The Duchess of Duke Street

1976 - 1977 TV-PG 50m 8.3

Louisa Trotter works her way up from being a skivvy to being the queen of cooks, cook to the King, and owner of the Bentinck Hotel. Her life and happenings among the guests and staff of the hotel make up the 31 episodes.

Louisa is an ordinary girl living in Victorian London. She is looking for a job, and ends up talking her way into the kitchen of a Lord's townhouse. The Lord has a rather snooty French chef. Louisa quickly develops a strong desire to become a top cook, although women back then were not chefs. Through hard work and sheer determination she wins over the chef and he begins to teach her his art. She quickly proves that she has a huge talent in the art of cooking. This brings her to the attention of three very different men, all of which will play huge but very different roles in her future. Partly because of whom she knows, but mostly by her own extremely strong will and work ethic, she goes on to be very successful in a time when independent women were something of an oddity.

The Duchess of Duke Street background

Episodes:

Episode 1 A Present Sovereign

1. A Present Sovereign

Aired: Sep 4, 1976

A feisty, determined, kind hearted young woman embarks on her career 'to be t...

Episode 2 Honour and Obey

2. Honour and Obey

Aired: Sep 11, 1976

Hardly flattered and severely compromised, Louisa has caught the eye of the P...

Episode 4 The Bargain

4. The Bargain

Aired: Sep 25, 1976

Heavily in debt, Louisa is on a juggernaut that lands in her in the hospital,...

Episode 5 A Bed of Roses

5. A Bed of Roses

Aired: Oct 2, 1976

With Charlie Tyrell now in residence as the first guest, the hotel is now off...

Episode 6 For Love or Money

6. For Love or Money

Aired: Oct 9, 1976

A con artist, posing as a Baron, dupes a greedy American guest and seduces a ...

Episode 7 A Lady of Virtue

7. A Lady of Virtue

Aired: Oct 16, 1976

A Liberal politician convinces a colleague that he can seduce a married lady ...

Episode 8 Trouble and Strife

8. Trouble and Strife

Aired: Oct 23, 1976

A woman from Starr's past, down on her luck, begs him to use his influence to...

Episode 9 The Outsiders

9. The Outsiders

Aired: Oct 30, 1976

When a kindly, but modest man asks for a room at the Bentinck Hotel, he is gi...

Episode 10 Lottie's Boy

10. Lottie's Boy

Aired: Nov 5, 1976

A handsome young guest creates a rift between Mary and Louisa and persuades t...

Episode 12 A Matter of Honour

12. A Matter of Honour

Aired: Nov 19, 1976

Charlie is shocked to learn that one of his closest friends, Lord Elleston, a...

Episode 13 One Night's Grace

13. One Night's Grace

Aired: Nov 26, 1976

All are intrigued when an attractive young lady asks to see Lord Haslemere --...

Episode 14 Plain Sailing

14. Plain Sailing

Aired: Dec 3, 1976

Louisa turns the air blue, but hardly a sedate navy, when she buys a summer r...

Episode 15 A Test of Love

15. A Test of Love

Aired: Dec 10, 1976

With the death of His Majesty, King Edward VII, an era ends for Britain and f...

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Info about The Duchess of Duke Street

Current Status: Ended

Network: BBC One

Genres: Drama