, Elaine Williams, Bunny S__man, David Eynon, Stuart Myers, Lewis Alexander, Sonnie Willis, Adele _____, Aileen Lewis, Lola Morice, Jean Channon, Iona Macrae, Lorna Kilner, Tina Winter, Jenny Elsden, Jackie Elsden, Derek Hunt, Terry Sartain, Gary Dean, Willie Beauman, Ray Edkins, Les Ames, Keith Goodman, David Melbourne (Non-speaking artists at dance), Freddie White, Tom O'Leary, Lois Kentish, Jean Hilton, Rikki Lancing, Vi Delma, Emmett Hennessy, Bill Lodge, Renee Roberts, Betsy White, Terry Francis, Sylvia Osborne (Extras in teashop, tram and shipping office)]

^* Note the spelling of Mathews here compared with the credits of Home Fires in Season Four.

Distant Thunder
3.12 (38)
UK: 12 January 1974
US: 19 January 1975

Studio rec: 7 December 1973 (13/13)
Cert:

Hazel Bellamy is in bed, recovering from the loss of her first baby. Unable to bear his wife's grief, James thoughtlessly consoles himself by escorting Georgina to a ball, leaving his father to provide the comfort Hazel needs. This situation, and the close, sultry weather, create undercurrents of tension and an explosive atmosphere in the household.

Writer: Alfred Shaughnessy
Designer: John Emery
Director: Bill Bain
Regular cast: Hudson, Rose, Hazel Bellamy, Richard Bellamy, James Bellamy, Ruby, Georgina Worsley, Daisy
Guest cast: none

The Sudden Storm
3.13 (39)
UK: 19 January 1974
US: 26 January 1975

Studio rec: 14 September 1973 (7/13)
Location: 3-5 September 1973
Cert:

Against a background of patriotic excitement as the First World War looms, Hazel Bellamy treats all the servants to a Bank Holiday day at the seaside. But for Mrs Bridges the cook, it is a time of strain. The cause: a growing relationship between her and a middle-aged admirer.

Writer: John Hawkesworth
Designer: Andrew Drummond
Director: Bill Bain
Regular cast: Rose, Mrs Bridges, Hazel Bellamy, James Bellamy, Richard Bellamy, Hudson, Edward, Georgina Worsley, Ruby, Daisy
Guest cast: Frank Middlemass (Albert Lyons), Paul Alexander (Hon. Billy Lynton), Raymond Barry (Mr Lyons' friend). Pierrots: Peter Honri (Uncle Claude), Paul Haley (Uncle George), Avril Fane (Auntie Lil) [Uncredited: Devon Ericson (Girl in pink dress at Pierrot show), Peter Armitage (Man at Pierrot show), Stuart Myers, Bill Herbert, Sue Bishop, Judy Nicholls, Michael Moore, Ken Tracey, David Billa (Extras at Country House), Constance Carling, Barbara Bermel, Alan Casley, Geoff Witherick, Keith Norrish, Bill Lodge, David Cleeve, Tom O'Leary, John Dolan, Colin Barrie, Elizabeth Balogh, Grace Dolan, Cy Town, Laurence Archer (Extras in studio)]