It was reported last week that Dame Maggie Smith had asked Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes to write her character, the Dowager Countess, out of the show at the end of series three…

And added to another recent report that the show’s producer, Rebecca Eaton, had claimed that a “key” character would be killed off in series three, it was then assumed that Dame Maggie’s character was for the chop.

Of series three in general, Ms Eaton said, “Somebody will be born, and somebody will die – somebody pretty key in the cast is unfortunately not going to make it.”

In the same interview, Eaton also claimed that Dame Maggie was “difficult” to work with, adding, “Maggie Smith is a handful, it’s true. She’s very difficult.

“She knows her worth and she’s tricky on the set but she delivers when the time comes.”

However, today the Sun reports that the claim is false, and that Dame Maggie has no intention of leaving the show…

A spokesman for Carnival films, who co-produce Downton, told the paper, “We do not comment on future storylines.

“However, there is no truth in the story Maggie is leaving. Series three is currently filming with Maggie.”

And of course, in series three, the Dowager Countess meets a formidable enemy in the form of Shirley MacLaine’s character, who is Lady Cora’s (Elizabeth McGovern) mother.

Also in the new series, the aforementioned Ms Eaton revealed that Matthew and Mary – who’re played by Dan Stevens and Michelle Dockery – are set to wed, and Lady Sybil (Jessica Brown Findlay) will give birth.

Series three airs in the summer.