“WHAT I’ve had once or twice is people saying:

‘Oh, hello. I know you…what’s your name again?’

“I say, ‘Rowan Atkinson.’

“And they say, ‘No, no, no.’

“A most peculiar idea where you tell people your name and they don’t believe you.

“Or they assume you’re joking. That you’ve made something up.

“For your identity to be denied to your face is potentially quite disturbing.”

Rowan Atkinson talking to me about his experiences on public transport.

Keeley Hawes and Ed Stoppard as Lady Agnes and Sir Hallam.

“THIS is London…”

A BBC Radio announcer and the chimes of Big Ben herald the return of Upstairs Downstairs.

Its first full BBC1 series following the three episodes screened at Christmas 2010.

Keeley Hawes (Lady Agnes Holland) and Ed Stoppard (Sir Hallam Holland) again lead the line upstairs at 165 Eaton Place.

With Alex Kingston arriving in episode one as Dr Blanche Mottershead, the younger sister of Lady Holland.

Keeley Hawes and Ed Stoppard

“AT first we thought that was a bit of a bore, quite frankly.

“As it happens, I think they’ve laid out the ground very nicely for us.”

Dame Eileen Atkins speaking at the British Film Institute in London last night about Downton Abbey.

Taking part in a panel Q&A following a screening of the first episode of BBC1’s revival of Upstairs Downstairs.