Downton Abbey is of course airing a feature length episode of the hit period drama on Christmas Day, and ahead of it, we have a bunch of new images for you – which you can see after the jump – and an interview with Laura Carmichael, who of course plays Lady Edith.

But first, the big news is that judging by the images that ITV have released from the festive episode, Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) who’s pictured above, seems to be sporting a little baby bump! Does her bump look like a little Crawley in the making?! Fingers crossed they don’t Christen the baby with the first name of Creepy.

However, despite that good news on the storyline front, I’m a bit disappointed that the Christmas special is in fact set in summer! Are you?

I loved the last festive episode where we got to see Christmas at the big house, and how the servants celebrated the yuletide season, so yes, a tad frustrated that it won’t be another Christmassy show… Read more & comment »

When the schedules for Christmas Day programming on the BBC and ITV were first revealed, top dramas Dowton Abbey and Call the Midwife were to overlap by fifteen minutes…

However, in what was termed “a Christmas present to viewers”, ITV rescheduled Downton’s festive episode so that viewers could watch it and Call the Midwife without any clash.

But today it’s been reported that BBC bosses are “livid” that now, ITV has yet again altered the timeslot for Downton Abbey so that it does now clash with Call the Midwife.

The Daily Star reports, “The BBC’s top brass eventually moved their pride and joy to 7.30pm after ITV said it wanted their Downton Abbey special to begin at 8.45pm instead of 9pm as originally planned.”

A BBC source said, “ITV always said they were putting Downton on at 9pm so we went earlier, avoiding a clash… Read more & comment »

There’s great news from both the BBC and ITV today as not only has Aunty Beeb released new images and clips for the forthcoming Doctor Who Christmas special, but the corporation has also agreed with ITV to avoid the channels’ top festive offerings, Downton Abbey and Call the Midwife, from clashing in the Christmas Day schedules!

Starting with the new images and clips for Doctor Who’s ‘The Snowmen’ Christmas special, the first image released above shows a close-up of the scary snowmen, while others – which you can see after the jump – feature the episode’s villains and of course, Matt Smith and Jenna Louis Coleman as the Doctor and his new sidekick, Clara Oswin.

Here’s what the BBC says of The Snowmen:

Look… It’s the Christmas Special…Starring Matt Smith as the Doctor and introducing Jenna-Louise Coleman as Clara, his new companion, this year’s Christmas Special is called The Snowmen and follows their adventures as they battle the villainous Doctor Simeon (Richard E Grant) and his army of sinister snowmen… Read more & comment »

ITV have announced that a fourth series of hit period drama Downton Abbey will go into production early next year, and will consist of eight episodes and a Christmas special!

ITV’s press release reads, “The opening and closing episodes will again be feature length with series four continuing the story of the Crawley family and their servants in the early 1920s.”

Gareth Neame, the Executive Producer of Downton Abbey, said, “Viewers can look forward to more drama, comedy, love, hatred, jealousy, rivalry, ambition, despair and romance.”

And Laura Mackie, who is the Director of Drama at ITV, added, “We’re thrilled to welcome back a drama series that has become a much anticipated part of all our lives every autumn and achieved success around the globe.

“Creator, writer and executive producer Julian Fellowes and the production team, led by Gareth and the producer Liz Trubridge, never rest on their laurels and have exciting plans for the fourth series.” Read more & comment »

Fans of MyAnna Buring, who of course stars in The Twilight Saga as vampire Tanya, will doubtless be pleased to hear that she’s landed a role in hit ITV period drama, Downton Abbey.

The Times reports that MyAnna will star in Downton’s Christmas special alongside former Bad Girls and Wire In The Blood actress Simone Lahbib. The pair will play “feisty” new servants.

Of the role in Downton, Buring said, “You couldn’t get two projects more different than the Twilight series and Downton Abbey.

“Many of my previous roles have had a contemporary feel to them so I was thrilled when the offer came from Downton.”

Buring will play “forward-thinking servant” Edna, while Lahbib takes on the role of lady’s maid, Wilkins… Read more & comment »