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Another Year (Upstairs, Downstairs)
Encyclopedia
Another Year is the ninth episode of the fourth series of the period drama
Upstairs, Downstairs
. It first aired on 9 November 1974 on ITV
.
made her debut appearance as Virginia.
. When he arrives, he is subdued and shortly after midnight on 31 December, he leaves the party downstairs and Richard comes across him crying on the stairs. Richard then takes him into the Morning Room and gives him a whisky
. Edward then tells him how Charlie Wallace, his best friend and best man, was killed by a shell
going off. This talk cheers him up, but shortly after going downstairs, he breaks down again. Shortly after, Richard asks Sir Geoffrey to lean on General Frank Nesfield to get Edward discharged on grounds of severe shell shock
. Edward is soon sent to Barnes Hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, a Mrs Charles Hamilton, a widow from Inverness
, comes to see Richard. She is the Chairman of a committee of Royal Navy
widows who want to raise money to educate the children of Navy and Marine
officers killed in action
. She asks Richard, as Civil Lord of the Admiralty, for Admiralty
backing and money, but Richard merely gives her the name and address of a person to write to. However, the following day Richard is given a dressing down by the First Lord of the Admiralty Sir Edward Carson
after Carson had accidentally met Mrs Hamilton at dinner the night before. She had told him about Richard's unhelpful attitude and he is ordered to help. In addition, Mrs Hamilton's father-in-law is the second cousin Admiral Beatty
. Virginia then comes round to apologise for getting Richard into trouble.
Richard is offered a viscount
cy in the 1917 New Year's Honours
. After taking Sir Geoffrey's advice, he takes the title Viscount Bellamy of Haversham, Haversham being a town two miles from his birthplace in Norfolk
.
At 3am on the morning of 20 January 1917, Ruby arrives at Eaton Place. She had been caught up in the Silvertown explosion
the previous evening and the whole household listens to her story. Her lodgings have been destroyed along with all her possessions, and she decides to become the kitchen maid
again. When Richard and Hazel go up to the Morning Room after this, Hazel says how there are two families living in 165, Eaton Place. There is the Bellamy family, and then the family downstairs. Hudson and Bridges are the mother and father, Edward and Daisy their son and daughter-in-law, Rose is the elder daughter and Ruby the younger daughter. She then says "Perhaps one day, we'll all be one big family, not two". Richard replies "I think we are now in one sense".
nomination for Best Writer. In addition, Peter Knight, writing in The Daily Telegraph
, said that while Upstairs, Downstairs was getting "further and further away from its original concept", the "characters and the dialogue all carry a total conviction which makes it the best-quality soap opera around".
Period piece
-Setting:In the performing arts, a period piece is a work set in a particular era. This informal term covers all countries, all periods and all genres...
Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs is a British drama television series originally produced by London Weekend Television and revived by the BBC. It ran on ITV in 68 episodes divided into five series from 1971 to 1975, and a sixth series shown on the BBC on three consecutive nights, 26–28 December 2010.Set in a...
. It first aired on 9 November 1974 on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
.
Background
Another Year was recorded in the studio on 25 and 26 July 1974. In this episode, Hannah GordonHannah Gordon
Hannah Cambell Grant Gordon is a Scottish actress who is well known in the United Kingdom for her television work, including Upstairs, Downstairs, Telford's Change, My Wife Next Door, Joint Account and an appearance in the final episode of One Foot in the Grave.-Early life:Gordon was born in...
made her debut appearance as Virginia.
Cast
- Jean MarshJean MarshJean Lyndsey Torren Marsh is an English actress, occasional screenwriter, and co-creator of the television series Upstairs, Downstairs and The House of Eliott....
- Rose - Angela BaddeleyAngela BaddeleyAngela Baddeley, CBE , born Madeline Angela Clinton-Baddeley, was an English actress best remembered for her role as Mrs Bridges in the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs...
- Mrs Bridges - Gordon JacksonGordon Jackson (actor)Gordon Cameron Jackson, OBE was a Scottish Emmy Award-winning actor best remembered for his roles as the butler Angus Hudson in Upstairs, Downstairs and George Cowley, the head of CI5, in The Professionals....
- HudsonAngus HudsonAngus Hudson was a fictional character in the ITV drama Upstairs, Downstairs, portrayed by actor Gordon Jackson from 1971 until 1975.-Biography:... - Meg Wynn OwenMeg Wynn OwenMeg Wynn Owen is a Welsh actress, who is best known for her role as Hazel Bellamy, née Forrest, in the television series Upstairs, Downstairs....
- Hazel Bellamy - Hannah GordonHannah GordonHannah Cambell Grant Gordon is a Scottish actress who is well known in the United Kingdom for her television work, including Upstairs, Downstairs, Telford's Change, My Wife Next Door, Joint Account and an appearance in the final episode of One Foot in the Grave.-Early life:Gordon was born in...
- Virginia Hamilton - David LangtonDavid LangtonDavid Muir Langton was a British actor who is best remembered for playing Richard Bellamy in the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs.-Early years:...
- Richard Bellamy - Raymond HuntleyRaymond HuntleyRaymond Huntley was an English actor who appeared in dozens of British films from the 1930s through to the 1970s...
- Sir Geoffrey Dillon - Christopher BeenyChristopher BeenyBorn in London, Beeny began his career at the age of six when he danced for the ' Ballet Rambert. He spent several years at the ' Arts Educational School before later progressing to 'RADA.His first screen role was in the 1952 film The Long Memory...
- Edward - Jacqueline TongJacqueline TongJacqueline Tong is an English actress who is best known for playing Daisy Barnes in the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs from 1973 to 1975. In 1975, she was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in the Primetime Emmy Awards.-Early life:Tong was born in Bristol,...
- Daisy - Jenny TomasinJenny TomasinJenny Tomasin is an English actress best known for her roles in Upstairs, Downstairs and Emmerdale.-Career:Tomasin became well known in the early 1970s when she joined the cast of Upstairs, Downstairs as kitchen maid Ruby. She stayed with the series until the end in 1975, appearing in 41 episodes...
- Ruby
Plot
On 27 December 1916, Daisy gets a letter from Edward telling her that he is coming home for a fortnight's leave and he will arrive at Eaton Place on New Year's EveNew Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
. When he arrives, he is subdued and shortly after midnight on 31 December, he leaves the party downstairs and Richard comes across him crying on the stairs. Richard then takes him into the Morning Room and gives him a whisky
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
. Edward then tells him how Charlie Wallace, his best friend and best man, was killed by a shell
Shell (projectile)
A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to shot, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage sometimes includes large solid projectiles properly termed shot . Solid shot may contain a pyrotechnic compound if a tracer or spotting charge is used...
going off. This talk cheers him up, but shortly after going downstairs, he breaks down again. Shortly after, Richard asks Sir Geoffrey to lean on General Frank Nesfield to get Edward discharged on grounds of severe shell shock
Combat stress reaction
Combat stress reaction , in the past commonly known as shell shock or battle fatigue, is a range of behaviours resulting from the stress of battle which decrease the combatant's fighting efficiency. The most common symptoms are fatigue, slower reaction times, indecision, disconnection from one's...
. Edward is soon sent to Barnes Hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, a Mrs Charles Hamilton, a widow from Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
, comes to see Richard. She is the Chairman of a committee of Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
widows who want to raise money to educate the children of Navy and Marine
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
officers killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
. She asks Richard, as Civil Lord of the Admiralty, for Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
backing and money, but Richard merely gives her the name and address of a person to write to. However, the following day Richard is given a dressing down by the First Lord of the Admiralty Sir Edward Carson
Edward Carson, Baron Carson
Edward Henry Carson, Baron Carson PC, PC , Kt, QC , often known as Sir Edward Carson or Lord Carson, was a barrister, judge and politician from Ireland...
after Carson had accidentally met Mrs Hamilton at dinner the night before. She had told him about Richard's unhelpful attitude and he is ordered to help. In addition, Mrs Hamilton's father-in-law is the second cousin Admiral Beatty
David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty
Admiral of the Fleet David Richard Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty, GCB, OM, GCVO, DSO was an admiral in the Royal Navy...
. Virginia then comes round to apologise for getting Richard into trouble.
Richard is offered a viscount
Viscount
A viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
cy in the 1917 New Year's Honours
British honours system
The British honours system is a means of rewarding individuals' personal bravery, achievement, or service to the United Kingdom and the British Overseas Territories...
. After taking Sir Geoffrey's advice, he takes the title Viscount Bellamy of Haversham, Haversham being a town two miles from his birthplace in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
.
At 3am on the morning of 20 January 1917, Ruby arrives at Eaton Place. She had been caught up in the Silvertown explosion
Silvertown explosion
The Silvertown explosion occurred in Silvertown in West Ham, Essex on Friday, 19 January 1917 at 6.52 pm. The blast occurred at a munitions factory that was manufacturing explosives for Britain's World War I military effort...
the previous evening and the whole household listens to her story. Her lodgings have been destroyed along with all her possessions, and she decides to become the kitchen maid
Kitchen maid
-Great house kitchen maid:A kitchen maid is a young maid, or junior female servant. In the hierarchy of a great house she ranked below a cook and above a scullery maid...
again. When Richard and Hazel go up to the Morning Room after this, Hazel says how there are two families living in 165, Eaton Place. There is the Bellamy family, and then the family downstairs. Hudson and Bridges are the mother and father, Edward and Daisy their son and daughter-in-law, Rose is the elder daughter and Ruby the younger daughter. She then says "Perhaps one day, we'll all be one big family, not two". Richard replies "I think we are now in one sense".
Reception
Another Year earned Alfred Shaughnessy a second EmmyPrimetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
nomination for Best Writer. In addition, Peter Knight, writing in The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
, said that while Upstairs, Downstairs was getting "further and further away from its original concept", the "characters and the dialogue all carry a total conviction which makes it the best-quality soap opera around".