The Duchess of Duke Street
In Victorian London, Louisa Leyton works her way up from servant to renowned cook to proprietress of the upper-class Bentinck Hotel in Duke Street, St James's.
Cast: Gemma Jones
PGHDCC
15 episodes
- 1. A Present SovereignWanting to become an excellent cook, outspoken and ambitious Louisa Leyton persuades Monsieur Alex, a French chef working in the London home of Lord Henry Norton, to take her on as an assistant. Resented by other kitchen staff, Louisa bonds with Mary–target of their frequent malice–forms a friendship with butler Gus Trotter, and fends off attentions of the aristocratic Charlie Tyrrell. When Lord Henry unexpectedly returns during Monsieur Alex's holiday, Louisa must cook for a group that includes the Prince of Wales.PGCC50minSep 4, 1976
- 2. Honour and ObeyHardly flattered and severely compromised, Louisa has caught the eye of the Prince of Wales and is pressed into marrying Augustus Trotter.PGCC50minSep 11, 1976
- 3. A Nice Class of PremisesAll bets are off when HRH becomes His Majesty, King Edward VII and Louisa and Augustus must plan what lies ahead for them.PGCC50minSep 18, 1976
- 4. The BargainHeavily in debt, Louisa is on a juggernaut that lands in her in the hospital, after she collapses from exhaustion. But, that handsome devil and consoling angel, Charlie Tyrrell, devises a plan to save her hotel.PGCC50minSep 25, 1976
- 5. A Bed of RosesWith Charlie Tyrell now in residence as the first guest, the hotel is now officially open to the public. Louisa has set a high standard for herself and is relying on word of mouth among the right kind of people to bring in the clientèle. Charlie invites an attractive, but married, woman for dinner in his rooms only to have her leave when she realizes she is the only guest. He invites Louisa to join him and unexpectedly, they soon are lovers. When Charlie must leave for America, Louisa is heartbroken but she also is pregnant. At the appropriate time, she leaves the hotel with Mary in charge to go and give birth. Soon Charlie is back and completely unaware of what has been going on, tracks her down. He also has a proposition on how to care for their childPGCC50minOct 2, 1976
- 6. For Love or MoneyA con artist, posing as a Baron, dupes a greedy American guest and seduces a lonely young bride, as a vigilant and intrigued Louisa monitors his every move.PGCC50minOct 9, 1976
- 7. A Lady of VirtueA Liberal politician convinces a colleague that he can seduce a married lady of impeccable virtue.PGCC50minOct 16, 1976
- 8. Trouble and StrifeA woman from Starr's past, down on her luck, begs him to use his influence to obtain a job for her at the Bentinck.PGCC50minOct 23, 1976
- 9. The OutsidersWhen a kindly, but modest man asks for a room at the Bentinck Hotel, he is given the short shrift. However when Louisa and Charlie find out the reason for his visit, he is treated like a visiting dignitary.PGCC50minOct 30, 1976
- 10. Lottie's BoyA handsome young guest creates a rift between Mary and Louisa and persuades the Major to invest the remainder of his inheritance in a very risky venture.PGCC50minNov 6, 1976
- 11. No Letters, No LawyersA wily journalist poses as a temporary porter and gathers information on Louisa that could destroy her personal and professional life.PGCC50minNov 13, 1976
- 12. A Matter of HonourCharlie is shocked to learn that one of his closest friends, Lord Elleston, arranged for his horse to lose at Ascot.PGCC50minNov 20, 1976
- 13. One Night's GraceAll are intrigued when an attractive young lady asks to see Lord Haslemere -- who is she, what does she want, and more to the point, what is she after?PGCC50minNov 27, 1976
- 14. Plain SailingLouisa turns the air blue, but hardly a sedate navy, when she buys a summer resort adjacent to a posh private club at Cowes.PGCC50minDec 4, 1976
- 15. A Test of LoveWith the death of His Majesty, King Edward VII, an era ends for Britain and for Louisa Trotter. Pressing forward, however, Charlie Tyrell (Lord Haslemere) has proposed to lovely Margaret Rosslyn and the newlyweds leave the Bentinck to live in a suitable house and start a family.PGCC50minDec 11, 1976
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The Duchess of Duke Street
★ 8.0/1019762 seasons31 episodesEnded
In Victorian London, Louisa Leyton works her way up from servant to renowned cook to proprietress of the upper-class Bentinck Hotel in Duke Street, St James's.
Creators and cast
- Created by
- John Hawkesworth
- Cast
- Gemma Jones
- Studio
- BBC
