Set in London between 1900 and 1925, the story follows Louisa Leyton/Trotter, the eponymous "Duchess", who works her way up from servant to renowned cook to proprietress of the upper-class Bentinck Hotel in Duke Street, St. James's.

• Gemma Jones
• John Welsh
• Richard Vernon
• Christopher Cazenove
• Mary Healey
• Victoria Plucknett
• Alan MacNaughtan
• Holly De Jong