TV
Rex Features
Cranford writer Heidi Thomas is penning two new feature-length scripts - set in 1936 in the same iconic house in London's Belgravia - for transmission on BBC One next year.
Jean Marsh will reprise her role as parlourmaid Rose, returning to the house as housekeeper to its new residents, the wealthy and well-connected Holland family. She will be joined by Dame Eileen Atkins for the reboot.
Thomas said of the revival: "I am both thrilled and humbled to have this opportunity. The original Upstairs Downstairs marked the start of my love affair with television, and I am determined that the new version will in every way be a worthy successor to the original."
Head of drama at BBC Wales Piers Wenger added: "We are delighted to have secured the rights with the full blessing and support of the original co-creators. This is not a remake but a completely new version, set in a different era with a whole new cast of characters."
The show originally ran on ITV for five series from 1971 to 1975.
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