The Joy Ride
Encyclopedia
The Joy Ride is the fourth episode of the fifth and final series of the period drama
Upstairs, Downstairs
. It first aired on 28 September 1975 on ITV
.
had written a script called The Price of Rubies, which would have shown James Bellamy gambling and getting involved with an unsuitable woman. However, for an unknown reason, this was quickly dropped and in the space of one long weekend Alfred Shaughnessy
produced The Joy Ride. A later episode, An Old Flame
, was written by John Hawkesworth
and its storyline was similar to The Price of Rubies.
to buy himself an Avro 504
aeroplane for £375. He has been taking flying lessons at Brooklands
. On a clear, sunny day, James invites Virginia to go to Brooklands with him and he will take her flying. However, Richard wants her sit in the Strangers Gallery
in the House of Lords
while he delivers an important speech, and then to go to tea with him and some friends afterwards. However, Virginia decides to go with James, and Richard is visibly annoyed with this decision, and with his son's use of money.
At very short notice, Lady Prudence instead accompanies Richard to the Lords'. When they return to 165, Eaton Place at 6.15pm, James and Virginia are still not home. Not long after, Richard rings Brooklands, who then tell him that the two are missing. By 8.00pm that evening the news has reached the front page of The Evening News
. The article suggests that there is something going on between James and Virginia. Lady Prudence insists on staying with Richard, and both sleep in the Morning Room. In the morning, Richard is told by telephone that the two are safe and well. Their plane landed on mudflat
s at Poole Harbour
last night having gone the wrong way, and had to spend the night in the plane. In the morning, they had walked to Bournemouth
and reported the accident. The same day they return to London
by train, and Richard and Virginia make up.
Period piece
-Setting:In the performing arts, a period piece is a work set in a particular era. This informal term covers all countries, all periods and all genres...
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...
. It first aired on 28 September 1975 on 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...
.
Background
The Joy Ride was recorded in the studio on 20 and 21 February 1975. Originally, Elizabeth Jane HowardElizabeth Jane Howard
Elizabeth Jane Howard, CBE is an English novelist. She was previously an actress and a model.In 1951 she won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize for her first novel, The Beautiful Visit...
had written a script called The Price of Rubies, which would have shown James Bellamy gambling and getting involved with an unsuitable woman. However, for an unknown reason, this was quickly dropped and in the space of one long weekend Alfred Shaughnessy
Alfred Shaughnessy
Alfred James Shaughnessy , sometimes known as Freddy Shaughnessy, was an English scriptwriter and producer best known for being the script editor of Upstairs, Downstairs.-Early life:...
produced The Joy Ride. A later episode, An Old Flame
An Old Flame
An Old Flame is the sixth episode of the fifth and final series of the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs. It first aired on 12 October 1975 on ITV.-Background:...
, was written by John Hawkesworth
John Hawkesworth (producer)
John Hawkesworth was an English television and film producer and writer best known for his work on the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs.-Early life:...
and its storyline was similar to The Price of Rubies.
Cast
- David LangtonDavid LangtonDavid Muir Langton was a British actor who is best remembered for playing Richard Bellamy in the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs.-Early years:...
- Richard Bellamy - Simon WilliamsSimon Williams (actor)Simon Williams is an English actor known for playing James Bellamy in the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs. Frequently playing upper-class roles, he is also known for playing Dr...
- James BellamyJames BellamyMajor 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... - Hannah GordonHannah GordonHannah Cambell Grant Gordon is a Scottish actress who is well known in the United Kingdom for her television work, including Upstairs, Downstairs, Telford's Change, My Wife Next Door, Joint Account and an appearance in the final episode of One Foot in the Grave.-Early life:Gordon was born in...
- Virginia Bellamy - Jean MarshJean MarshJean Lyndsey Torren Marsh is an English actress, occasional screenwriter, and co-creator of the television series Upstairs, Downstairs and The House of Eliott....
- Rose - Gordon JacksonGordon 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....
- HudsonAngus HudsonAngus Hudson was a fictional character in the ITV drama Upstairs, Downstairs, portrayed by actor Gordon Jackson from 1971 until 1975.-Biography:... - Joan BenhamJoan BenhamJoan Benham was an English actress best known for her portrayal of Lady Prudence Fairfax in the ITV period drama series Upstairs, Downstairs...
- Lady Prudence Fairfax - Gareth HuntGareth HuntAlan Leonard Hunt was an English actor, known as Gareth Hunt, best remembered for playing the footman Frederick Norton in Upstairs, Downstairs and Mike Gambit in The New Avengers.-Early life:...
- Frederick - Karen DotriceKaren DotriceKaren Dotrice is an English actress known primarily for her role as Jane Banks in Walt Disney's feature film adaptation of the Mary Poppins book series. Dotrice was born in Guernsey to two accomplished stage actors...
- Lily - Jenny TomasinJenny TomasinJenny Tomasin is an English actress best known for her roles in Upstairs, Downstairs and Emmerdale.-Career:Tomasin became well known in the early 1970s when she joined the cast of Upstairs, Downstairs as kitchen maid Ruby. She stayed with the series until the end in 1975, appearing in 41 episodes...
- Ruby
Plot
It is Autumn 1921, and following the death of his aunt Kate, Lady Castleton, James uses some of the money he has been given in her willWill (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
to buy himself an Avro 504
Avro 504
The Avro 504 was a World War I biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the War totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in World War I, in any military capacity, during...
aeroplane for £375. He has been taking flying lessons at Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
. On a clear, sunny day, James invites Virginia to go to Brooklands with him and he will take her flying. However, Richard wants her sit in the Strangers Gallery
Strangers Gallery
The Strangers' Gallery is set aside for members of the public at the British House of Commons, and is intended for both invited and uninvited members of the public to watch the proceedings of the House. A similar gallery exists in the House of Lords. Members of the public may obtain tickets from...
in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
while he delivers an important speech, and then to go to tea with him and some friends afterwards. However, Virginia decides to go with James, and Richard is visibly annoyed with this decision, and with his son's use of money.
At very short notice, Lady Prudence instead accompanies Richard to the Lords'. When they return to 165, Eaton Place at 6.15pm, James and Virginia are still not home. Not long after, Richard rings Brooklands, who then tell him that the two are missing. By 8.00pm that evening the news has reached the front page of The Evening News
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
. The article suggests that there is something going on between James and Virginia. Lady Prudence insists on staying with Richard, and both sleep in the Morning Room. In the morning, Richard is told by telephone that the two are safe and well. Their plane landed on mudflat
Mudflat
Mudflats or mud flats, also known as tidal flats, are coastal wetlands that form when mud is deposited by tides or rivers. They are found in sheltered areas such as bays, bayous, lagoons, and estuaries. Mudflats may be viewed geologically as exposed layers of bay mud, resulting from deposition of...
s at Poole Harbour
Poole Harbour
Poole Harbour is a large natural harbour in Dorset, southern England, with the town of Poole on its shores. The harbour is a drowned valley formed at the end of the last ice age and is the estuary of several rivers, the largest being the Frome. The harbour has a long history of human settlement...
last night having gone the wrong way, and had to spend the night in the plane. In the morning, they had walked to Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
and reported the accident. The same day they return to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
by train, and Richard and Virginia make up.