Angus Hudson
Encyclopedia
Angus Hudson was a fictional character
in the ITV
drama Upstairs, Downstairs
, portrayed by actor Gordon Jackson
from 1971 until 1975.
butler of the Richard Bellamy household at 165 Eaton Place, Belgravia, London, England. Hudson was a featured character in sixty episodes from 1971 until 1975 (1903 — 1930 in the series' timeline; although it was later established that both Hudson and Mrs. Kate Bridges the cook had served the Bellamys since the late 1870s or early 1880s, being there before the subsequent births of both James Bellamy
and Elizabeth Bellamy
). This would make sense as Lady Marjorie makes reference to Hudson as being a 'young footman' on her family's estate; there is also reference to Mrs. Bridges' being there at the same time. However, in one of the earlier episodes when Mrs. Bridges is taken to court, Hudson states from the witness box that he has known Mrs. Bridges for twelve years; given that the Bellamy children are aged around 24 and 17 in that episode, this casts some doubt.
He was the Leader of the Servant Staff which was initially Mrs. Bridges (whom he ultimately married in the final episode of the series), Irish kitchen maid Emily, eccentric footman Alfred Harris, pragmatic head house parlour-maid (and later lady's maid) Rose Buck, mischievous under house parlour-maid Sarah Moffat
, coachman Pearce and Lady Marjorie
's lady's maid Maude Roberts. Later servants to come under his authority (and his stern affection) include replacement footman Edward Barnes, replacement parlour-maid Daisy Peel/Barnes and replacement kitchen maid Ruby Finch.
in 1975 for the episode The Beastly Hun
.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
drama Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs is a British drama television series originally produced by London Weekend Television and revived by the BBC. It ran on ITV in 68 episodes divided into five series from 1971 to 1975, and a sixth series shown on the BBC on three consecutive nights, 26–28 December 2010.Set in a...
, portrayed by actor Gordon Jackson
Gordon Jackson (actor)
Gordon Cameron Jackson, OBE was a Scottish Emmy Award-winning actor best remembered for his roles as the butler Angus Hudson in Upstairs, Downstairs and George Cowley, the head of CI5, in The Professionals....
from 1971 until 1975.
Biography
Hudson was the authoritarian ScottishScottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
butler of the Richard Bellamy household at 165 Eaton Place, Belgravia, London, England. Hudson was a featured character in sixty episodes from 1971 until 1975 (1903 — 1930 in the series' timeline; although it was later established that both Hudson and Mrs. Kate Bridges the cook had served the Bellamys since the late 1870s or early 1880s, being there before the subsequent births of both James Bellamy
James Bellamy
Major The Honourable James Rupert Bellamy MC is a fictional character in the ITV period drama Upstairs, Downstairs, that was originally broadcast for five series from 1971 to 1975...
and Elizabeth Bellamy
Elizabeth Bellamy
Elizabeth Kirbridge is a fictional character in the ITV period drama Upstairs, Downstairs, that was originally broadcast for five series from 1971 to 1975. She was portrayed by Nicola Pagett....
). This would make sense as Lady Marjorie makes reference to Hudson as being a 'young footman' on her family's estate; there is also reference to Mrs. Bridges' being there at the same time. However, in one of the earlier episodes when Mrs. Bridges is taken to court, Hudson states from the witness box that he has known Mrs. Bridges for twelve years; given that the Bellamy children are aged around 24 and 17 in that episode, this casts some doubt.
Personality
Hudson was a well-educated man from a working class background; and although a bit bigoted in some of his attitudes (particularly towards Germans), he was essentially a fair, just and good-hearted man. He displays, on occasions, a sense of humour and could be seen joking with the other staff and even discussing football matches with Edward the footman. His talents lay in the organisation of the staff, his theological knowledge and also his fine handwriting, considered to be a great art, as demonstrated each Christmas when sending cards to friends and his brother in Scotland. He was depicted as an exemplary butler (although he was shown eavesdropping on phone calls), and his loyalty towards the Bellamy Family was without question. This was just as well, for the Bellamy Family had a number of shocking (by early twentieth century standards) secrets.He was the Leader of the Servant Staff which was initially Mrs. Bridges (whom he ultimately married in the final episode of the series), Irish kitchen maid Emily, eccentric footman Alfred Harris, pragmatic head house parlour-maid (and later lady's maid) Rose Buck, mischievous under house parlour-maid Sarah Moffat
Sarah Moffat
Sarah Moffat , also known as Sarah Delice and Clémence Dumas, is a fictional character in the ITV drama Upstairs, Downstairs and its spin-off Thomas & Sarah...
, coachman Pearce and Lady Marjorie
Lady Marjorie Bellamy
The Lady Marjorie Helen Sybil Bellamy was a fictional character in the ITV drama Upstairs, Downstairs...
's lady's maid Maude Roberts. Later servants to come under his authority (and his stern affection) include replacement footman Edward Barnes, replacement parlour-maid Daisy Peel/Barnes and replacement kitchen maid Ruby Finch.
Awards
Gordon Jackson, who portrayed Hudson, won the British Actor of the Year award in 1974 and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting ActorPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor - Drama Series
This is a list of winners of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, and Outstanding Guest Supporting Actor.-Award winners:1970s*1975: Patrick McGoohan – Columbo: By Dawn's Early Light...
in 1975 for the episode The Beastly Hun
The Beastly Hun
The Beastly Hun is the third episode of the fourth series of the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs. It first aired on 28 September 1974 on ITV.-Background:The Beastly Hun was recorded on 2 and 3 May 1974...
.