Alex Kingston joins the line-up for the 11th hour Doctor Who Convention in June.

Alex Kingston has been annnounced as joining the line-up for the 11th hour Doctor Who convention in June, along with other guests including; Matt Smith, Frances Barber and Simon-Fisher-Becker. The event takes place in Birmingham on the 15-17th June 2012.
For more information visit http://www.starfury.co.uk/.

Upstairs Downstairs Series Review (The Guardian)

Upstairs Downstairs: Episode Six

The series finale was complex, classy and brilliantly executed – one of the best costume drama episodes for many a year.

 

Upon my word. I don't know what to say. I don't want it to end! The last 10 minutes of this episode may well be one of the best things seen in costume drama for many a year. Possibly ever. We had Lady Persie's last Sobranie, blood on the tiles of the hall of 165 Eaton Place, the chilling radio clip announcing "This country is at war with Germany." The runup to this episode's extraordinary climax was complex, classy and brilliantly executed. Downton who?

Oh the irony. I loved the lingering scene of debauchery at the top of this episode – a shoe on the table! Beryl in bed with Spargo! And what's this? At first it looked like Mr Landry was back big time – in fact Mr Landry only does big time. But that was a red herring flashback. Then it was Lady Agnes's turn to be all butter-wouldn't-melt while Hallam and Persie slowly sweated it out. 

Of course Hallam was always going to have enough of silly, conniving Persie at some point, and her turning out to be a spy for the Germans was just the excuse he'd been looking for. Handy, that. We finally had a moment of empathy for Hallam: he's knocking off his sister-in-law, convinced that his wife is cheating on him with a dishy American hosiery tycoon, his butler's drunk – and he has to take a bloody urgent phone call from the foreign secretary about the war. What sort of life is that?

It seems Persie has been dilly-dallying with Admiral Acronym. Or has she? Hallam shopped her any way just in case. "You don't have to trust me, Hallam ...". It's a bit late for that. There was a brief reprieve while Pritchard's drunken lunacy brought the lord and lady of the house back together.

Poor Pritchard. We thought he had everything so tidy in his mind – and now it turns out it was the demon drink that ended his career at Cunard. "In the days when I was in my current condition rather more often than of late, I used to find that black coffee had but limited effect." Just as Claire Foy does a mean villainess, Adrian Scarborough does a wonderful hangover. (Truly Scarborough and Foy have been the stars of this series.)
Despite the wedding/America plans, it initially looked as though Beryl was going to ruin everything for herself by spilling the beans to Lady Agnes: "It's not up to me to tell you, m'lady". I think you may have already said a bit too much, missy! But in the end it was a combination of dry cleaning and Lady Persie's skanky pillow that gave the game away. The scenes that followed that moment of discovery were unspeakably superb. True brilliance from an elegantly undone Keeley Hawes, and super-chic neurosis from Foy.
Game over for Persie meant the most enormous denouement and writer Heidi Thomas did not disappoint. Clutching her Berlin-era pistol, Persie grapples with Spargo, managing to accidentally shoot Beryl who has come in search of the pinking shears. Persie's suicide was brilliantly underplayed. There was much gasping and weeping in the Groskop household.
Beryl is not dead, however. She's just got her arm in a sling. It doesn't look like they'll be going to America now but Spargo is just glad she's alive. Hallam and Agnes close the series with the most upper-class line ever uttered: "Do you want a divorce?" "I think this whole thing has been quite sordid enough."

Special mention goes to Blanche, who's back and saving Europe from a phone box on a country lane. Sod your embalming jars, British Museum, we're at war. There was some beautifully humble acting from Alex Kingston who has excelled in this role, which was surely written just for her. We will overlook the Sapphic business with The Golden Blaze. She has no vanity, that woman, all dumpy frocks and speccy academic, and it makes her all the more gorgeous to watch. (Oh dear. I'm sounding like something out of The Golden Blaze now.)
Even more special mention, one with sequins on and a side order of pastrami bagel, goes to Mr Landry. Never mind the nylons – who'd say no to a bit of Landry Caress, Fully Fashioned? Equally adorable has been Blake Ritson as the Duke of Kent.

 READ MORE HERE!

--Overnight Viewing Figures for Episode 6 = 4.45 million.

Upstairs Downstairs - Series 2 Finale

So it's the series finale of Upstairs Downstairs tonight and hopefully we'll see a lot more of Agnes and Blanche than we did in last week's episode. Remember the episode is on at the usual time of 9pm on BBC1.

Episode Synopsis:

Somewhere Over The Rainbow:

Lady Agnes returns home determined to heal the rift in her marriage. Sir Hallam, too, is desperate to make amends and does all in his power to rectify his personal and professional mistakes. But a shocking revelation leaves the pair reeling - and a cataclysmic turn of events changes the landscape of 165 Eaton Place forever…
Downstairs, as war approaches, Harry and Beryl face a ticking clock to get their affairs in order.
Meanwhile, after his behaviour the previous evening, Mr Pritchard leaves 165 Eaton Place in shame and Johnny is left to run the household. But when Mr Prichard’s absence becomes more prolonged the house is thrown in to chaos and Johnny seeks counsel from a familiar face.


Watch a preview clip for the episode HERE.

Doctor Who Series 7 Trailer.

First Doctor Who Jenna Promo Picture.

Doctor Who News Page Updated!

The Doctor Who News page has now been updated with all of the latest Doctor Who News, including news about the new companion, the return of the Daleks and the episode structure for the series. Check it out HERE.

Upstairs Downstairs Episode 6 - Synopsis

Somewhere Over The Rainbow:

Lady Agnes returns home determined to heal the rift in her marriage. Sir Hallam, too, is desperate to make amends and does all in his power to rectify his personal and professional mistakes. But a shocking revelation leaves the pair reeling - and a cataclysmic turn of events changes the landscape of 165 Eaton Place forever…

Downstairs, as war approaches, Harry and Beryl face a ticking clock to get their affairs in order.
Meanwhile, after his behaviour the previous evening, Mr Pritchard leaves 165 Eaton Place in shame and Johnny is left to run the household. But when Mr Prichard’s absence becomes more prolonged the house is thrown in to chaos and Johnny seeks counsel from a familiar face.

Upstairs Downstairs Episode 6 Preview Clip

New Who Companion announced!

Former Emmerdale and Waterloo Road actress, Jenna-Louise Coleman has been announced as the new Doctor Who companion who will join the show during the Chirstmas Special, after Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill leave the show during the seventh series. When asked about the Pond's departure, Steven stated that 'Amy and Rory will leave in the fifth episode that goes out. It will be a final encounter with the angels and not everybody gets out alive – and I mean it this time.'
Jenna is also due to star in the new ITV drama about the Titanic, which will air this Sunday on ITV1.

Keeley Hawes attends The Prince’s Trust awards!

Keeley Hawes was pictured arriving at The Prince's Trust Awards ceremony yesterday and was later pictured with other stars, including her former friend, Emma Bunton.

Alex Kingston spotted filming Doctor Who?

Who else has hair like that? It must be her (I hope it is anyway). What do you all think?

Upstairs Downstairs Episode 4 - All The Things You Are

Determined to impress Beryl, Harry signs up to the local boxing championships and, when he is told he is too old, recruits Johnny to keep his dream of winning Beryl over alive. However, after seeing Johnny receive his call up letter, he grows to want to prepare Johnny for war by teaching him the skills he needs to survive.
Upstairs, as the distance between she and Sir Hallam grows, Lady Agnes finds herself drawn to Caspar Landry, with whom she finds she has a deep connection. Sir Hallam, meanwhile, is distracted by the looming war and his growing desire for another woman but when he gets a very public reminder of Agnes' independence, an explosive, and very public, confrontation ensues... and Sir Hallam makes a decision that will change his life forever.
Meanwhile, when Mr Amanjit’s blossoming friendship with Mrs Fuller falls foul to racial discrimination, he calls into question, not only their relationship, but also his position inside 165 Eaton Place.

Keeley Hawes Capital Clean-Up Campaign!

Keeley Hawes and Boris Johnson took part today in the launch of the P&G Capital Clean-Up Campaign. You can read more about the campaign on their website.

There were many pictures of the launch (including the ones below) available on Rex Features.

Keeley Hawes on This Morning!

As most of you already know, Keeley Hawes was on This Morning today talking about the current series of Upstairs Downstairs and her involvment in the P&G 'Capital Clean-Up Campaign' with Boris Johnson.

If you missed her this morning, you can catch-up HERE!

Keeley's P&G Capital Clean-Up Campaign

'Upstairs Downstairs' star Jean Marsh 'excited to return'

Jean Marsh has admitted that she is excited to be returning to Upstairs Downstairs.

The 77-year-old actress plays Rose Buck on the BBC period drama, but suffered a stroke and heart attack before the second series began shooting.

"Everyone seems to have forgotten about it now!" she told What's On TV. "Physically, I was able to walk, I didn't look different, but it just takes time to recover. Now it is lovely to be back at work."

Marsh will now reprise her role in the third and sixth episodes of the new series.

"I'm so proud of [the show]," she revealed. "After leaving what it was, coming back and taking the show into the 1930s was very different and exciting."

Upstairs Downstairs star Neil Jackson recently told Digital Spy that Marsh will likely return as Rose full-time if the show gets a third run.

"Hopefully - God willing - when we get a third series, she'll be back fighting fit and resuming her place," he said.

SOURCE: DIGITAL SPY