Thomas and Sarah / Upstairs Downstairs (1979) 1 of 13 "Birds of a Feather" TV Period Drama Series

A spin-off series from the original Upstairs Downstairs. 13 episodes in all. Former parlourmaid and chauffeur to the Bellamys, Thomas and Sarah set up home together in 1911 and get involved in various adventures. The pair had actually left Upstairs Downstairs midway through the series and despite it being six years later this series sort of picked up from they had left off in that show though.
In this opening episode, Sarah is working as a companion to Grace Laughton when Thomas Watkins, now owner of a garage, reappears in her life.
John Alderton as Thomas Watkins
Pauline Collins as Sarah
Guest Cast:
Jessica Benton as Grace Laughton / Sally Home as Lady Selina Wellingham / Ian Thompson as The Reverend Horkesly / Barbara Bolton as Edna / Gillian Hawser as Nanny / Maxwell Shaw as Monsieur Defarge / Ursula Hirst as Auntie Em / Susan Field as Mrs Monger
A second season of the show was planned and indeed some preliminary location work was filmed (since wiped) but a major ITV technicians strike led to the cancellation of the series. Speaking at the time of the broadcast of the show Alderton, who was the catalyst for getting this series made, said he hoped that Thomas and Sarah would emigrate to the US which could then bring in an American TV Network and give the show a long run.
One interesting fact is that in one episode of Upstairs Downstairs (A Family Gathering) there was mention of Thomas and Sarah having married but in this series they are not and when the series begins Thomas is still a chauffeur and Sarah was living quietly in Surrey.
Writers: Terence Brady and Charlotte Bingham
Director: Christopher Hodson
First broadcast 14th January 1979
Info from:
www.memorablet...
and
www.imdb.com/t...
For trivia, goofs and character background for this episode, try this link:
www.updown.org...

[@FoogouFilms]

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[@Rome274]

Thanks for the upload . I felt that Sarah really made Upstairs Downstairs. She was such a character.

[@mprkg]

I was so glad when Sarah left. Her character was getting super annoying. I hated the episode where she pretended she was raped because she was pregant again. The series got so much better after Sarah left, Elizabeth left (She was supposedly fired), and Georgina and Hazel came on.

[@davidstevenson9517]

Pauline Collins performance as "Sarah" was so popular the producers had to keep writing the character back into the storyline. As for the "rape" episode refered to above, the scene where "Sarah" constructs an outrageous story to explain her condition and its dubious reception by "Hudson" and "Mrs Bridges" was hilarious. Watch your head in Rome, Anne Boleyn.

[@seastorm2194]

This is fabulous . I had no idea there was a spin-off to Upstairs Downstairs

[@davidstevenson9517]

Ditto, seastorm. Note the appearance of Jessica Benton in a leading role; she acted in the classic series "The Ondein Line", which in the 1970s was broadcast in tandem with "Upstairs Downstairs". Jessica Benton played "Elizabeth Onedin", the strong-willed sister of the main character, just as fiery and stubborn as her brother, always brewing up a storm around herself.

[@BillyHaydenscrazygrandkids]

​@@davidstevenson9517Onedin line was a popular series too

[@davidfogarty2220]

I'll be interested in watching this again. Although I do remember at the time it didn't make much of an impact with me. I remember one of the spin-offs they were considering from the excellent Upstairs Downstairs, was going to be Jackson and Mrs Bridges, he married her in the final episode, going off to start a boarding house somewhere on the Kent coast.

[@FoogouFilms]

I hope to be putting one up every Sunday. Will see what the response is. There was a good chemistry between them. THis came out quite a while after Upstairs Downstairs finished. I expect the makers felt there was sufficient residual interest. Though I don't think Jackson and Mrs Bridges would have really stood up. Perhaps only so much you can be entertained by a disapproving Scot regularly checking his pocket watch while Mrs Bridges stirs a pot of broth. Still, who know. You can get over a million views on here for opening a box!

[@davidfogarty2220]

@@FoogouFilms With poor old Ruby(she went off with them in the final series) flapping about and feeling the brunt of Mrs Bridges tongue for not peeling the potatoes properly.

[@Watermillfilms]

Who is Jackson? I’ve heard of Hudson but not a Jackson.

[@FoogouFilms]

@@Watermillfilms All I can think of is that Gordon Jackson played Hudson in Upstairs Downstairs - some kind of mistake?

[@Watermillfilms]

@@FoogouFilms fair. He and Mrs Bridges made that show.

[@TinaBUTCHER-ph1ph]

I was about 13 when UD and then Thomas and Sarah came on TV. I remember my very strict grandfather born in 1911 said to me 'in those days you would have had to be Ruby' when I asked if his family had all been Ruby he got very annoyed and replied 'of course not'. Our relationship took a downward turn when I finally said 'if your family werent Ruby then why would I, your family be Ruby? I would have been Sarah, actually, I AM Sarah'

[@FoogouFilms]

We must be of a similar age. Those are the sort of remarks I'd have come out with at the time! Thomas & Sarah striking out from the rigid conformity and social hierarchy of the era.

[@TinaBUTCHER-ph1ph]

@@FoogouFilms I'm 61, and my family never progressed from the victorian and Edwardian eras keeping those same attitudes even in the late 1970s, the character of Rose was one I was expected to emulate and I was the family disappointment which I actually accepted willingly. Sarah's life was filled with living on the edge of homelessness but she always managed to bounce back and onto another adventure

[@noyoutakethatback]

A spin off from Upstairs Downstairs.❤❤❤

[@shelleylake7636]

Thank you ❤

[@57143bodies]

Yep, Mr. Hudson correctly sized-up Thomas Wakins.

[@AngieSainty]

So did Ruby.

[@57143bodies]

You’re right! It was in the scullery when Ruby enlightened Joan.

[@AngieSainty]

@@57143bodies yes, she said Mr Watkins was not decent at all and he hit Sarah and Joan lamented on the wickedness of the world. I remember it being very poignant, in my young age .... like Ruby and Joan. I used to watch the show with my Mum, when I was a kid. In NZ. I really remember that bit because I did like Thomas and Sarah was my favourite. Funny what we remember.

[@kathreilly7050]

💜

[@AngieSainty]

Just watching this now. Ten minutes in. I was such a fan of Upstairs Downstairs. So Thomas is a Cad! I thought he married Sara .His Welsh accent and good looks made me think he was a decent Man. I don't think that baby is Sara's .... is he? I thought he must be the Mistress's baby. If he isn't, it will mean Sara lost two babies. :( I will continue to watch and see if Thomas redeems himself. lol

[@FoogouFilms]

I couldn't possibly say ;-)

[@AndreaMimi1984]

❤❤❤❤

[@kathysamuels1465]

Where is the rest of this series

[@FoogouFilms]

I'm putting them up every Sunday evening, around 8pm, UK time. 13 in all.

[@kathysamuels1465]

@FoogouFilms I'm enjoying them do much ..do you know is shine on harvey moon is available to watch on KZbin. It used to be on someone's playing and now it's of

[@FoogouFilms]

@@kathysamuels1465 Some of Series 3 of Harvey Moon on KZbin - link here: www.youtube.com/@TheBestOfRockRolls-s/search?query=harvey%20moon Just lately many series have been taken down by KZbin. I do have all the series on DVD, but the inlaws are borrowing them right now. When I get them back I'll think about uploading them. Sometimes though coypright prevents this.

[@FoogouFilms]

@@kathysamuels1465 First four episodes (Series 1) of Harvey Moon are here: kzbin.info/aero/PLXWpxMJoGxVQs-Sostc9_ziLeGKw_RjKs

[@kathysamuels1465]

@FoogouFilms aww thank you so much for finding some of harvey moon . I look forward to seeing more ..I saw it on dvd via amazon but it was expensive so I didn't get.. I really liked watching all the videos on ur page .thank you so much

[@douglasduff4466]

Not a patch on Upstairs Downstairs

[@FoogouFilms]

Personally , I had no expectation that it would. But still more watchable than much stuff out there. A good chemistry between the pair.

[@noyoutakethatback]

​They are husband and wife after all , why shouldn't they be good rapport❤❤❤❤​@@FoogouFilms

[@AngieSainty]

Thomas is a narcissist.

[@mprkg]

Thomas is not into Sarah at ALL