I've been an avid fan of DoDS since episode one all those years ago. Perhaps the most remarkable feature of this series was the production values. Although we were all impressed by the look of "Upstairs, Downstairs", there were some serious design flaws in that series. For example, the fabrics used in the gowns of the upstairs ladies was often horrendously Super70s in design, and more appropriate for wallpaper than Edwardian gowns! DoDS, however, was simply a masterpiece of design. The costumes, the sets, the entire look of the show has never been rivalled, before or since. For my money, it stands as the benchmark for production values, and I somehow doubt we shall ever see such utter perfection again.

--Duchess

This beautifully made character television series is, I believe, the BEST British television series of all time. It therefore follows that it is certainly the best programme ever made anywhere in the world.

Gemma Jones as the Duchess was superp as the tartar louesa Trotter who had a heart of gold.

Apparently this story was based upon actual events and real people of the same period - I understand a hotel around Jermyn St London called (I believe) The Cumberland Hotel. It is still there today but is all modern and awful now.

The Duchess of Duke Street was well written and in particular the marvellous characters which were brought to life by a fabulous cast of quality actors and actresses gave the series a humanity and a depth which you just do not see anymore on British Television.

Louesa Trotter, Charlie Hazelmere, the Major, Star and Fred, Mr Merryman and Welsh Mary to name but a few all gave this beautifully crafted series real character and zeal.

Watch it and your in it right there in St James in the early 1900's - one hundred years ago in the luxurious Bentinck Hotel where one always seems to meet a healthy cross section of people from that era - Lords and Ladies, valets and chauffers, scoundrals and vagabonds, heros and villains they are all there at the Bentinck Hotel.

One quite literally falls into the beautifully crafted storylines and alas when it is all over there is a sence of Greatloss which is the acid test.

I would recommend that you watch this seies and notice the attention to detail which is just fantastic.

At times the humour is biting and can also be dry whereas it suddenly plunges you into great sorrow and sadness which will break your heart.

Above all though it remains true to itself in that the storylines are totally believable and it has an ordinaryness and a truthfullness that shames the drivel that comes out of Hollywood and in general American television networks which have done much to destroy quality broadcasting.

Goodbye don't cry - there's a silver lining in the skyee . . .

--Major Star