Dirk Gently, Upstairs Downstairs Streaming on Acorn TV

Starting today, Acorn TV is streaming all 67 episodes of the classic 1970s Brit series “Upstairs, Downstairs,” which of course inspired series like “Downton Abbey” with its focus on both the upstairs and downstairs residents.

Additionally, Acorn TV has the U.S. premiere of “Dirk Gently,” a fun detective series starring Stephen Mangan (co-starring alongside Matt LeBlanc in ‘Episodes”); and the complete “Chance in a Million” series starring Simon Callow (“Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “Shakespeare in Love”) and Oscar nominee Brenda Blethyn (“Vera,” “Pride & Prejudice”).

Still streaming are several U.S. premieres including:

• Acorn’s newest must-see mystery series, “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries”
• the popular period detective series “Murdoch Mysteries, Season 5″
• Kelly Reilly (co-starring in “Flight” with Denzel Washington) and Ciaran Hinds in “Above Suspicion, Set 2″ from the creator of “Prime Suspect.”

Additionally, Acorn TV is streaming Geraldine McEwan (Marple) in the definitive “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie”; the popular, star-studded “A Woman of Substance Trilogy”; and Michael Gambon (“Harry Potter”) in “Maigret,” among many others.

Acorn TV features a free 30-day trial for complete access to the 18 different series, plus multi-episode marathons, with an average of 211 hours of weekly content in January (up 69% from the 125 hours in Sept.). Thereafter, a subscription is just $2.99/month or $29.99/yr. Each week three new seasons are added and three are removed.

Coming up on Acorn TV

Feb. 4: Agatha Christie’s Poirot, George Gently, and Agatha Christie’s Marple

Feb. 11: Prime Suspect Marathon (Series 1-7) starring Helen Mirren, A Bit of a Do Complete Collection, and Vexed, Series 1

Coming Up on Acorn Media/Athena DVD:

Jan. 29: Agatha Christie’s Partners in Crime: The Tommy & Tuppence Mysteries, Agatha Christie’s Poirot & Marple Fan Favorites Collection, and Wodehouse Playhouse Complete

Feb. 5: Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth with Bill Moyers: 25th Anniversary Edition (Athena), Above Suspicion Set 2 (U.S. debut), Testimony of Two Men (DVD Debut), and She-Wolves: England’s Early Queens (DVD debut, Athena)

Feb. 19: Missions That Changed the War: The Doolittle Raid (DVD Debut, Athena)

Feb. 26: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (DVD Debut), Garrow’s Law: The Complete Collection, and Maigret Complete Collection