‘Delhi Downton’ keeps things in the family with its choice of star
Actress taking on ‘upstairs’ role in new ITV production is daughter of Jim Carter, known for part as butler
WHEN casting for a new ITV period drama dubbed “the Delhi Downton”, the producers did not have to look far.
Beecham House, a lavish series set in 18th-century India and beginning next Sunday, features Bessie Carter as a young woman in search of a husband.
She is the daughter of Jim Carter, otherwise known as Downton Abbey’s Carson the butler.
“I love that, especially as I am ‘upstairs’, I am officially posher than my dad,” the actress joked.
Her father almost ended up in a scene himself after straying on to the set while visiting her.
“Having dad in India was such a treat,” said Carter. “He actually managed to be in the back of one of the shots by accident. If we do a season two, my mum is already on that plane.”
Carter’s mother is the actress Imelda Staunton, who could not be in India because she was working on the film version of Downton Abbey.
In Beecham House, 25-year-old Carter plays Violet Woodhouse, who travels out to India as the companion of Henrietta Beecham (Lesley Nicol), and hopes to marry Mrs Beecham’s son, John (Tom Bateman).
The actress made her breakthrough in the BBC’s 2017 production of Howards End. “I can’t express enough how lucky I feel right now. To be doing this so early in my career, I feel so blessed,” she said.
Beecham House use has “similar qualities” es” to Downton Abbey, she added. “It’s a family drama with love triangles and twists. People like to escape into a world that isn’t theirs, don’t they? We have the added element that it’s set in India at quite an important political time. I think the escapism of watching India will be very alluring.”
In another link with Downton, Nicol is best known to viewers as the show’s cook, Mrs Patmore. Carter said:
“My dad came out for a week’s holiday so she was in heaven because she had someone of her own age to play with.”
Nicol said: “I had met Bessie a couple of times because she’s the daughter of a dear, dear friend, Jim Carter. “It was completely out of the blue to be cast together, and my very good fortune because she is terrific.” Nicol juggled Beecham House with the Downton film, flying backwards and forwards between the UK and India. “I had to keep coming back for Downton. In the end I flew to India three times,” she said. “Everyone said, ‘Gosh, you’re going to be so tired’ but I didn’t fall to pieces at all – until I got home. My idea of heaven is doing two great jobs at the same time so I’m not complaining.”
Beecham House is directed by Gurinder Chadha, whose credits include Bend It Like Beckham and Viceroy’s House.
ITV’s last period drama, Vanity Fair, suffered in the ratings because it was up against BBC One’s Bodyguard.
But the broadcaster has high hopes for this one. Like Downton, it has been sold to US broadcaster PBS.
It is set at a time when the East India Company was vying with the French for control of trade.
Bateman plays an Englishman who resigned from the company to set up his own business.
In a nod to the popularity of Poldark, he has a topless scything scene in the first episode.
“I knew there were certain boxes to be ticked,” the actor said, adding that it made sense for his character to be shirtless in that particular scene.
“Standing still in India, you sweat. There is no way you’d be clothed.”
‘People like to escape into a world that isn’t theirs. I think the escapism will be alluring’