Keeley Hawes & Alex Kingston ♡
Tuesday 31 January 2012
Upstairs Downstairs get sexed up with lesbian affair as BBC bid to boost ratings!
BBC bosses have sexed up Upstairs, Downstairs with a lesbian love affair in a bid to ramp up the ratings.
Silent Witness star Emilia Fox will play Lady Portia Alresford who arrives to resume an old romance with Sir Hallam Holland’s aunt Blanche, played by ER’s Alex Kingston.
The ladies’ relationship is kept under wraps by the household at 65, Eaton Place for fear of a scandal.
But as their love simmers away behind closed doors, the secret is exposed and the family finds itself mired in controversy.
Writer Heidi Thomas explained: “These are two brilllant, intellectual women who have a deeply romantic frienship in the tradition of the great Edwardian romantics, which gives each of them endless stimulation and satisfaction.”
She described their relationship as “covert and difficult”, adding: “It causes a bit of a stir when it all comes out, but Blanche finds support and sympathy from an unlikely quarter.”
Alex said that explorer and archaeologist Blanche is an “adventuress” who struggles to fit in with life in the house. “She is quite a radical, very used to a free existence, and doesn’t understand why she would have to conform to the beautifully kept world they’ve created for themselves.”
Thomas – who also wrote BBC hit Call the Midwife - said that Upstairs, Downstairs was set 20 years later that Downton Abbey, in London rather
than the country, and so was entirely different. But she admitted to hoping for a “large, healthy and varied” audience.
There will be a further romance in the new series, which starts on BBC1 next month, between new character Miss Violet Whisset, played by
former Coronation Street star Sarah Lancashire, and prissy butler Mr Pritchard (Adrian Scarborough).
Miss Whisset is the maid of Lady Brackenbury and meets Mr Pritchard on a committee. However, their dalliance ends in heartbreak, at least for
him.
Thomas added: “This series will be more intimate, more epic and contain far more about people’s personal lives.”
And another love affair will blossom between former Nazi-sympathiser chauffeur Harry Spargo and beautiful new housemaid Beryl, who dreams
of becoming a high-class hairdresser.
The series is set in 1938, as Britain finds itself heading for war with Germany. As Sir Hallam (Ed Stoppard) struggles to prevent the Prime Minister from entering into rash agreements with Hitler, he finds his marriage to Lady Agnes (Keeley Hawes) also comes under strain.
Things worsen when he kisses her younger sister Persie (Claire Foy), who has run off to live in Germany and refuses to return.
In turn Lady Agnes has her head turned by a wealthy American businessman whom she finds “liberating and refreshing”.
Dame Eileen Atkins has quit as Hallam’s domineering mother Lady Maud, who has died in the plot.
Jean Marsh, the only cast member from the original Upstairs Downstairs to return, was taken ill during filming but will return later in the run as head maid Rose Buck.
Yesterday she said: “I had a stroke and a heart attack but I was determined to get back to work. Three weeks after filming I’d thrown myself out of hospital. The main doctor said, ‘All right, you can work again, but only four hours a day’. I said terrific.”
Silent Witness star Emilia Fox will play Lady Portia Alresford who arrives to resume an old romance with Sir Hallam Holland’s aunt Blanche, played by ER’s Alex Kingston.
The ladies’ relationship is kept under wraps by the household at 65, Eaton Place for fear of a scandal.
But as their love simmers away behind closed doors, the secret is exposed and the family finds itself mired in controversy.
Writer Heidi Thomas explained: “These are two brilllant, intellectual women who have a deeply romantic frienship in the tradition of the great Edwardian romantics, which gives each of them endless stimulation and satisfaction.”
She described their relationship as “covert and difficult”, adding: “It causes a bit of a stir when it all comes out, but Blanche finds support and sympathy from an unlikely quarter.”
Alex said that explorer and archaeologist Blanche is an “adventuress” who struggles to fit in with life in the house. “She is quite a radical, very used to a free existence, and doesn’t understand why she would have to conform to the beautifully kept world they’ve created for themselves.”
Thomas – who also wrote BBC hit Call the Midwife - said that Upstairs, Downstairs was set 20 years later that Downton Abbey, in London rather
than the country, and so was entirely different. But she admitted to hoping for a “large, healthy and varied” audience.
There will be a further romance in the new series, which starts on BBC1 next month, between new character Miss Violet Whisset, played by
former Coronation Street star Sarah Lancashire, and prissy butler Mr Pritchard (Adrian Scarborough).
Miss Whisset is the maid of Lady Brackenbury and meets Mr Pritchard on a committee. However, their dalliance ends in heartbreak, at least for
him.
Thomas added: “This series will be more intimate, more epic and contain far more about people’s personal lives.”
And another love affair will blossom between former Nazi-sympathiser chauffeur Harry Spargo and beautiful new housemaid Beryl, who dreams
of becoming a high-class hairdresser.
The series is set in 1938, as Britain finds itself heading for war with Germany. As Sir Hallam (Ed Stoppard) struggles to prevent the Prime Minister from entering into rash agreements with Hitler, he finds his marriage to Lady Agnes (Keeley Hawes) also comes under strain.
Things worsen when he kisses her younger sister Persie (Claire Foy), who has run off to live in Germany and refuses to return.
In turn Lady Agnes has her head turned by a wealthy American businessman whom she finds “liberating and refreshing”.
Dame Eileen Atkins has quit as Hallam’s domineering mother Lady Maud, who has died in the plot.
Jean Marsh, the only cast member from the original Upstairs Downstairs to return, was taken ill during filming but will return later in the run as head maid Rose Buck.
Yesterday she said: “I had a stroke and a heart attack but I was determined to get back to work. Three weeks after filming I’d thrown myself out of hospital. The main doctor said, ‘All right, you can work again, but only four hours a day’. I said terrific.”
Alex Kingston recording Friday's ep of The Graham Norton Show!
The picture shows Alex recording tonight's Graham Norton Show which will be shown on BBC1 on Friday 3rd Feb at 10:35pm!
Monday 30 January 2012
Alex Kingston's character in Upstairs Downstairs may be gay!
Journalist @IanWylie tweeted earlier: 'Emilia Fox arrives in later Upstairs Downstairs eps as Portia with a romantic link to Alex Kingston’s Dr Blanche.'
He also tweeted that Sarah Lancashire also arrives in later episodes as Lady Brackenbury's maid Miss Violet Whisset.
He also tweeted that Sarah Lancashire also arrives in later episodes as Lady Brackenbury's maid Miss Violet Whisset.
Sunday 29 January 2012
Thursday 26 January 2012
Keeley Hawes has Never Watched Downton Abbey
Keeley Hawes apparently told Stylist that she has never seen a full episode of Downton Abbey, despite being a star of the often compared Upstairs, Downstairs. Keeley goes on to say:
"But I understand it's very good. I think because we each had two grande dames of British acting - we had Eileen [Atkins] and they have Maggie [Smith], it didn't help with how much we were compared."
"From the tiny amount of Downton I saw it was gorgeous, but as far as I can make out it has a very different feeling to Upstairs."
"But I understand it's very good. I think because we each had two grande dames of British acting - we had Eileen [Atkins] and they have Maggie [Smith], it didn't help with how much we were compared."
"From the tiny amount of Downton I saw it was gorgeous, but as far as I can make out it has a very different feeling to Upstairs."
Wednesday 25 January 2012
Alex Kingston is on The Graham Norton Show 3rd Feb!
Alex Kingston will be on The Graham Norton Show again on the 3rd Feb (next Friday)!
Upstairs Downstairs pics!
Check out this blog on tumblr for lots of pics of Alex Kingston & Keeley Hawes filming Upstairs Downstairs today at Leamington Spa! LINK!
HUGE congrats to Matt and Karen!
So pleased for the fabulous Matt Smith and Karen Gillan who won Best Actor and Best Actress at the National Television Awards tonight. Well deserved!
National Television Awards!
The National Television Awards 2012 are on ITV1 at 7:30pm tonight. Doctor Who are up for Best Drama so make sure you tune in :)
Alex Kingston pulls out of SFX!
SFX have confirmed that Alex has pulled out of SFX weekender 2012 due to shifting production dates on Upstairs Downstairs. For more news see the SFX website.
Tuesday 24 January 2012
Alex Kingston back for Doctor Who Series 7!
Alex Kingston has been confirmed as returning to Doctor Who for the 7th Series and begins filming on the 9th Feb!
Monday 23 January 2012
Saturday 21 January 2012
Monday 16 January 2012
TV Choice Tweets Upstairs Downstairs
@TvChoice tweets about Upstairs Downstairs:
Just spoken to Keeley Hawes for Upstairs Downstairs, who says there are lots of shocks in store for Lady Agnes. Keeley Hawes also told us Alex Kingston is a 'great giggler' but still 'fantastic'!
Just spoken to Keeley Hawes for Upstairs Downstairs, who says there are lots of shocks in store for Lady Agnes. Keeley Hawes also told us Alex Kingston is a 'great giggler' but still 'fantastic'!
Saturday 14 January 2012
Wednesday 11 January 2012
Pages Updated
So i've finally had some time to update a few pages including, Tipping the Velvet, Boudica, Mutual Friends and The Blonde Bombshell. Have a look and let me know what you think?
Ill be updating the filmography pages for both Alex and Keeley as soon as possible :)
Ill be updating the filmography pages for both Alex and Keeley as soon as possible :)
Keeley at the UK Launch Party for Netflix
Keeley Hawes at the UK launch party for Netflix at Sketch in London on 9th January 2012:
That Mitchell & Webb Look
You can see Keeley's guest appearence in 'That Mitchell and Webb Look' repeated on Dave - 19th Jan @ 10:20pm!
Monday 9 January 2012
Vote for your favourite Keeley character?
Who is your all time favourite Keeley character? Alex Drake? Zoe Reynolds? Vote in the poll on the right-hand side of the blog. You can also vote for your favourite Alex character, favourite Doctor Who episode and various other things :)
News Page Updated
As the blog two blogs have now merged together, I've updated the news page with all the latest news on the two actresses. This will be updated regularly from now on.
Sunday 8 January 2012
Keeley Hawes On New Upstairs Downstairs Actresses!
Its star, Keeley Hawes, tells … that the actresses who have joined the cast are so pretty that she pleaded with the producers to make sure they are not allowed to outshine her when the series begins later this year.
“We have some great new cast additions, including Alex Kingston and Laura Haddock, but, personally, I think they’re both way too pretty,” says the 35-year-old actress.
Hawes, who is the face of Boots No 7 cosmetics, adds: “I’m, like, ‘no more scenes with them, thank you very much, just solo close-ups of my face, please.’ ”
“We have some great new cast additions, including Alex Kingston and Laura Haddock, but, personally, I think they’re both way too pretty,” says the 35-year-old actress.
Hawes, who is the face of Boots No 7 cosmetics, adds: “I’m, like, ‘no more scenes with them, thank you very much, just solo close-ups of my face, please.’ ”
Upstairs Downstairs Star Says Downton's Ladies aren't Sexy!
Neil Jackson, who plays chauffeur Harry Spargo in the BBC’s remake of Upstairs Downstairs, had declared that the women who star in Downton Abbey aren’t sexy.
He also revealed that in Upstairs Downstairs, there are to be “steamy” sex scenes, which he thinks Downton lacks.
Speaking to the Sun, Neil – who’s also starred in Bond movie Quantum of Solace and US drama Flashforward – said, “The women in Downton Abbey don’t compare to the women in Upstairs Downstairs.
“Ours are stunning. We’ve got Laura Hoddock, Keeley Hawes, Claire Foy… all beautiful.
“Laura, who plays Harry’s love interest, is particularly beautiful. If Angelina Jolie and Keira Knightley had a love child, it would look like her.
“We have kissing scenes but, sadly, I didn’t get to see her with no clothes on – that would be a different show.”
He went on to say, “From the little I’ve seen of Downton Abbey that’s a fairly sexless show…”
And of the sex scenes that are to feature in the second series of Upstairs Downstairs, which is due to air in the spring, Neil said, “There’s more fraternising between downstairs and upstairs.
“The love scenes are as raunchy as you can go with the BBC at 9pm on a Sunday.
“Last year, chauffeur Harry had some scenes with Lady Persie, and people said they were incredibly steamy.
“If people thought that was steamy, they’re going to be surprised by this series — because it takes that up a notch.
“I have several steamy sexy scenes which are beautiful and will set housewives a-flutter.”
Wow, I wonder if he needs an extra seat on trains where his ego can sit?? Oh and Neil? Nobody has used the word “housewife” since about 1954.
However, moving on, and he added, “And there are entire storylines I’m not involved in that will have audiences’ mouths agape from just the shock and audacity of the sexual nature.
“The stories and characters are so good that it’s going to have people riveted.”
I have to say, though I’m very much looking forward to the new series of Upstairs Downstairs, the steaminess of its sex scenes aren’t what’s going to impress me. If I am impressed, it’ll be by the quality of the drama, costumes and sets.
I love period drama, and I’d just like to point out – in its defence – that Downton Abbey doesn’t do to badly even without “steamy” sex scenes. Grrr.
Kingston Talks Upstairs Downstairs
Kingston, who will play Dr Blanche Mottershead - the younger and sexier sister of Eileen Atkins’ character Lady Holland - spoke to The Sun about her role. “I can say the character is very complex, very intriguing and very straighttalking,” she said. “She has some very dark secrets of her own.”
Upstairs Downstairs, the classic Seventies drama, was revived for a Christmas special in 2010 but was soundly beaten in the ratings by Downton Abbey. The impending series is set in 1939 in the ever-lengthening shadow of the Second World War. Apart from Kingston the other big name star is Keeley Hawes who plays Lady Agnes, an aristocrat with the hots for a charismatic multimillionaire. She just happens to be also very married.
Upstairs Downstairs, the classic Seventies drama, was revived for a Christmas special in 2010 but was soundly beaten in the ratings by Downton Abbey. The impending series is set in 1939 in the ever-lengthening shadow of the Second World War. Apart from Kingston the other big name star is Keeley Hawes who plays Lady Agnes, an aristocrat with the hots for a charismatic multimillionaire. She just happens to be also very married.
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