Cult Corner: ‘The Duchess of Duke Street’ Is A Sexed Up 1970s ‘Downton Abbey’

When we talk about streaming culture, we’re usually enthusing about what’s new, but one of the best things about streaming is how it’s made old and obscure cult hits available to a new generation. Presenting Cult Corner: your weekly look into hidden gems and long-lost curiosities that you can find on streaming.

When Downton Abbey debuted six years ago, it electrified audiences with its soapy storylines and ferocious female characters. Until then, most Americans thought that British costume dramas were sweet, sleepy affairs filled with tepid balls and clattering china. Downton Abbey capitalized on these clichés and surprised viewers with storylines that subverted expectations.

The thing is Downton Abbey isn’t all that original. Besides cribbing from such classics as Upstairs, Downstairs, The Forsyte Saga, and The Buccaneers, creator Julian Fellowes also stole from a now little known 1970s drama called The Duchess of Duke Street.

The Duchess of Duke Street was the brainchild of 1970s British television mastermind John Hawkesworth. Coincidentally, he was also the man who created Upstairs, Downstairs. Wikipedia tells me that his “fiercely snobbish” wife Hyacinth’s nickname was “Pussy.” This has nothing to do with The Duchess of Duke Street, but I think it bears mentioning, don’t you? Hawkesworth based The Duchess of Duke Street on the real-life story of Rosa Lewis, a female chef who gained renown for her cooking and high profile affairs in the 1910s. In The Duchess of Duke Street, she is renamed Louisa Leyton and, boy, is she a character.

When we meet Louisa (played by Gemma Jones), it’s immediately clear that she’s not your typical period drama lead. In fact, she might even be controversial in a modern setting. You see, Louisa is a cocky little upstart. She’s a lowerclass girl with dreams of greatness and nothing is going to stand in her way. She fumes, she flirts, and she refuses to be ignored. She’s also incredibly hard-working and talented. This, combined with her Gibson Girl looks makes her stand out in the upscale 1900s kitchen where she’s employed as a fancy French chef’s assistant. The kitchen maids gossip about her and call her a slut out of jealousy and the men of the house — both upstairs and downstairs — want to pounce. She’s against engaging in a tryst, but it’s clear that it’s not out of desire. This is a woman of profound vanity and she’s not averse to sexual desire; she’s averse to having her reputation sullied on her way to the top.

Immediately, a hiccup pops up in the guise of an opportunity: The Prince of Wales wants to make her his chef and mistress. To make this acceptable, she is coerced into marrying her co-worker (and platonic friend). From there, the story spirals into one of intrigue, jealousy, and dueling desires. Louisa wants to have it all and her husband wants her to just be his wife.

It’s the kind of stuff that would fit neatly into a Shondaland show. In fact, the one thing I kept thinking as I watched it was, “Why haven’t they made a super steamy remake of this yet?” British television is constantly recycling costume dramas with new casts and bigger budgets and The Duchess of Duke Street is ripe for revisiting. Which isn’t to say that you shouldn’t visit the original right now. The first season — which is 15 hour-plus episodes long — is streaming on Prime Video. There are only two drawbacks to checking it out: One, many TV nerds I know find it difficult watching highly theatrical, low budget ’70s British shows, and two, when you do eventually get sucked in, you won’t be able to catch the second season.

[Watch Season One of The Duchess of Duke Street on Prime Video]