The Duchess of Duke Street

Distant cousin to the BBC favorite Upstairs, Downstairs, the well-admired Duchess of Duke Street focuses on the lifelong struggles and successes of Louisa Trotter (Gemma Jones), a woman who starts out as a poor kitchen girl before gradually becoming a cook for the King himself. After her regal gig, Louisa becomes the most respected hotelier in England. As a ‘story of a lifetime’ piece of drama, this series succeeds resoundingly well, thanks in large part to Jones’ commanding performance and the typically English devotion to period design.