Thomas & Sarah

A Thoroughly Enjoyable "Spin Off" of a Classic Series!
Fans of Upstairs Downstairs (a series which I highly HIGHLY recommend, by the way) will be familiar with Sarah (Pauline Collins), the vivacious, conniving, mischievous, tale-telling under house/parlour maid who entered the Bellamys' employ in the first episode of that series, and who, like a bad penny, managed to turn up on the Bellamys' doorstep periodically during the first two series. Thomas (Collins' real-life husband, John Alderton) was the Bellamys' capable-but-just-as-conniving chauffeur. With a pregnant Sarah in tow, Thomas left the Bellamys' employ in order to start up his own garage, and we saw the last of those two characters at the end of the second series.

It is a good many months after their last appearance at 165 Eaton Place that this 1979 "spin off" commences. It really goes without saying that it is for fans of Upstairs Downstairs that Thomas and Sarah was made, and if you enjoyed the former series, the latter really is a must see. Unlike Upstairs...

A Delightful Spin-Off of Upstairs, Downstairs
Although I had seen all of "Upstairs, Downstairs," I didn't even know that "Thomas and Sarah" existed until I read about it as an offering from Edward Hamilton, Bookseller. He listed it for $20 so I immediately bought the DVDs.

I'm so glad I did. Within a few days, I'd watched the entire 12-episode season. "Upstairs, Downstairs" fans will already be well acquainted with Sarah, the under-house parlor maid, and Thomas, the chauffeur of the Bellamy residence.

This series, a spin-off, concerns the couple's further adventures. Each episode is completely different as they try to make a living in various occupations, often involving one mischievous scam or another. It's hardly surprising that Pauline Collins and John Alderton have perfect chemistry together, being husband and wife in real life, which makes whatever they do highly watchable. But no matter how outrageous or devious or cunning their frequently lawless activities on screen, their charm and likeability...

A Thoroughly Enjoyable "Spin Off" to a Classic Series!
Fans of Upstairs Downstairs (a series which I highly HIGHLY recommend, by the way) will be familiar with Sarah (Pauline Collins), the vivacious, conniving, mischievous, tale-telling under house/parlour maid who entered the Bellamys' employ in the first episode of that series, and who, like a bad penny, managed to turn up on the Bellamys' doorstep periodically during the first two series. Thomas (Collins' real-life husband, John Alderton) was the Bellamys' capable-but-just-as-conniving chauffeur. With a pregnant Sarah in tow, Thomas left the Bellamys' employ in order to start up his own garage, and we saw the last of those two characters at the end of the second series.

It is a good many months after their last appearance at 165 Eaton Place that this 1979 "spin off" commences. It really goes without saying that it is for fans of Upstairs Downstairs that Thomas and Sarah was made, and if you enjoyed the former series, the latter really is a must see. Unlike Upstairs...

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