With all-star cast sans Lady Rose, filming begins on the ‘Downton Abbey’ movie

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus as filming has begun on the long-awaited Downton Abbey movie. A roster of stars have been added to the returning upstairs and downstairs residents of Downton as Harry Potter’s Imelda Staunton, Sherlock Holmes‘ Geraldine James and The Thick of It‘s David Haig are among those who have signed-up. Also joining the cast […]

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Meet Buckingham Palace’s body double in ‘King Charles III’

As King Charles III premiered last night on BBC2 and when it transmits on PBS this coming Sunday evening on Masterpiece, one might immediately question how and/or why a program that imagines a future in which Prince Charles becomes King, causes havoc and won’t sign a crucial bill could actually be filmed in Buckingham Palace. Would the official London residence […]

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Move over Jewel…Brideshead…Tales, here comes Downton Abbey

The recent U.S. popularity of the mega-hit, Downton Abbey, brings to mind not only the obvious, Upstairs Downstairs, but also the likes of PBS’ Jewel in the Crown, Brideshead Revisited and, oddly, Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City broadcast from a water cooler popularity standpoint. With Downton Abbey, there’s a new sheriff in town at […]

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Setting the Downton Abbey record straight

Ever since the brilliant premiere of Downton Abbey in the UK this past Fall, the anticipation for its Sunday, 9 January, premiere on PBS’ Masterpiece series has been at an all-time high. Both critically acclaimed and a hit with audiences, the period drama returned ITV, at least for a bit, to the forefront of UK […]

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Valentine's shopping list – British drama edition

Not to worry, British drama fans. Didn’t leave you out of the Valentine’s shopping mix. Took care of the comedy folks yesterday, time for the top five all-time favorite drama DVD sets that will be great additions to DVD libraries across the land. Don’t forget that if you click the link below which takes you […]

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Old Guys find home on PBS stations

Clive Swift (Richard from Keeping Up Appearances) and Roger Lloyd Pack (Owen in Vicar of Dibley) have teamed up for a new British comedy, The Old Guys, coming to public televison stations in 2010. Jane Asher plays Sally, the neighbor that definitely recognizes that both Roy and Tom are attracted to her and tends to […]

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