Emilia Fox and Sarah Lancashire to join Upstairs Downstairs

Emilia Fox in MerlinEmilia Fox and Sarah Lancashire will appear in the forthcoming second season of BBC One’s revived Upstairs Downstairs, it has been reported.

Fox is the star of fellow BBC One series Silent Witness and has also guest starred in Saturday evening drama Merlin amongst her various other roles. It has been revealed the actress will appear in the second season of Upstairs Downstairs which is due to return to BBC One in February. It has also been revealed that former Clocking Off and Coronation Street actress Sarah Lancashire will also appear in the new season.

‘They’re both playing women! I’m choosing things very carefully. You’ll meet Emilia first and Sarah comes in later. I think it’s not giving too much away to say that Emilia connects with the upstairs world of 165 and [Lancashire’s character] connects with the downstairs world of 165.’ Writer Heidi Thomas as quoted by Digital Spy

The second series will see Alex Kingston join the cast as Blanche Mottershead, the younger sister of Lady Maud Holland (Dame Eileen Atkins) who will not feature in the second series. Also joining for the second series will be Laura Haddock, Michael Landes and Kenneth Cranham. Actress Jean Marsh will be absent from part of the series due to suffering a minor stroke just before production on the early episodes began.