"Upstairs, Downstairs" Trivia Quiz

Answer: Richard, Marjorie, Elizabeth, James

Lady Marjorie and Richard Bellamy were the heads of the household. James and Elizabeth were their grown children. Rose and Edward were the parlourmaid and the footman. Hazel, Richard's secretary, and Georgina, Richard's ward, both joined the series in the third season. Virginia Hamilton first appeared in season four, and moved into the Bellamy household in season five. Sir Geoffrey Dillon was the family solicitor.

Answer: Jean Marsh was Rose. Eileen Atkins did not have an acting part.

In the original concept, both Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins were to play maids. The show was conceived of as a comedy with a cook who drank too much and a butler who took advantage of his employers.

When "Upstairs, Downstairs" began filming, Eileen Atkins was playing Queen Victoria in a stage play, and was not free to participate in a television series.

Lady Marjorie was played by Rachel Gurney.

Answer: London

Following the success of "Upstairs, Downstairs", a U.S. producer tried to recreate the concept with a show called "Beacon Hill" set in Boston. It didn't work.

Answer: She came to the front door.

Sarah came to the front door to apply for the position. Mr. Hudson sent her to the servants' entrance. Sarah did perform in vaudeville, but that was after leaving the Bellamy household.

Answer: No one

Simon Williams played James Bellamy. Gordon Jackson played Mr. Hudson. Lloyd Bridges did not appear in "Upstairs, Downstairs".

Mr. Hudson and Mrs. Bridges had worked together for a long time and sometimes acted like parents to the younger servants.

It is not clear whether there ever was a Mr. Bridges. Although in an early episode Mrs. Bridges once referred to 'Bridges' as being 'taken' (i.e. died) when they were both in service to Lady Marjorie at Southwold, Mr. Hudson always maintained that 'Mrs' was a courtesy title due to her position.

Answer: Edward VII

The series took place from 1908 to 1930, during the reigns of Edward VII and George V. This episode took place in the second season of the show.

King Edward's visit was upstaged by the arrival of Sarah's baby the same evening!

Answer: She was a passenger on the Titanic and drowned.

Lady Marjorie's maid, Miss Roberts, was also on the Titanic, but was rescued and able to return to Eaton Place. Hazel died of influenza at the end of the fourth season.

Answer: Virginia Hamilton

Richard's son James married Hazel. Lady Prudence was a good friend of the family, but she wasn't romantically involved. Richard proposed to Virginia at the end of season 4. The wedding took place off-screen, between seasons 4 and 5.

Answer: Rose

Rose turned down a proposal of marriage from an Australian sheep farmer, and opted to stay in service at Eaton Place. Elizabeth Bellamy married poet Lawrence Kirbridge, but the marriage was not a happy one. She eventually left him and moved to America. Daisy, the parlourmaid, married the footman, Edward.

After a period of living on their own, they returned to service with the Bellamys. Georgina married the Marquis of Stockbridge at the end of the series.

Answer: Hudson

Gordon Jackson portrayed Mr. Hudson in 60 episodes. David Langton, as Richard Bellamy, was next with 56 episodes. Rose was in 54 episodes, and Mrs. Bridges appeared in 52.

In the United States only four seasons were aired. The first U.S. season had three episodes from the British season 1 and ten from British season 2. The "missing episodes" were shown in the U.S. in 1988, more than ten years after the series had ended. (The DVD and video collections available in the U.S. do have all five complete seasons of the series.)

I hope you enjoyed this quiz. Much of the background information came from www.updown.org.uk