7.6/10214 votes#1 - On Trial
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/10/1971
November 1903: Clemence, young and inexperienced, is hired on a trial basis by Lady Marjorie, who decides Clemence is not an appropriate name for someone in service and changes it to Sarah. Being far too outspoken and having a tendency towards over exaggeration and drama, Sarah struggles to fit in and become accepted by the other servants.
Director: Raymond Menmuir
Writer: Fay Weldon
- 7.7/10168 votes
#2 - The Mistress and the Maids
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/17/1971
June 1904: An artist, commissioned to paint Lady Marjorie's portrait, takes a shine to Sarah and convinces her to pose for him. The painting, depicting Sarah and her roommate, is a bit racy, and when the Bellamy's see it in a public exhibit, they fire both girls for what they wrongly conclude is "questionable behaviour."
Director: Derek Bennett
Writer: Alfred Shaughnessy
- 7.5/10147 votes
#3 - Board Wages
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/24/1971
August 1904: Finding themselves alone and having the run of the house, the junior servants indulge in a night of wild partying. When James, the Bellamy's son, show up unexpectedly, the party takes an unusual turn, causing Sarah to reevaluate her life. Unhappy with what she sees, she makes a monumental decision that will alter her course forever.
Director: Derek Bennett
Writer: Charlotte Bingham, Terence Brady
- 7.8/10134 votes
#4 - The Path of Duty
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/31/1971
May 1905: When Elizabeth returns home from abroad, her parents plan her debut into society, but the spirited young girl has little interest. She reluctantly agrees, but at the last moment, has a change of heart and flees. Rose, more like a sister than a servant, steps up and makes the girl see the situation in another light.
Director: Joan Kemp-Welch
Writer: John Harrison
- 8.1/10149 votes
#5 - A Suitable Marriage
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/7/1971
December 1905: Elizabeth falls for a young German baron, whom her father is suspicious of. Richard quickly uncovers the Baron's secret, but as it turns out, Baron Klaus von Rimmer is hiding another secret, which Rose accidentally stumbles upon. The events of the evening compel one of the servants to betray not only the family, but the country as well.
Director: Joan Kemp-Welch
Writer: Jeremy Paul
- 8.1/10140 votes
#6 - A Cry for Help
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/14/1971
October 1906: Mary, the new housemaid confides in Richard that she's pregnant, the result of an assault by a man who drunkenly forced himself on her. Insisting he must bear responsibility, she reveals the man is Myles Radford, the son of Richard's friend (and her previous employer), General Radford. Myles, outraged that Richard has the gall to question his integrity, gets even with a classless move that could have enormous legal, financial, and moral ramifications.
Director: Derek Bennett
Writer: Julian Bond
- 8.2/10155 votes
#7 - Magic Casements
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 1/23/1972
Summer 1906: Captain Hammond, a handsome young friend of James', graciously agrees to escort Lady Marjorie to the opera. Feeling a strong mutual attraction, they quickly realize how compatible they are, despite the age difference, Abuzz with gossip, the servants seem to be the only ones aware of what's going on.
Director: Joan Kemp-Welch
Writer: John Hawkesworth
- 8.6/10166 votes
#8 - I Dies from Love
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 1/30/1972
April 1907: Believing destiny brought them together, Emily, the scruffy kitchen maid, falls deeply and hopelessly in love with a footman named William. When his mistress, Mrs. Van Groeben, learns about his relationship with Emily, she angrily orders William to stop seeing her, leaving Emily heartbroken and driven to an act of desperation.
Director: Raymond Menmuir
Writer: Charlotte Bingham, Terence Brady
- 8.3/10139 votes
#9 - Why is Her Door Locked?
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 2/6/1972
November 1907: Everyone's been concerned about Mrs. Bridges, who's been despondent ever since Emily's suicide, but when they discover she took a baby from his pram when his mother wasn't looking, and brought him home with her, they realize she's suffering from a mental breakdown. Hoping to keep the incident quiet and protect everyone's reputations, the Bellamys return the baby to his parents and offer compensation, but refuse to divulge Mrs. Bridges' identity. The father, furious that they consider themselves above the law, has Mrs. Bridges arrested and during her hearing, Hudson makes an extraordinary gesture he hopes will keep her out of prison.
Director: Brian Parker
Writer: Alfred Shaughnessy
- 7.6/10123 votes
#10 - A Voice from the Past
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 2/13/1972
Autumn 1908: While providing food for the homeless, James and Elizabeth are surprised to run into Sara whose been living on the street. Elizabeth insists on taking her back to Eaton Place where she's given a job as a scullery maid. Sarah immediately reverts back to her old tricks and, claiming to be a medium, causes an uproar when she tries to conjure up the spirit of Emily during a seance.
Director: Raymond Menmuir
Writer: Jeremy Paul
- 5.5/10173 votes
#11 - The Swedish Tiger
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 2/20/1972
James is visited by his friend Axel Ryttsen, a Swedish Army captain who lives for taking risks. With him is his valet, the handsome and charismatic Torkel Kraft. There is some scheming going on the manor house during their visit, but to what end?
Director: Brian Parker
Writer: N/A
- 7.3/10128 votes
#12 - The Key of the Door
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 2/27/1972
Winter 1908: Elizabeth befriends a bunch of Bohemian-types, but is drawn to two in particular: Evelyn Larkin, a radical Socialist extremist, and her lover, Lawrence Kirbridge, a handsome, free-spirited poet. On the eve of her 21st birthday, with her parents out of town, Lizzy invites the entire group to Eaton Place, and is humiliated when the Bellamys return home unexpectedly and throw everyone out. Anxious to prove she's nothing like her parents, Lizzy is compelled to do something extreme, leading to a falling out with her parents and a harsh discovery about Evelyn.
Director: Raymond Menmuir
Writer: Alfred Shaughnessy, John Hawkesworth
- 7.8/10120 votes
#13 - For Love of Love
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 3/5/1972
June 1909: Elizabeth and Lawrence Kirbridge have fallen in love and, refusing to conform to society's rules, announce their plan to live together without marriage, resulting in pressure from all sides. After Lawrence gives in and starts pressuring her too, Lizzie finally succumbs. Meanwhile, Sarah fulfills her dream to perform on the stage when she takes a job in a burlesque show. James shows up and, now that she no longer works for his family, wants to pursue the relationship they've both wanted for nearly six years.
Director: Herbert Wise
Writer: Rosemary Anne Sisson
The Best Episodes of Upstairs, Downstairs Season 1
Every episode of Upstairs, Downstairs Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Upstairs, Downstairs Season 1!
Upstairs: the wealthy, aristocratic Bellamys. Downstairs: their loyal and lively servants. For nearly 30 years, they share a fashionable townhouse at 165 Eaton Place in...
Genre:Drama
Network:ITV1
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"On Trial" is the best rated episode of "Upstairs, Downstairs" season 1. It scored 7.6/10 based on 214 votes. Directed by Raymond Menmuir and written by Fay Weldon, it aired on 10/10/1971. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "The Mistress and the Maids".