Ever since Downton Abbey first arrived onto our screens it appears that we are in the middle of a costume drama resurgence. In the past few months we’ve had Mr Selfridge, Ripper Street, The Paradise as well as Downton Abbey’s staggeringly successful third series. Now we add to this BBC1′s The Lady Vanishes an adaptation of The Wheel Spins by Ethel Lena White however this isn’t the first time the story has been bought to the screen. In fact most people will know The Lady Vanishes best as a 1938 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and was later remade in 1979. This latest adaptation claims to modernise the story however I personally feel that nothing new was really offered here.

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It’s been revealed today that former Upstairs Downstairs star Keeley Hawes has signed up to appear in a new Mitchell and Webb BBC2 comedy drama, Our Men.

She’s set to play the role of Jennifer, the long-suffering wife of British ambassador Keith Davies, who’s played by David Mitchell. The show focuses on his posting to the fictional country of Tazbekistan.

Mitchell’s writing partner Robert Webb will play the diplomat’s right-hand man, Deputy Head of Mission Neil Tilly.

The show will also star Monroe actress Susan Lynch and Rev star Tom Hollander, who plays the role of Prince Mark, a “minor member” of the Royal family who’s on a mission to secure an important oil contract for Britain. Read more & comment »

BBC News report today that former Upstairs Downstairs star Keeley Hawes will star in a made-for-TV adaptation of classic whodunit The Lady Vanishes this Christmas.

The star studded cast of the big budget drama also includes Stephanie Cole – who is of course currently starring in Corrie as battleaxe Sylvia, who is Roy Cropper’s mum – and Spooks star, Gemma Jones.

The 90 minutes thrill also boasts The Green Wing’s Julian Rhind-Tutt and Tuppence Middleton of The Spies Of Warsaw fame. Doc Martin’s Selina Cadell will also appear, as will Silk’s Tom Hughes.

Originally directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1938, the thriller has been adapted for TV by Fiona Seres.

The drama tells the story of wealthy young 1930s socialite Iris Carr, who discovers that a woman has disappeared from the train she’s travelling on during a trip across Europe… Read more & comment »

Upstairs Downstairs star Keeley Hawes has hit back at reports in the media that have suggested the number of people watching the show is declining.

Keeley, who plays Lady Agnes, claimed that the viewing figures for the BBC1 show were “healthy” after it was reported that the show had lost around 1.5million viewers.

Speaking to What’s On TV, she said, “We only have the consolidated figures for the first episode and we got eight million.

“So I think, on a normal day, without the juggernauts that have been coming about recently on TV, I think that’s pretty respectable. Very healthy indeed…” Read more & comment »

As fans of period drama Upstairs Downstairs will know, it’s back on our screens next Sunday, and today, What’s On TV have an interview with one of the show’s star, Keeley Hawes, about what lies ahead in the new series.

Keeley, who plays Lady Agnes Holland, also discussed some of the new characters who we’ll meet when we return to 165 Eaton Place.

However, Keeley began by saying that filming without Dame Eileen Atkins – who co-created the original ‘70s show – had been “odd.”

She said, “It was very odd at first. One of the first scenes this series is of Lady Maud Holland’s ashes going up onto the fireplace so it was embedded quite early on that she wasn’t going to appear.

“But that’s the nature of this job; people move on and new people come in.”

Keeley – who’s also starred in Spooks and Ashes to Ashes – was then asked about Alex Kingston’s character, Dr Blanche Mottershead, who is a newcomer this series.

She said, “Blanche is very forward-thinking and a real free spirit, who shows Lady Agnes a more modern way of doing things… Read more & comment »

Actress Keeley Hawes has revealed that landing a role on period drama Upstairs Downstairs is her “dream job”, because she gets to wear vintage costumes.

Keeley, who plays Lady Agnes Holland BBC One drama told the PA, “It is a dream job. Going to the costumiers where they bring you all the original 1930s and 1940s clothes, and you’re trying them on and making them fit… it’s a dream.”

And of the fact that the first series of Upstairs Downstairs was compared to ITV1′s Downton Abbey, Keeley hopes that the new series will differentiate the shows further.

She said, “I think it was quite difficult to judge them against each other before, because we only had three episodes and they had eight… Read more & comment »

The BBC has announced a stellar line-up of acting talent to accompany Dame Eileen Atkins and Jean Marsh in the hugely anticipated revival of the legendary TV series Upstairs Downstairs.

Keeley Hawes (Ashes To Ashes, Spooks), Ed Stoppard (Brideshead Revisited) Anne Reid (Bleak House, Dinnerladies), Claire Foy (Little Dorrit), Adrian Scarborough (Gavin & Stacey, Cranford) and Art Malik (10 Days To War, Holby City) will all be entering through the doors of the iconic 165 Eaton Place. Also joining the cast are Ellie Kendrick (Diary Of Anne Frank) and Nico Mirallegro (Hollyoaks).‬

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Ashes to Ashes star Keeley Hawes has revealed that she was robbed of thousands of pounds when fraudsters used her credit cards.

The revelation came as she was discussing her role in a new ITV drama, Identity, in which she portrays a police officer investigating fraud.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Keeley said, “I myself have been affected at the most basic level.

“I’ve been called by my bank asking if I’m in Spain as someone has stolen my details and is spending willy-nilly across the Costa Brava.

“Another time someone stole a credit card while working in my home and got away with using it for two months.

“They spent £7,000 in Tesco. I mean, how do you do that? I was quite impressed with that when it all came out… Read more & comment »

Ashes To Ashes actor Marshall Lancaster has revealed that he has a crush his frizzy haired co-star Keeley Hawes.

Lancaster plays DC Chris Skelton on the BBC One drama, and admitted that the thought of Keeley in the bath put him off his patter during a recent scene.

Speaking to the Daily Star, he explained: “She told me she got stung by a bee and had to sit in a bath of camomile. I went to deliver a line and just fluffed it. I was just thinking about Keeley in the bath.”

Ashes to Ashes actress Keeley Hawes has revealed that she would never step into another actors shoes again.

Keeley took over on the Life On Mars spinoff show from actor John Simm and faced numerous bad reviews for her trouble.

“I’d never do it again, I’d never step into somebody else’s shoes,” she told the Times.

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Ashes To Ashes star Keeley Hawes has revealed that her co-star Philip Glenister saved the day during filming for the new series after the brakes failed on the infamous Quattro.

The actress who plays DI Alex Drake, told The Sun: “We were all in the car and heading towards the end of the road, in the rain, when suddenly the brakes wouldn’t work.”

Keeley added: “It was a hairy moment but Phil is a very good driver and managed to stop the car. So we are all still here — thank God.”