Dallas stars old and new attend London launch
American audiences have already been treated to the launch of the all new Dallas reboot and next month the UK will get the chance to judge whether the Ewings are back with a bang or should have left their stetsons hung up back in the 80’s.
Stars of the classic US soap opera were reunited in London last night to mark the arrival of the highly anticipated new series to UK television screens.
Along with some fresh, young talent, the series will see the return of former stars Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray and Larry Hagman will of course be reprising his role as JR Ewing.
Jesse Metcalfe, who found fame as hunky gardener John Rowland in Desperate Housewives, said the popularity of his former show influenced the decision to bring Dallas back to the screen.
Metcalfe, who plays Christopher Ewing in the new Dallas series, said: “I think Desperate Housewives definitely took its cue from the original Dallas. There’s no doubt about that.
“But I think that Desperate Housewives in some respects is responsible for reopening the door for more scripted drama and more night-time soap operas.
“I think that being on the heels of Desperate Housewives is why the new Dallas was possible.”
Linda Gray may be a legend from the original series in her iconic role as Sue Ellen, but she held her own next to the younger cast members, wearing a red dress and looking years younger than her 71 years.
Linda, who plays JR’s long-suffering former wife Sue Ellen, said fans should expect similar storylines to those which gripped audiences of the original series.
She said: “I think it’s more of the same but there’s a quality about this new show. It’s different in a nice way.”
Patrick Duffy added: “There’s so much reality television and so many musical contests. This is good old-fashioned drama. It’s ‘sit on the edge of your seat’ kind of fun. I think people need to have fun and not root for somebody to be eliminated.
“We’re being relaunched in the UK because we were really launched here 30 years ago. You guys adopted us and said we were your favourite show. Then all of a sudden we were an international success, just like in the US.”
Asked whether JR was television’s most famous villain, Hagman said: “Of course he is. He’s the top.”
New recruit, Jordana Brewster – who’s character creates quite the stir between the younger Ewing men – opted for a pink pencil skirt and matching top with silver heels and a clutch bag.
Channel 5 will debut the show on 12 September in a two hour special.
