TV and radio blogUpstairs Downstairs This article is more than 12 years oldWill Upstairs Downstairs be in a different class to Downton Abbey?
This article is more than 12 years oldWill you be watching international phenomenon Downton or its sumptuous, painstakingly accurate BBC1 rival? Or both?It's an obsession Downton Abbey's Cousin Violet (Dame Maggie Smith) would describe as "frightfully middle class." But there is no escaping the question of whether Upstairs Downstairs is going to be better than Downton.
When Heidi Thomas's Upstairs Downstairs first appeared on our screens, it was destined for unfavourable comparisons. Julian Fellowes's period drama came first – and it was bigger, bolder and brasher than BBC1's genteel offering, which suddenly seemed much reduced in the wake of Downton fever. Worst still, Downton Abbey was a lavish seven-part series whereas Upstairs Downstairs was nothing more than three episodes.
Since its second series, though, Downton has become something very different. It has become an international phenomenon and an object of ridicule, enjoyed, Dallas-style, at times for being terrible.
It's not entirely churlish to compare the two rivals (although obviously there's no reason why you shouldn't enjoy both and the Guardian Upstairs Downstairs blog, which launches this Sunday, aims to encourage generous-spirited viewing). But pre-history is important here. Two years ago the BBC announced with great pride and excitement that it was remaking Upstairs Downstairs, only to discover that ITV was already making something very similar. Not only do the two potentially cannibalise each other's audiences in the UK but they threaten to eat into the lucrative international market.
Downton Abbey has become a rare ratings hit for PBS in the US, with even the BBC reporting that "American fans organise Sunday night viewing parties, shell out on themed merchandise and chat endlessly about the latest plot twists on Facebook and Twitter". Fans of the show post photographs of themselves watching it wearing special outfits and some even dress their dogs as Downton characters. (I am not making this up. I have seen a Newfoundland dressed as Lady Mary in a lilac ruff.)
The gossip blog Gawker recently entitled one post, "Why Everyone in the Universe Should Watch Downton Abbey." And the addition of Shirley MacLaine to the cast for series three can only add to the madness.
In the face of this onslaught, Upstairs Downstairs has a mountain the size of Dame Maggie's hairpiece to climb. But one glance at the cinematography in the first episode of series two alone shows that the BBC is not going to give up without a fight. Upstairs Downstairs is visually sumptuous, rich in painstakingly accurate period detail and one in the (heavily bandaged) eye for Downton's camp tendencies towards anachronism and melodrama.
One element, however, is worrying: the first episode of Upstairs Downstairs has no match for Dame Maggie Smith, one of the key draws of Downton – and one of the favourite characters for the Americans. Dame Eileen Atkins has been written out of the series – her character Maud has died. The 77-year-old Jean Marsh does not feature in the early episodes of series two of Upstairs Downstairs because she suffered a mild stroke just before filming began and the scripts had to be rewritten.
Ultimately, though, the viewer is the champion here. The more money spent on quality period drama, the more choice. May the best butler win. Please do let us know what your dog thinks too. (With pictures.)
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