BBC to revive 'Upstairs Downstairs'

Rex Features

Legendary TV series Upstairs Downstairs is being revived by the BBC, it has been announced.

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.