The Duchess of Duke Street (1976– )

Louisa Trotter works her way up from being a skivvy to being the Queen of cooks, cook to the King, and owner of the Bentinck Hotel. Her life and happenings among the guests and staff of the... See full summary »

Creator:

John Hawkesworth

Stars:

Gemma Jones, Victoria Plucknett, John Welsh

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 5 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Gemma Jones	...	Louisa Trotter (31 episodes, 1976-1977)
Victoria Plucknett	...	Mary (26 episodes, 1976-1977)
John Welsh	...	Merriman (25 episodes, 1976-1977)
John Cater	...	Starr (24 episodes, 1976-1977)
Richard Vernon	...	Major Smith-Barton (18 episodes, 1976-1977)
Mary Healey	...	Mrs. Cochrane (17 episodes, 1976-1977)
Christopher Cazenove	...	Charles Haslemere (15 episodes, 1976-1977)

Storyline

Louisa Trotter works her way up from being a skivvy to being the Queen of cooks, cook to the King, and owner of the Bentinck Hotel. Her life and happenings among the guests and staff of the Hotel make up the 31 episodes.

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Plot Keywords:

hotel | historical event | world war one | 1910s | chef | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 December 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Das Hotel in der Duke Street

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Time-Life Television Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min 50 min (31 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Hayley Mills was originally cast in the lead role but had to withdraw after learning she was pregnant.

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Connections

Featured in Maid in Britain (2010)

User Reviews

A great pleasure

There is still great pleasure to be had from this series. Set in the earlier 1900s in London, it is the story of a young woman who begins as a kitchen hand and, through talent and determination, becomes a great chef and hotelier, (though she refuses to lose her cockney speech).

Louisa Trotter, played by the truly WONDERFUL Gemma Jones, must be one of the most memorable characters in television history. A creature of so many moods - haranguing her staff in the kitchen, deliriously in love, vulgar when she's angry, prickly with her mother, sentimental about her affair with the old King - it's hard to know whether to laugh at her, or cry. But there is one constant about her - her artistry in her profession, and that is always awe-inspiring.

During a long series, relationships between characters can acquire great reality. Louisa's covert affection for her staff, her enduring love for Charlie (Christopher Cazenove), and her deep friendship with the Major (Richard Vernon) - mainly because of the exquisite playing of the cast - have an extraordinary conviction.