FACT FILE: Upstairs, Downstairs

As the classic period drama begins a repeat from the start (6pm, Talking Pictures TV), we take a look at some facts about the show that paved the way for Downton Abbey…

● The show began on ITV in 1971, and ran for five series. It was the brainchild of actresses Jean Marsh (centre, with co-star Gordon Jackson) and Eileen Atkins, and was meant to focus solely on a household’s domestic staff in the Victorian era; the wealthy Bellamy family they served were added, and the period moved ahead to the Edwardian.

● The first series wasn’t broadcast until nearly a year after it was made, as the schedulers didn’t know what to do with it. Upstairs, Downstairs eventually went out on Sundays at 10.15pm.

● In 1976, the BBC came up with its own, somewhat similar, drama called The Duchess

Of Duke Street, created by former Upstairs, Downstairs producer John Hawkesworth. It became a big hit in the US.

● A new, follow-on series began on BBC1 in 2010, not long after Downton Abbey launched on ITV. Jean Marsh, who reprised her role as Rose in the update, remarked on the timing and the similarities between the shows: ‘It might be a coincidence, and I might be the Queen of Belgium.’

● It spawned just one spin-off, Thomas & Sarah (1979), starring John Alderton and his wife, Pauline Collins, as the chauffeur and maid who leave service. It lasted for just 13 episodes. 11.00

6.35pm Taskmaster Bleeped

7.40 The Great Christmas Bake Off

Part 1/2. A series of festive challenges. FILM The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Fantasy adventure sequel, starring Martin Freeman. 9.00

The evening session on day three.

7.25pm Come Dine with Me

8.00 Grand Designs Building a contemporary

farmhouse in Herefordshire.

9.00 999: What’s Your Emergency?

11.05 24 Hours in A&E

6.55pm Behind Enemy Lines Bosnian War

drama, starring Gene Hackman.

9.00 Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation Spy thriller sequel, starring Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner and Rebecca Ferguson.

11.40 Survivor Thriller, starring Milla Jovovich

and and Dylan Mcdermott.

Bahrain F1 Grand Prix Highlights

The Bahrain Grand Prix.

A League of Their Own: US Road Trip 2.0 Jamie, Jack and Andrew race one another across New York City.

9.00 S.W.A.T.

10.00 FILM The Hunt for Red October

Cold War thriller, starring Sean Connery. 8.00

FILM

Action thriller sequel, starring Matt Damon, Brian Cox and Joan Allen.

Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords FILM Coming to America An African prince journeys to the US to escape an arranged marriage and search for a worthy wife. Comedy, starring Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall. Includes Access. FILM Bad Santa 2 Comedy, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates,

Tony Cox and Christina Hendricks.