Spot the difference

Berkshire Life                                                             Private Eye

I'm a regular reader of Private Eye and bought the 12th November issue as soon as it came out. The other day I was thinking about a joke in Private Eye whilst doing my weekly shop in Waitrose - chuckling to myself behind a display of Poilâne Rye and Currant Bread (£3.95 a loaf) - one of the essential range in this part of the country.

On looking up from the bread, the latest edition of Berkshire Life caught my eye and I just had to buy a copy and put the two covers together.

Both magazines are trying to exploit the success of "Downton Abbey" a TV drama series that was recently shown on ITV in the UK.  As I detest period drama, I didn't actually watch "Downton Abbey" but millions of people did.

"Downton Abbey" is set in the Edwardian era. It was written by Julian Fellowes, who won an Oscar for his Gosford Park screenplay.

Highclere Castle, the home of Lord Carnarvon, was used as the fictional "Downton Abbey".  Highclere Castle is just down the road from where I live in West Berkshire but it's in Hampshire, so what it's doing on the cover of Berkshire Life I don't really know.

The Berkshire Life cover is a publicity shot from the TV production company and shows the actual cast. Private Eye's Photoshop pastiche has members of the Coalition Government plus a former Prime Minister -  they actually look more Edwardian than the actors (if you're going to set the country back 100 years you might as well look the part I suppose).

My picture below shows what a depopulated  Highclere Castle looks like.

Spot the difference answers: The leading lady in the TV drama was played by Dame Maggie, in the Private Eye version she is played by Baroness Maggie. Dame Maggie is a talented actress and national treasure and Baroness Maggie isn't.