The Duchess of Duke Street, a classic BBC period drama starring Gemma Jones, has been dubbed an 'all time favourite' and is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, half a century after its original broadcast. The series originally aired on BBC One from September 1976 to December 1977.
Plot and Inspiration
Set in London during the early 1900s, the drama draws inspiration from the real life of Rosa Lewis, who managed the Cavendish Hotel. It follows the life of Louisa Leyton (Gemma Jones), an attractive woman with fierce ambition to become a celebrated cook. She secures a position as a cook in the household of Lord Henry Norton (Bryan Coleman) and convinces Monsieur Alex, Lord Norton's French chef, to accept her as his apprentice.
Edward, the Prince of Wales, attending as a guest of honour at Lord Norton's residence, takes notice of Louisa when she is unexpectedly called upon to prepare a meal single-handedly. He finds himself impressed by both her looks and her culinary talents, according to the Mirror.
Series Structure and Cast
The series charts Louisa's eventful rise from domestic servant to celebrated cook to owner of a prestigious London hotel, exploring her many relationships along the way. It was crafted by the same creative team behind Upstairs, Downstairs (1971-1975) and adopts a comparable format, with Louisa firmly at its centre. The principal cast includes Gemma Jones as Louisa Leyton Trotter, Victoria Plucknett as Mary, John Welsh as Merriman, Donald Burton as Augustus Trotter, and others. EastEnders legend June Brown, who portrayed Dot Cotton in the soap, played Mrs Leyton in the series between 1976 and 1977.
Comparison to Downton Abbey
The programme garnered considerable acclaim from audiences and critics alike, who drew comparisons to Downton Abbey due to their comparable structure. Devotees of Downton Abbey instantly embraced the programme following its debut in 2010. On Reddit, one Downton Abbey enthusiast sought suggestions for comparable dramas, with one individual proposing: "The original Upstairs Downstairs and Duchess of Duke Street." A second contributed: "I've seen Duchess of Duke Street, loved that one. I even visited her hotel when I went to London", while a third stated: "The Duchess of Duke Street."
One fan shared: "The Duchess of Duke Street (it's giving my fair lady with the cockney accents and class inequality)." Another added: "Sorry, I don't have any suggestions, just came here to say thanks for mentioning Duchess of Duke Street! It's a bit dated, but I love it too and the 'duchess' is amazing. She gets stuff done!"
Critical Reception
On IMDb, the drama has an 8.3/10 rating. One viewer observed: "The very best of TV drama." A second commented: "A favourite, one of my all time favourite Masterpiece Theatre shows. My only complaint is that is didn't last long." "Top drawer as the cockneys might say", added another. The series originally aired for two seasons from 1976 to 1977. You can watch The Duchess of Duke Street on Amazon Prime Video.
