Last night saw the final episode of the current series of Downton Abbey, and whilst we all stocked up with tissues in preparation having been caught blubbing tidal waves at the shows two previous series finales, we were all rather surprised to see series three end on rather a high note.

Of course the finale wasn’t without its fair share of drama, however.
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There’s Christ On A Bike news for fans of Downton Abbey today as Elizabeth McGovern, who plays Lady Cora, has told the Daily Mirror that she thinks the series will end next year!

Tonight is of course the finale of series three, although there is to be a festive special which will air on Christmas Day.

However, of the show ending next year, Elizabeth said, “We still have the Christmas special to come and then I think we definitely have one more series in us.

“Nothing has officially been said, but I think we are going to go for one next year.

“I would hate for it to outstay its welcome.” Read more & comment »

As fans of Downton Abbey will know, we often see the characters drinking, with meals or in social settings, however, Rob James Collier, who of course plays devious valet Thomas Barrow, has revealed that no alcohol is permitted on-set, so when we see booze being drunk, it is in fact alcohol free.

Speaking to TV Biz, Rob explained, “Alcohol is banned on the Downton set. It is because of insurance. It is really dull.

“We are not allowed drink while we are on set. We were, back in the day. But we did have some nice ham and cheese from Waitrose the other day!”

The paper adds, “Rob said the stars now had to take comfort in Starbucks — although that too has its problems…” Read more & comment »

Last night saw the fifth instalment of the current series of Downton Abbey, and what a shocker it turned out to be!

We reported earlier this week that rumour had it Lady Sybil was due to have her baby last night, and that she did, but a dramatic twist of fate left fans of the epic period drama shaken to the very core, when after a safe delivery, Lady Sybil (Jessica Brown Findlay) dies after a series of fits in her sleep.
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Downton Abbey fans are set for a treat this Sunday, as pictures of the next episode to be shown suggest that lady Sybil’s baby may be making its debut appearance.

Fans if the hit ITV1 periodic drama will know how last week Lady Sybil (Jessica Brown-Findlay) and her husband, former chauffer, Tom Branson (Allen Leech), turned up separately having had to flee their home in Ireland due to Tom’s political influence and involvement.
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In last week’s third episode of the new series of Downton Abbey, Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) saved the day – and Downton – by finally agreeing to take the huge inheritance that Lavinia Swire’s father left him, which he promptly handed over to Robert, Earl of Grantham so as to ensure the continuation of the Crawley’s at Downton.

And that is of course something we’re still whooping over, but the downstairs residents of the Abbey have further cause to celebrate in tonight’s visit as two new servants are hired, which will ease the load on the regular staff.

And it seems that one of those newbies, footman Jimmy (Ed Speelers) is going to set scheming Thomas Barrow’s (Rob James Collier) heart aflutter within minutes of turning up to take on his new job.

Meanwhile, Mrs Patmore (Lesley Nicol) has a new kitchen maid in the form of Ivy (Cara Theobold) which put upon Daisy (Sophie McShera) will doubtless be pleased about! Read more & comment »

We are all still in shock following poor Lady Edith being jilted at the alter in last week’s instalment of Downton Abbey!

But, on a brighter note, Matthew finally gave in and donated his inheritance to Lord Grantham to save Downton, although not accepting it as a gift, Lord Grantham made him a partner in the estate (the estate he was already set to inherit, that would have been sold if it weren’t for his contribution, we smell a rat!).
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As fans of Downton Abbey will know, former Emmerdale star Amy Nuttall plays the role of ‘fallen’ servant Ethel Parks, who ended up shunned by society when she fell pregnant with her illegitimate son following a romp with an aristocrat…

Forced to leave Downton in the wake of the scandal, Ethel has now resorted to prostitution, and as we saw in last night’s episode, she went to do-gooder Isobel Crawley (Penelope Wilton) for help out of her dire situation. However, she fled in tears before Isobel could do anything for her.

However, in an interview with TV Biz, Amy has revealed that while she was delighted to be asked back to star in Downton’s third series, she was rather shocked to learn what had become of Ethel.

She began by revealing that at the end of series two, she’d been told that Ethel wasn’t being brought back in the new series.

Amy said, “I was told that was it. So it was a very nice, welcome, surprise phone call that I received late last year to say that writer Julian Fellowes felt he hadn’t quite finished the storyline off… Read more & comment »

It looks like fans of Downton Abbey are in for another glorious treat tomorrow night, as they are invited to another Crawley wedding, this time lady Edith’s!

Fans of the show will know how unlucky-in-love-and-life, Edith (Laura Carmichael)  has been practically stalking Sir Anthony  Strallan (Robert Bathurst) despite the disapproval of her family and the fact she is around 25 years his junior.
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The glorious Downton Abbey made a comeback to our screens last Sunday on ITV1, and it packed a really lot into its 90 minute long debut…

However, in episode two, it seems that there’ll be no let up in the drama as the plots thicken all over the Grantham estate!

Click ‘Read more’ to see a few teasers, spoilers and a promo clip, as well as pictures from the episode – which airs on Sunday, September 30th at 9pm… Read more & comment »

With the much anticipated third series of Downton Abbey starting tonight on ITV, we thought that a moment should be spared for the people who bring to life this wonderful story of 1920′s class divide, and the beautiful friendships that we have watched develop over the past two series.

One of the main characters of Downton Abbey is Highclere Castle in Hampshire, where the fictitious abbey is set, which provides the mesmerising setting that transports us back to that glorious era.
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It is finally here, the day that Downton Abbey premieres its much-anticipated third series, though for Unreality TV this will be a repeat as we were lucky enough to be invited to the world premiere of episode one at London’s Mayfair hotel back in July, where we had the pleasure of watching the delightful world of Downton brought to life, sat next to the cast!

And for those of you who simply cannot wait till tonight to see what happens, we have our preview here!
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As fans of Downton Abbey star Jim Carter – who plays stuffy butler Carson – may know, he’s married to actress Imelda Staunton, who it seems was unimpressed when Jim flirted on the set of Downton with legendary US actress, Shirley MacLaine.

In an interview with the Daily Mirror about the forthcoming new series of Downton, which of course debuts this Sunday on ITV, Jim revealed that he’s had a lifelong crush on Shirley, who plays the role of feisty American Martha Levinson.

He said, “I had a big crush on Shirley. What a babe! She was a cracking dame.

“And yeah, we flirted, I loved her. She would sit around and natter – she had no status or anything like that, she was completely open.

“Who else can tell stories about Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra? My wife was as jealous as old boots.” Read more & comment »

Downton Abbey is back on ITV for its third run on Sunday, 16 September, and ahead of the eagerly anticipated return, Dan Stevens, who plays Matthew Crawley, has been talking to What’s On TV about what’s ahead for his character.

And of course, the big Matthew news is that he’s to marry Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) in series three.

So when he was asked, “Could you compare [the wedding] to Kate and Will’s nuptials?” Dan replied, “I guess you can compare them in the sense that Mary and Matthew are trying to secure the future of the establishment.

“But I don’t think there were quite as many people at our wedding as there were at Kate and Will’s!”

Dan went on to explain that Matthew will ask former chauffeur Tom Branson (Allen Leech) to be his best man, which is a decision that will raise eyebrows in the Grantham household. Branson of course married Lady Sybil (Jessica Brown Findlay) in series two, and the couple are now expecting their first child… Read more & comment »

There’s news of the Eek variety in The Sun’s TV Biz today in that Downton Abbey star Dan Stevens has revealed that he’s planning to move permanently to America, and therefore would of course quit the show and his role as Matthew Crawley!

While speaking to the paper about the plan to move across the pond – which has been prompted by the fact he’s landed a role in Broadway production, The Heiress, in which Dan will star alongside Jessica Chastain – Dan said, “I am off to New York in about a month’s time and it is going to be one big adventure.”

His wife Susie Hariet and their two young children will join him on the trip. He said, “I will be taking the whole family out and we will be there for around six months.

“I don’t know if I will be coming back to Downton as I don’t know if they are doing another series yet.” Read more & comment »