Laura Haddock joins Upstairs Downstairs

Upstairs DownstairsActress Laura Haddock is to join the cast of Upstairs Downstairs as a maid.

The Sun reports that the actress will join the cast of the BBC period drama for its second series playing maid Beryl Ballard. The actress told the paper “I loved the first series. My character Beryl Ballard is set to shake things up in the house.” The Sun also reports that American actor Michael Landes is also to join the cast of Upstairs Downstairs as Caspar Landry.

Laura Haddock’s most recent role was in the Inbetweeners movie and Sky One drama Strike Back. Haddock played Samantha in the comedy How Not to Live Your Life and Natasha in Monday Monday. Michael Landes has appeared in a variety of films and dramas including Material Girl, New Tricks, Boston Legal, Love Soup and Final Destination 2.

Earlier this week it was announced that Jean Marsh would miss the start of Upstairs Downstairs‘ second season because of a minor stroke. Over the summer actress Dame Eileen Atkins quit the BBC drama reportedly because she was unhappy with the scripts. Doctor Who and ER actress Alex Kingston will join the cast as the sister of Atkins’ character. Filming is due to begin shortly on the second series at the BBC’s new Cardiff studios, Roath Lock.