Tamsin Greig: ‘People live with secrets and lies in Belgravia!’

Tamsin Greig on the intrigue ahead in ITV period drama Belgravia

Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes is once again bringing the past to sumptuous life with ITV period drama Belgravia, based on his own 2016 novel. The six-part series, set mainly in the 1840s, centres on Anne Trenchard, played by Tamsin Greig, and her property developer husband James (Philip Glenister).

For over 25 years, the Trenchards have done their best to hide the fact they have a grandson as their daughter Sophia died in childbirth after becoming pregnant by upper-crust Edmund Bellasis, who was killed at the Battle of Waterloo. But Anne is now torn over whether to share the secret with Edmund’s mother Caroline, Lady Brockenhurst (Dame Harriet Walter)...

Here Friday Night Dinner star Tamsin Greig reveals all about the twists and turns in store in ITV period drama Belgravia as it continues…

How do you see Anne?

Tamsin Greig: “The Trenchards are upwardly mobile but Anne’s not interested in status. She loves James but what drives him is different from what drives her and the tension could bring danger. But it’s about how they survive. Anne is guarding her own heartbreak over Sophia but she tries to work things out for the family’s good.”

Is Anne going to reveal to Lady Brockenhurst that they share a grandson?

TG: “It’s intriguing how people live with lies and secrets. Both Anne and James are capable of hiding information. James has told Anne not to talk about their secret but she might be compelled to break her word… It’s thrilling Julian has put two women - Anne and Caroline - at the heart of the story”

Belgravia Harriet Walter — Dame Harriet Walter as Caroline, Lady Brockenhurst in Belgravia (Image credit: ITV)

Have you had fun co-starring with Philip Glenister?

TG: “Oh Philip brings such ebullience, warmth and energy to James. It’s a joy. He’s a brilliant raconteur and very playful!”

MORE: Philip Glenister: ‘My Belgravia character sounds like Del Boy!’

Tamsin Greig and Philip Glenister in Belgravia — Tamsin Greig and Philip Glenister as Anne and James Trenchard in Belgravia

Were you a fan of Downton Abbey and have you enjoyed working with Julian Fellowes?

TG: “I’ve only watched the Downton film on a plane! But Julian spins a great yarn and gives you characters that, regardless of their hierarchy, have something in them that you go, ‘I recognise that’. He’s interested in human nature. And he looked like a child in a sweet shop when he came on the Belgravia set!”

Belgravia continues on Sunday on ITV at 9pm

Caren has been a journalist specializing in TV for almost two decades and is a Senior Features Writer for TV Times, TV & Satellite Week and What’s On TV magazines and she also writes for What to Watch.

Over the years, she has spent many a day in a muddy field or an on-set catering bus chatting to numerous stars on location including the likes of Olivia Colman, David Tennant, Suranne Jones, Jamie Dornan, Dame Judi Dench and Sir Derek Jacobi as well as Hollywood actors such as Glenn Close and Kiefer Sutherland.

Caren will happily sit down and watch any kind of telly (well, maybe not sci-fi!), but she particularly loves period dramas like Call the Midwife, Downton Abbey and The Crown and she’s also a big fan of juicy crime thrillers from Line of Duty to Poirot.

In her spare time, Caren enjoys going to the cinema and theatre or curling up with a good book.