[1] It starred Gemma Jones as Louisa Leyton Trotter, the eponymous "Duchess" who works her way up from servant to renowned cook to proprietor of the upper-class Bentinck Hotel in Duke Street, St James's in London.

Louisa manages to convince Lord Norton's sexist French chef, Monsieur Alex, into accepting her as his apprentice.

When Louisa is unexpectedly called upon to prepare a dinner by herself, she catches the eye of the guest of honour, Edward, the Prince of Wales, who admires both her cooking and her appearance.

Against her own wishes, she agrees to marry Lord Norton's head butler, Augustus "Gus" Trotter, to maintain the appearance of respectability and to protect the royal reputation.

In an effort to help him recover his pride, Louisa purchases the Bentinck Hotel and talks a reluctant Gus into managing it.

With only Mary, one of Lord Norton's servants, to assist her, she sets to work to pay the debts, taking any and all cooking jobs, however humble, but finally she collapses from overwork in the street very early one morning.

Louisa keeps one of the Bentinck's previous employees, the elderly head waiter Merriman, and hires the brisk, soldierly Starr, who is always accompanied by his dog Fred, as the porter.

Reluctant to "toss him out on the street" and liking the man, Louisa allows him to stay on at the Bentinck as a greeter and general helping hand.

Knowing how much the establishment means to Louisa, Charlie leaves for an extended stay in America, giving her a chance to refocus on her business.

Louisa accepts Charlie's suggestion that Lottie be discreetly adopted by a young couple who work on his estate.

Late in the series, Louisa's father dies, but not before giving his modest savings to his granddaughter to help her pursue her singing career.