Dining at ‘Downton Abbey’? Ask for a table downstairs.

While we all see the work on screen of the Dame Maggie Smith’s and Hugh Bonneville’s of the world in Downton Abbey, the hard work is the behind-the-scenes never-ending work of Lisa Heathcote. As the food stylist for Downton Abbey, Heathcote sums up her efforts by acknowledging the biggest challenge, “OK, this food has got […]

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Tea Pong & Havarti cheese; Must be time for ‘Downton Abbey’!

For those that thought Downton Abbey was only for the 50-somethings and over Anglophile, think again. There’s a new audience demo in town and they are putting aside their traditional beer pong red Solo cups every Sunday evening for a bit of Havarti cheese, a proper cup of tea and a heavy dose of their favorite English […]

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‘Mapp and Lucia’ – round one begins 29 December on BBC One!

From a drama standpoint, 2014 is going out in style just like it came in. Since last January, British telly fans have feasted on the likes of Downton Abbey, Sherlock, Call the Midwife, Mr. Selfridge, Broadchurch, Prey, Endeavour, Lewis, Last Tango in Halifax and Scott & Bailey…to name a few. Before we all begin to lean forward to 2015, there’s […]

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For Mrs. Patmore, every day is Thanksgiving at Downton Abbey

While Thanksgiving isn’t officially celebrated in the UK, it has gained a bit of momentum in recent years with a number of restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner and an increasing number of festivals, including the Harvest Festival where Brits give thanks for food and the year’s harvest. Should Cora’s mother Martha and/or crazy brother Harold blow […]

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Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot added to BBC One’s Christmas line-up

At this time every year, I lament my decision to not pack a bag and head to London for Christmas. Aside from the fact that it would be a magical time of year to walk down Regent Street spending hours inside Hamley’s Toy Store before heading over to Oxford Street for a stroll through Selfridges, […]

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W1A's rebranding effort of the BBC to continue in 2015

Ian Fletcher, the Beeb’s Head of Values and chair of its Way Ahead Task Force, will roam the halls of the BBC for a bit longer as a second series of W1A has been commissioned but the BBC. “I am very happy to have the cameras back,” said the fictional Fletcher (played by Downton Abbey‘s […]

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Ok, who left their water bottle at Downton Abbey?

When we last left the residents of Downton Abbey, it was the Summer of 1923. It’s common knowledge that we are jumping forward just a bit with the beginning of series 5 set for a 1924 backdrop. As we get closer and closer to the rumored Sunday, 14 September premiere in the UK, ITV has […]

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Passing the time until 'Downton Abbey' 5 with Hugh Bonneville

Like more everyone on the planet, the world awaits he arrival of Downton Abby. While a number of the inhabitants of Downton, both upstairs and downstairs have found other work in-between series filming, Hugh Bonneville, known on this planet to everyone with a TV as Lord Grantham, recreates his role as Ian Fletcher, the Head […]

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