Julian Fellowes' Belgravia - starts tonight, ITV1

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Anyone planning on watching? I loved Downton so I'm looking forward to this. It might be just the sort of escapist drama featuring posh people in nice frocks that we all need right now!

Hiya ppeat

Yes - I'm as well as could be expected under the circumstances .

And I'd absolutely love to see House of Elliot and Upstairs, Downstairs repeated - and maybe the original Forsyte Saga, too (wonder if it would stand the test of time?).

What was the one set in a boatyard? Not the Onedin Line - another one - HOWARD'S WAY! I used to like that.

And The Main Chance about the solicitor.

Oh @SchadenfreudePersonified, now you're talking!

Howards Way is on YouTube - enjoy!

Dummm, dum, dum, dum
Dummm, dum, dum, dum
Always there.
Love is always there
Sky and music
Love will be always there...

Blimey the original Forsyte Saga that takes me right back to the 70s we had just been 'allowed' a telly [colour] I think it was in coilour I maybe wrong, wow wow!!!! Dm watched it avidly, It was slow and a bit highly emotive. Nyree Dawn Porter and Eric Portman !!!

Eric Porter, not Portman, was in the original Forsyte Saga, and it was in black and white. But it's still very watchable.

Oh thanks Judy I was thinking Porter but Nyree Dawn had that name , so I though they couldn't have the SAME name , were they related?

No - they weren't related it was just co-incidence.

It was fabulous acting and the story was gripping. I remember that the church evening service times all over the country were changed to accommodate the programme, as the congregations were all sitting at home watching the box!

There was also a very racy (for the time) rape scene - you didn't "see" anything, but knew from the characters' faces what had taken place.

I have the more recent Forsyte Saga on DVD.

Damian Lewis is superb in rendering the loathsome Soames Forsyte in such a way that you somehow, despite yourself, manage to feel some empathy for him.

I understand that it was the earlier Forsyste saga that led to a debate in Parliament about marital rape, which was still legal at that time. :(

Believe me - the Damian Lewis/ gina McKee version wasn't a patch on the original - either for casting or interpretation of the novels.

As I remember, Gina McKee was very wooden.

I remember a review of her performance at the time saying she looked like she'd had "recent, painful dental work" and that's stuck with me ever since!

Also - with respect to Gina - she's an attractive enough woman, but that's it - there's no way she has the type of ethereal beauty that would make men throw themselves at her feet.

Nyree Dawn Porter was stunningly beautiful - and the physical type (honey blonde hair, dark eyes, curvaceous) described in the novels, too, which Gina McKee isn't.

Well, I do like it and for me Damian will always be the ultimate Soames...

Gina McKee was beautiful as Irene, but I agree she was a bit passive in her delivery...

Everyone's different! I do remember that Eric Porter acted his sox off (he made us feel sympathy for him) like Damian Lewis. I do remember that the story goes on too long. (in both versions) I suppose it happens in the book too of course ,which I haven't read I lost interest with the Susan Hampshire character, though I like her.

Oh and thanks for that info Schady !

I like it. The characters, the costumes, the withering looks, the bumbling clueless husband. I wasn't a fan of Tamsin Grieg before this but I think she plays this part brilliantly.

GetOff To get back to the thread I'll give it a go .

Just caught up on the first 2 episodes. I've read the book and it's exactly the same so far. When I read it I thought Adam James would make a great John Bellasis if it was made for TV....and Ta dah! There he is.

I feel like I’ve missed an episode. How did lady brockenhirst meet her grandson, Mr Pope?

How did Mr and Mrs Trenchard meet him?

May be I’ve missed the last part of last week?

Having to carry a parasol everywhere must have been a pain in the arse!

@Oaksquarebox I missed that but too. How did they know where he'd been adopted?

Glad it’s not just me Crinkle!

Lady B went to his office and invited him to dinner.

@Oaksquarebox The Trenchards knew the name and location of the vicar they placed the baby with. Brockenhurst managed to get Mrs Trenchard to tell her that info. She did some detective work and saught him out. Mrs Trenchard did not know that her husband had taken more of an interest in Charles when he became an adult. Hence the scene at the 'at home' where she finds out her husband has kept it from her that he has a business relationship with their grandson.

I was right. The Rev is going to blackmail the Trenchards?