For long-time readers of Tellyspotting, many have come to know that I’m not the biggest fan of remakes, reboots or sequels. While there are certainly cases that directly counter my feelings (All Creatures Great and Small, Poldark, Upstairs Downstairs), the streets are littered with failed American remakes of highly successful British comedies and there are […]
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Set in the breathtakingly beautiful resort town of Portofino, Hotel Portofino is about personal awakening at a time of global upheaval in the traumatic aftermath of World War I and of the liberating influence of Italy’s enchanting culture, climate and cuisine on elite British travelers.
Premiering tonight at 8pET/7pCT on PBS, Hotel Portofino tells the story of the Ainsworth family that has relocated from Britain to open an upscale hotel on the Italian coastline. Once you meet the cast of characters, both Upstairs Downstairs and Downton Abbey come to mind….if they happened to be set in 1920 Italy.
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Starting out as Masterpiece Theatre on PBS in 1971, the series celebrates its 50th year in January 2021 by continuing the early days tradition of presenting quality dramas such as Upstairs Downstairs, I Claudius, Duchess of Duke Street, Danger UXB, and House of Cards, to name just a few. A tradition that has continued for 50 years with brilliant series such as Prime […]
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Venturing into Nicola Walker territory in my book, the greatness that is Keeley Hawes returns next month in a new spy drama from Channel 4, Traitors. The former Spooks, Ashes to Ashes, Durrells in Corfu, Upstairs Downstairs, Line of Duty, Bodyguard star will play Priscilla, a woman working as a member of the Civil Service following the Labour Party’s […]
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They both chronicled the sinking of the Titanic, World War I and the slow decline of British aristocracy.
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After almost ten years of covering British comedy, drama, pop culture and pretty much everything British, today is a first. As in the first time we write about Coronation Street. Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running television soap opera, the series premiered on 9 December, 1960 and centers on Coronation Street […]
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In what seems to be a bit of a departure from an unwritten policy that stretches back more years that anyone can remember against leaking any information regarding the new series, a brilliant tidbit has surfaced about the forthcoming Doctor Who series starring Jodie Whitaker. Appearing on the most recent edition of the Will Young and Chris […]
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On October 10, 1971, Upstairs Downstairs took the world by storm. Based on an original idea by Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins for a comedy called Behind the Green Baize Door, the series ran for 5 series and 68 episodes over four years from 1971-1975. As originally thought out, the series would focus on two housemaids, played […]
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At long last, the return of Poldark is upon us. For those that have been (im)patiently needing to learn the fate of Captain Ross Poldark, we are mere hours away from the 2-hour premiere of series 2 at 8:00pET/7:00pCT on PBS. The new Poldark took America by storm when it premiered last year as present day fans of […]
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The doors of Downton haven’t even shuttered yet and Julian Fellowes already has something in the works. The Downton Abbey creator/writer heads to the world of online for his next project, a new story in 11 episodes, published week by week, which will tell the story of Belgravia – London’s grandest postcode. Just in case Belgravia sounds familiar […]
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