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{{Main|List of Downton Abbey characters}}
{{Main|List of Downton Abbey characters}}


===Main cast===
{| class="wikitable collapsible" width=100%
{| class="wikitable collapsible" width=100%
! colspan="7"|Table of cast members
! colspan="7"|Table of cast members
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Michelle Dockery, Dame Maggie Smith, Brendan Coyle, Rob James-Collier, Dan Stevens,<ref name="mirror.co.uk"/> Elizabeth McGovern, Hugh Bonneville,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1616350.php/Downton-Abbey-new-season-and-contest-announced-by-Masterpiece|title='Downton Abbey' new series and contest announced by Masterpiece|publisher=Monsters and Critics|date=1 February 2011|accessdate=31 October 2011}}</ref> Jessica Brown Findlay, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt, Phyllis Logan<ref>{{cite news|author=TV and Radio|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8366026/The-first-pictures-from-the-set-of-Downton-Abbey.html|title=The first pictures from the set of Downton Abbey|publisher=Telegraph|date=7 March 2011|accessdate=31 October 2011|location=London}}</ref> and Allen Leech<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jessicabfindlay.com/wordpress/?p=97#more-97|title=Jessica Brown Findlay Online|publisher=www.jessicabfindlay.com|accessdate=31 October 2011}}</ref> all returned and [[Cal MacAninch]], [[Iain Glen]], [[Amy Nuttall]], Zoe Boyle and [[Maria Doyle Kennedy]] joined the cast<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a304518/five-actors-join-new-downton-abbey.html Five actors join new 'Downton Abbey'] Digital Spy, 18 February 2011</ref> as the new valet Lang, Sir Richard Carlisle, the new housemaid Ethel, Miss Lavinia Swire and John Bates's wife Vera respectively.<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://www.itv.com/dramapremieres/downtonabbey/secondseries/ Downton Abbey – Back in 2011] ITV, July 2011</ref> Filming began in March 2011.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2010/nov/06/downton-abbey-itv-last-episode Downton Abbey fans brace for farewell] ''The Guardian'', 6 November 2010</ref>
Michelle Dockery, Dame Maggie Smith, Brendan Coyle, Rob James-Collier, Dan Stevens,<ref name="mirror.co.uk"/> Elizabeth McGovern, Hugh Bonneville,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1616350.php/Downton-Abbey-new-season-and-contest-announced-by-Masterpiece|title='Downton Abbey' new series and contest announced by Masterpiece|publisher=Monsters and Critics|date=1 February 2011|accessdate=31 October 2011}}</ref> Jessica Brown Findlay, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt, Phyllis Logan<ref>{{cite news|author=TV and Radio|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8366026/The-first-pictures-from-the-set-of-Downton-Abbey.html|title=The first pictures from the set of Downton Abbey|publisher=Telegraph|date=7 March 2011|accessdate=31 October 2011|location=London}}</ref> and Allen Leech<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jessicabfindlay.com/wordpress/?p=97#more-97|title=Jessica Brown Findlay Online|publisher=www.jessicabfindlay.com|accessdate=31 October 2011}}</ref> all returned and [[Cal MacAninch]], [[Iain Glen]], [[Amy Nuttall]], Zoe Boyle and [[Maria Doyle Kennedy]] joined the cast<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a304518/five-actors-join-new-downton-abbey.html Five actors join new 'Downton Abbey'] Digital Spy, 18 February 2011</ref> as the new valet Lang, Sir Richard Carlisle, the new housemaid Ethel, Miss Lavinia Swire and John Bates's wife Vera respectively.<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://www.itv.com/dramapremieres/downtonabbey/secondseries/ Downton Abbey – Back in 2011] ITV, July 2011</ref> Filming began in March 2011.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2010/nov/06/downton-abbey-itv-last-episode Downton Abbey fans brace for farewell] ''The Guardian'', 6 November 2010</ref>


====Christmas Special 2011====
;Christmas Special 2011
Most of the regular cast, with [[Nigel Havers]] as Lord Hepworth and [[Sharon Small]] as Lady Rosamund's new maid, Marigold Shore, appear in a Christmas special.<ref name="radiotimes1">{{cite web|url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/282401/New-beau-Havers-woos-Downton-Abbey-girls|title=New beau Havers woos Downton|date=8 November 2011|accessdate=8 November 2011|work=[[Daily Express]]|first=Elisa|last=Roche}}</ref> This single episode visited Downton between Christmas 1919 and early 1920.
Most of the regular cast, with [[Nigel Havers]] as Lord Hepworth and [[Sharon Small]] as Lady Rosamund's new maid, Marigold Shore, appear in a Christmas special.<ref name="radiotimes1">{{cite web|url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/282401/New-beau-Havers-woos-Downton-Abbey-girls|title=New beau Havers woos Downton|date=8 November 2011|accessdate=8 November 2011|work=[[Daily Express]]|first=Elisa|last=Roche}}</ref> This single episode visited Downton between Christmas 1919 and early 1920.


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The third series of ''Downton Abbey'' premiered on 16 September 2012 in the UK and in the US on 6 January 2013. Mary and Matthew are married early on. Branson and a pregnant Lady Sybil return to Downton to live after the burning of an aristocrat's house in Ireland, in which Tom was criminally implicated. Downton's estate and business functionality are in jeopardy because Robert has lost most of Cora's fortune on poor investments. In exchange for becoming co-owner of the estate, Matthew gives Robert a large sum of money inherited from the father of his former fiancée Lavinia Swire. Tragedy hits when Sybil dies of complications following childbirth; Tom names their child Sybil and christens her a Catholic. Mr Bates is finally released from prison following a confession from a witness confirming his innocence. Matthew and Tom, who on Violet's suggestion has become the new estate agent, begin to turn Downton Abbey into a profitably managed estate.
The third series of ''Downton Abbey'' premiered on 16 September 2012 in the UK and in the US on 6 January 2013. Mary and Matthew are married early on. Branson and a pregnant Lady Sybil return to Downton to live after the burning of an aristocrat's house in Ireland, in which Tom was criminally implicated. Downton's estate and business functionality are in jeopardy because Robert has lost most of Cora's fortune on poor investments. In exchange for becoming co-owner of the estate, Matthew gives Robert a large sum of money inherited from the father of his former fiancée Lavinia Swire. Tragedy hits when Sybil dies of complications following childbirth; Tom names their child Sybil and christens her a Catholic. Mr Bates is finally released from prison following a confession from a witness confirming his innocence. Matthew and Tom, who on Violet's suggestion has become the new estate agent, begin to turn Downton Abbey into a profitably managed estate.


====Christmas Special 2012====
;Christmas Special 2012
ITV announced at the end of the last episode of Series Three, broadcast on 4 November 2012 in the UK, that a special episode would be broadcast on Christmas Day.<ref>{{cite news|author=Sarah Bull|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2228000/Downton-Abbey-Julian-Fellowes-plans-introduce-black-Indian-characters.html|title=Downton Abbey: Julian Fellowes on plans to introduce black or Indian characters &#124; Mail Online|publisher=Dailymail.co.uk|date=5 November 2012|accessdate=9 January 2013|location=London}}</ref>
ITV announced at the end of the last episode of Series Three, broadcast on 4 November 2012 in the UK, that a special episode would be broadcast on Christmas Day.<ref>{{cite news|author=Sarah Bull|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2228000/Downton-Abbey-Julian-Fellowes-plans-introduce-black-Indian-characters.html|title=Downton Abbey: Julian Fellowes on plans to introduce black or Indian characters &#124; Mail Online|publisher=Dailymail.co.uk|date=5 November 2012|accessdate=9 January 2013|location=London}}</ref>


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With the fourth series, Fellowes continued his writing method, which he explained was to subject 'a couple of characters per series to a very difficult situation and you get the emotions that come out of these traumas.'<ref name="BBCOct2013">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24448002|title=Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes defends storyline|first=Sabrina|last=Sweeney|publisher=BBC|accessdate=10 October 2013}}</ref> This was 'about taking characters to the brink', he said.<ref name="BBCOct2013"/>
With the fourth series, Fellowes continued his writing method, which he explained was to subject 'a couple of characters per series to a very difficult situation and you get the emotions that come out of these traumas.'<ref name="BBCOct2013">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24448002|title=Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes defends storyline|first=Sabrina|last=Sweeney|publisher=BBC|accessdate=10 October 2013}}</ref> This was 'about taking characters to the brink', he said.<ref name="BBCOct2013"/>


====Christmas Special 2013====
;Christmas Special 2013


Scenes for the 2013 Christmas special were filmed at [[Royal Holloway, University of London]], [[Goldsmith's College]] London, [[West Wittering]] beach in [[West Sussex]] and Berkshire's [[Basildon Park]]. [[Lancaster House]] in London stood in for [[Buckingham Palace]].<ref name="downtonabbeyaddicts1"/><ref name="digitalspy1"/>
Scenes for the 2013 Christmas special were filmed at [[Royal Holloway, University of London]], [[Goldsmith's College]] London, [[West Wittering]] beach in [[West Sussex]] and Berkshire's [[Basildon Park]]. [[Lancaster House]] in London stood in for [[Buckingham Palace]].<ref name="downtonabbeyaddicts1"/><ref name="digitalspy1"/>
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ITV announced at the end of series four that ''Downton Abbey'' would return for a fifth series in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itv-commissions-fifth-series-downton-abbey#.UoAJQ5ROpYw |title=ITV commissions a fifth series of Downton Abbey &#124; presscentre |publisher=Itv.com |date=10 November 2013 |accessdate=22 January 2014}}</ref> The British airdates for series five were set to start in late September leading to the seasonal 2014 Christmas special.<ref name="vanityfair.com"/> On 20 August 2014 ''Vanity Fair'' magazine announced that the U.S. airdates for season five were set to start on Sunday, 4 January 2015, following the UK broadcast of the 2014 Christmas special.<ref name="vanityfair.com"/> The first episode (of 8 total) of series 5 was broadcast in the UK on 21 September 2014.
ITV announced at the end of series four that ''Downton Abbey'' would return for a fifth series in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itv-commissions-fifth-series-downton-abbey#.UoAJQ5ROpYw |title=ITV commissions a fifth series of Downton Abbey &#124; presscentre |publisher=Itv.com |date=10 November 2013 |accessdate=22 January 2014}}</ref> The British airdates for series five were set to start in late September leading to the seasonal 2014 Christmas special.<ref name="vanityfair.com"/> On 20 August 2014 ''Vanity Fair'' magazine announced that the U.S. airdates for season five were set to start on Sunday, 4 January 2015, following the UK broadcast of the 2014 Christmas special.<ref name="vanityfair.com"/> The first episode (of 8 total) of series 5 was broadcast in the UK on 21 September 2014.


====Christmas special 2014====
;Christmas special 2014
The 2014 Christmas special airdate in the U.S. has been set to follow the U.S. season for series five which starts on 4 January 2015.<ref name="vanityfair.com"/>
The 2014 Christmas special airdate in the U.S. has been set to follow the U.S. season for series five which starts on 4 January 2015.<ref name="vanityfair.com"/>


Revision as of 13:22, 27 December 2014

Downton Abbey
Upper half has clouds with violet sky and "Downton" at left of the manor. Lower half is fully black with exception of "Abbey" at right of the reflected mirror side of the manor.
GenrePeriod drama
Created byJulian Fellowes
Written by
Directed by
Starring
Opening theme"Did I Make the Most of Loving You?"
ComposerJohn Lunn
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series5
No. of episodes43 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Liz Trubridge (series producer)
  • Nigel Marchant
CinematographyDavid Katznelson (series 1)
Gavin Struthers (series 2)
Editors
  • John Wilson
  • Steve Singleton
  • Mike Jones
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running timeRegular episodes: 47–53 minutes
Extended episodes: 64–69 minutes
Christmas specials: 92 minutes
(excluding commercial breaks)
Production company
Original release
NetworkITV (UK)
PBS (US)
Release26 September 2010 (2010-09-26) –
present (present)

Downton Abbey is a British period drama television series created by Julian Fellowes and co-produced by Carnival Films and Masterpiece.[1] It first aired on ITV in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 26 September 2010 and on PBS in the United States on 9 January 2011 as part of the Masterpiece Classic anthology. Five series have been made so far; the fifth airing in autumn 2014 in the UK and Ireland, and scheduled to begin in January 2015 in the US.[2][3] A sixth series was commissioned.[4]

The series, set in the fictional Yorkshire country estate of Downton Abbey, depicts the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the post-Edwardian era—with the great events in history having an effect on their lives and on the British social hierarchy. Such events depicted throughout the series include news of the sinking of the RMS Titanic in the first series; the outbreak of the First World War, the Spanish influenza pandemic, and the Marconi scandal in the second series; the interwar period and the formation of the Irish Free State in the third series; the Teapot Dome scandal in the fourth series; and the United Kingdom general election of 1923 and the Beer Hall Putsch in the fifth series.

Downton Abbey has received critical acclaim from television critics and won numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie. It was recognised by Guinness World Records as the most critically acclaimed English-language television series of 2011. It earned the most nominations of any international television series in the history of the Primetime Emmy Awards, with twenty-seven in total (after two series).[5] It was the most watched television series on both ITV and PBS, and subsequently became the most successful British costume drama series since the 1981 television serial of Brideshead Revisited.[6] By the third series, it had become one of the most widely watched television drama shows in the world.[7]

Series overview

The series is set in the fictional Downton Abbey, a Yorkshire country house, the seat of the Earl and Countess of Grantham, and follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants during the reign of King George V. The first series opens at the end of the Edwardian era in 1912 with news of the family heir's death aboard the Titanic, spanning the two years before the Great War. The second series covered the years 1916 to 1919, and the 2011 Christmas Special covered the 1919 Christmas period, ending in early 1920. The third series picks up soon afterwards, covering 1920 through the autumn of 1921. The fourth series covers a six-month period between February and August 1922, while the 2013 Christmas special was set in summer 1923.

Crawley family

Actor Character Position Appearances
Hugh Bonneville Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham Lord Grantham, head of the Crawley family Series 1–
Elizabeth McGovern Cora Crawley (née Levinson), Countess of Grantham Lady Grantham, Lord Grantham's American heiress wife Series 1–
Michelle Dockery Lady Mary Josephine Crawley (née Crawley) Eldest daughter of Lord and Lady Grantham; widow of Matthew Crawley Series 1–
Laura Carmichael Lady Edith Crawley Middle daughter of Lord and Lady Grantham Series 1–
Jessica Brown Findlay Lady Sybil Cora Branson (née Crawley) † Youngest daughter of Lord and Lady Grantham; late wife of Tom Branson Series 1–3
Maggie Smith Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham Lord Grantham's mother Series 1–
Allen Leech Tom Branson Chauffeur of the family (series 1–2), agent of the estate (series 3–5); widower of Lady Sybil Branson Series 1–Christmas Special 2014
Dan Stevens Matthew Reginald Crawley † Heir presumptive (third cousin once removed) of Lord Grantham; former lawyer, latterly co-owner of the estate; late husband of Lady Mary Crawley Series 1–Christmas Special 2012
Penelope Wilton Isobel Crawley Matthew's mother; widow and former nurse Series 1–
Lily James Lady Rose Aldridge (née MacClare) Cousin and ward of the Granthams; daughter of The Marquess and Marchioness of Flintshire and wife of Atticus Aldridge Series 3–
Samantha Bond Lady Rosamund Painswick (née Crawley) Lord Grantham's sister Series 1–
Ava Mann (Series 4)
Fifi Hart (Series 5)		 Miss Sybil "Sybbie" Branson Daughter of Lady Sybil and Tom Branson Series 3–Christmas Special 2014
Cole & Logan Weston (Series 4)
Oliver and Zac Barker (Series 5)		 Master George Crawley Son of Matthew and Lady Mary Crawley, heir-presumptive to the Earldom of Grantham and the Downton estate Christmas Special 2012–
Peter Egan Hugh "Shrimpie" MacClare, Marquess of Flintshire Lord Flintshire, Rose's father and ex-husband of Susan MacClare Christmas Special 2012, Series 5-
Phoebe Nicholls Susan MacClare, Marchioness of Flintshire Lady Flintshire, Rose's mother and the dowager countess's niece also ex-wife of Hugh "Shrimpie" MacClare Christmas Special 2012, Series 5-
Shirley MacLaine Martha Levinson Mother of Lady Grantham, American Series 3, Christmas Special 2013
Paul Giamatti Harold Levinson Lady Grantham's brother Christmas Special 2013[8]

Staff

Actor Character Position Appearances
Jim Carter Charles "Charlie" Carson Butler Series 1–
Phyllis Logan Elsie Hughes Housekeeper Series 1–
Brendan Coyle John Bates Lord Grantham's valet (and his former batman during the Second Boer War); husband of Anna Bates, widower of Vera Bates Series 1–
Siobhan Finneran Sarah O'Brien Lady Grantham's lady's maid Series 1–Christmas Special 2012
Rob James-Collier Thomas Barrow First Footman, later Lord Grantham's valet, then Deputy-Butler Series 1–
Joanne Froggatt Anna May Bates (née Smith) Head housemaid, later Lady Mary's lady's maid; wife to John Bates Series 1–
Lesley Nicol Beryl Patmore Cook Series 1–
Sophie McShera Daisy Mason (née Robinson) Kitchen maid, later Assistant Cook; widow of William Mason Series 1–
Thomas Howes William Mason † Second Footman; briefly married to Daisy Series 1–2
Rose Leslie Gwen Dawson Housemaid Series 1
Kevin Doyle Joseph Molesley Matthew's butler and valet, later a footman at Downton Abbey Series 1–
Amy Nuttall Ethel Parks Housemaid, later Mrs Crawley's Housekeeper and Cook Series 2–3
Clare Calbraith Jane Moorsum Housemaid Series 2
Matt Milne Alfred Nugent Second Footman, O'Brien's nephew Series 3–4
Ed Speleers James "Jimmy" Kent First Footman Series 3–5
Cara Theobold Ivy Stuart Kitchen maid Series 3–Christmas Special 2013
MyAnna Buring Edna Braithwaite Former maid, then briefly Lady Grantham's lady's maid Christmas Special 2012–Series 4
Raquel Cassidy Phyllis Baxter Lady Grantham's lady's maid Series 4–
Jeremy Swift Spratt The Dowager Countess's butler Series 4-

Crawley family friends and acquaintances

Actor Character Position Appearances
David Robb Dr Richard Clarkson Family doctor Series 1–5
Charles Edwards Michael Gregson † Magazine editor, lover of Lady Edith and father of her daughter Series 3-4
Jonathan Coy George Murray Lord Grantham's lawyer Series 1, Christmas Special 2011–Series 3
Bernard Gallagher William "Bill" Molesley Joseph Molesley's father Series 1, Series 3-4
Brendan Patricks The Hon Evelyn Napier Suitor of Lady Mary Series 1, Series 4
Michael Cochrane Reverend Albert Travis Vicar of Downton village Series 2–3
Douglas Reith Richard Grey, Lord Merton Mary's godfather, love interest of Isobel Series 3-5
Tom Cullen Anthony Foyle, Lord Gillingham Crawley family friend and Mary's suitor Series 4–5
Julian Ovenden Charles Blake Evelyn Napier's boss, suitor of Mary Series 4–5
Andrew Scarborough Timothy "Tim" Drewe Tenant farmer on the Grantham estate, foster-father of Edith's daughter Series 4–5
Daisy Lewis Sarah Bunting Schoolteacher, and friend of Tom's Series 4–5
Matt Barber Atticus Aldridge Suitor of Lady Rose, later her husband Series 5

Production

Gareth Neame of Carnival Films conceived the idea of an Edwardian-era TV drama set in a country house and approached Fellowes, who had won an Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay) for Gosford Park. Although Fellowes was reluctant to work on another project resembling Gosford, within a few weeks he returned to Neame with an outline of the first series. Influenced by Edith Wharton's The Custom of the Country,[9] Fellowes writes the scripts and his wife Emma is an informal story editor.[10]

Locations

Highclere Castle in Hampshire is used for exterior shots of Downton Abbey and most of the interior filming.[11][12][13][14] The kitchen, servants' quarters and working areas, and some of the "upstairs" bedrooms were constructed and filmed at Ealing Studios.[15]

Highclere Castle, used for interior and exterior filming of Downton Abbey

The village of Bampton in Oxfordshire is used to film outdoor scenes. Notable locations include St Mary's Church and the library, which served as the entrance to the cottage hospital.[16] The old rectory in Bampton is used for the exterior shots of Isobel Crawley's house, with the interior scenes being filmed at Hall Place near Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire.[17]

The Downton Abbey of the title and setting, though fictional, is described as lying in the historical County of Yorkshire. The towns of Easingwold, Kirkby Malzeard, Kirkbymoorside, Malton, Middlesbrough, Ripon, Richmond, and Thirsk, each mentioned by characters in the series, lie in present-day North Yorkshire, as does the city of York, while Leeds—similarly mentioned—lies in West Yorkshire; local Yorkshire media speculated the general location of the fictional Downton Abbey to be somewhere in the triangulated area between the towns of Easingwold, Ripon and Thirsk.[18]

First World War trench warfare scenes in France were filmed in a replica battlefield, specially constructed for period war scenes in a field near the village of Akenham in rural Suffolk.[19][20]

Many historical locations and aristocratic mansions have been used to film various scenes:

The fictional Haxby Park, the estate Sir Richard Carlisle intends to buy in Series 2, is part of Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire.[21] Byfleet Manor in Surrey is the location for the Dower House, home to Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham,[22] while West Wycombe Park in Buckinghamshire is used for the interior scenes of Lady Rosamund (Samantha Bond)'s London residence in Eaton Square.[23] A house in Belgrave Square, London, is used for the exterior shots.[24]

Inveraray Castle in Argyll, Scotland, doubled as "Duneagle Castle" in the 2012 Christmas special.[25]

Greys Court in Oxfordshire was used as the family's secondary property, into which they proposed moving and calling 'Downton Place' due to financial difficulties in the third series. Also in the third series, Bates's prison scenes were filmed at Lincoln Castle in Lincolnshire.

Horsted Keynes railway station in West Sussex is used as Downton station.[26] The station is part of the heritage Bluebell Railway. St Pancras station in London doubled for King's Cross station in episode one of series 4, in the scene where Lady Edith Crawley meets her lover Michael Gregson.[27]

Parts of series 4 were filmed at The Historic Dockyard Chatham – The Tarred Yarn Store was used in episode one as a workhouse where Mrs Hughes (Phyllis Logan) visits Mr Grigg (Nicky Henson) and in episode two, streets at The Historic Dockyard Chatham were used for the scenes where Lady Rose MacClare (Lily James) is at the market with James Kent (Ed Speleers) watching her.[28]

Other filming locations for series 4 include the Criterion Restaurant, and the ballroom of The Savile Club in Mayfair, London.[29]

Scenes for the 2013 Christmas special were filmed at Royal Holloway, University of London, West Wittering beach in West Sussex and Berkshire's Basildon Park. Lancaster House in London stood in for Buckingham Palace.[30][31]

Opening theme

The opening theme to Downton Abbey, titled "Did I Make the Most of Loving You?",[32] was composed by John Lunn.[33] A suite version was released on the soundtrack for the show in 19 September 2011 in the UK and later in the US on 13 December 2011. The soundtrack also included the song performed by singer Mary-Jess Leaverland,[34] with lyrics written by Don Black.[35] According to Lunn, the inspiration for the theme to Downton Abbey came from James Brown.[33]

Cast

Main article: List of Downton Abbey characters

Main cast

Table of cast members
Actor Character Series
1 2 3 4 5
Main Characters
Hugh Bonneville Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham Main
Jessica Brown Findlay Lady Sybil Branson (née Crawley) Main
Laura Carmichael Lady Edith Crawley Main
Jim Carter Charles "Charlie" Carson Main
Raquel Cassidy Phyllis Baxter Recurring Main
Brendan Coyle John Bates Main
Tom Cullen Anthony Foyle, Lord Gillingham Recurring Main
Michelle Dockery Lady Mary Crawley Main
Kevin Doyle Joseph Molesley Recurring Main
Siobhan Finneran Sarah O'Brien Main
Joanne Froggatt Anna Bates (née Smith) Main
Thomas Howes William Mason Main
Lily James Lady Rose MacClare Recurring Main
Rob James-Collier Thomas Barrow Main
Allen Leech Tom Branson Recurring Main
Rose Leslie Gwen Dawson Main
Phyllis Logan Elsie Hughes Main
Elizabeth McGovern Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham Main
Sophie McShera Daisy Robinson Main
Matt Milne Alfred Nugent Main
Lesley Nicol Beryl Patmore Main
Amy Nuttall Ethel Parks Main
Julian Ovenden Charles Blake Recurring Main
David Robb Dr Richard Clarkson Recurring Main
Maggie Smith Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham Main
Ed Speleers James "Jimmy" Kent Main
Dan Stevens Matthew Crawley Main
Cara Theobold Ivy Stuart Recurring Main
Penelope Wilton Isobel Crawley Main
Recurring Characters
Robert Bathurst Sir Anthony Strallan Recurring Guest Recurring
Samantha Bond Lady Rosamund Painswick Guest Recurring Guest Recurring
Zoe Boyle Lavinia Swire Recurring
MyAnna Buring Edna Braithwaite Guest Recurring
Clare Calbraith Jane Moorsum Recurring
Gary Carr Jack Ross Recurring
Michael Cochrane Reverend Albert Travis Recurring
Paul Copley Mr Mason Recurring Guest
Jonathan Coy George Murray Guest Recurring
Maria Doyle Kennedy Vera Bates Recurring
Charles Edwards Michael Gregson Recurring
Peter Egan Hugh "Shrimpie" MacClare, Marquess of Flintshire Guest Recurring
Bernard Gallagher Bill Molesley Guest Guest
Iain Glen Sir Richard Carlisle Recurring
Richard E. Grant Simon Bricker Recurring
Nigel Harman Alex Green Recurring
Daisy Lewis Sarah Bunting Recurring
Christine Lohr May Bird Guest Recurring
Christine Mackie Daphne Bryant Recurring
Shirley MacLaine Martha Levinson Recurring Guest
Kevin McNally Horace Bryant Recurring Guest
Brendan Patricks The Hon Evelyn Napier Recurring Recurring
Daniel Pirrie Maj Charles Bryant Recurring
Douglas Reith Lord Merton Guest Recurring
Andrew Scarborough Tim Drewe Recurring
Jeremy Swift Spratt Recurring

Recurring and guest cast

Actor Character Position Appearances
Fergus O'Donnell John Drake Farmer on the Grantham estate Series 1–2
Christine Lohr May Bird Mrs Crawley's cook Series 1–3
Lionel Guyett Mr Taylor Chauffeur Series 1
Andrew Westfield Mr Lynch Groom Series 1
Cathy Sara Mrs Drake Wife of John Drake Series 1–2
Theo James Kemal Pamuk † Ottoman (Turkish) Embassy attaché Series 1
Charlie Cox Philip, The Duke of Crowborough Suitor of Lady Mary; lover of Thomas Barrow Series 1
Nicky Henson Charles "Charlie" Grigg Former colleague of Carson Series 1, Series 4
Bill Fellows Joe Burns Mrs Hughes's former suitor Series 1
Robert Bathurst Sir Anthony Strallan Family friend and suitor of Lady Edith Series 1, Christmas Special 2011–Series 3
Zoe Boyle Lavinia Catherine Swire † Fiancée of Matthew Series 2
Maria Doyle Kennedy Vera Bates † Estranged wife of Mr Bates Series 2
Iain Glen Sir Richard Carlisle Newspaper proprietor and suitor of Lady Mary Series 2–Christmas Special 2011
Cal MacAninch Henry Lang Lord Grantham's valet Series 2
Lachlan Nieboer Lt Edward Courtenay † Wounded officer Series 2
Daniel Pirrie Maj Charles Bryant † Wounded officer; father of Ethel's child Series 2
Trevor White Maj Patrick Gordon Wounded officer who claims to be Patrick Crawley, who was believed dead and would be heir presumptive if not Series 2
Paul Copley Mr Mason William Mason's father Series 2–
Kevin McNally Horace Bryant Maj Bryant's father Series 2–3
Christine Mackie Daphne Bryant Maj Bryant's mother Series 2–3
Nigel Havers Lord Hepworth Suitor of Lady Rosamund Christmas Special 2011
Sharon Small Marigold Shore Lady Rosamund's maid Christmas Special 2011
Charlie Anson The Hon Laurence "Larry" Grey Lord Merton's eldest son Series 3, Series 5
Tim Pigott-Smith Sir Philip Tapsell London obstetrician and gynaecologist Series 3
Ruairi Conaghan Kieran Branson Tom's brother Series 3
Lucille Sharp Ms Reed Mrs Levinson's maid Series 3
Michael Culkin Cosmo Gordon Lang Archbishop of York Series 3
John Henshaw Jos Tufton Grocer and Mrs Patmore's suitor Christmas Special 2012
Harriet Walter Lady Shackleton Friend of Violet Series 4–5
Gary Carr Jack Ross African American jazz singer and musician Series 4
Kiri Te Kanawa Nellie Melba Opera singer Series 4
Christina Carty Virginia Woolf Writer Series 4
Nigel Harman Alex Green † Lord Gillingham's valet Series 4
Andrew Alexander Sir John Bullock Crawley family acquaintance Series 4
Guy Williams George V King of the United Kingdom, Emperor of India Christmas Special 2013
Oliver Dimsdale Prince of Wales Heir to the British throne Christmas Special 2013
Janet Montgomery Freda Dudley Ward Mistress of the Prince of Wales Christmas Special 2013
James Fox William "Billy" Allsopp Lord Aysgarth Christmas Special 2013
Poppy Drayton The Hon Madeleine Allsopp Lord Aysgarth's daughter Christmas Special 2013
Richard E. Grant Simon Bricker Art historian and Crawley family guest Series 5
Anna Chancellor Dowager Lady Anstruther James Kent's former employer Series 5
Rade Šerbedžija Prince Igor Kuragin Russian refugee Series 5
Emma Lowndes Margie Drewe Tim Drewe's wife Series 5
Sue Johnston Gladys Denker Lady's Maid to Dowager Countess of Grantham Series 5- [36]
James Faulkner Lord Daniel Sinderby Atticus Aldridge's father Series 5
Penny Downie Lady Rachel Sinderby Lord Sinderby's wife, Atticus Aldridge's mother Series 5
Ed Cooper Clarke The Hon Timothy "Tim" Grey Lord Merton's second son Series 5

Episodes

Main article: List of Downton Abbey episodes

Series one

The first series, comprising 7 episodes, was broadcast in the UK on 26 September 2010, and explored the lives of the Crawley family and their servants from the day after the sinking of the RMS Titanic in April 1912 to the outbreak of the First World War on 4 August 1914. Much of the focus is on the need for a male heir to the Grantham estate, and the troubled love life of Lady Mary as she attempts to find a suitable husband. The device that sets the drama in motion is the fee tail or "entail" governing the (fictional) Earldom of Grantham, endowing both title and estate exclusively to heirs male and complicated by the dire financial state of the estate, the latter only resolved when the earl—then the heir apparent—married an American heiress. On the marriage, her considerable fortune was contractually incorporated into the comital entail in perpetuity. The earl and countess, who have three daughters and no son, arranged for their eldest daughter to marry her cousin, son of the then-heir presumptive. The demise of both heirs in the sinking of the Titanic destroys the plans and brings into play a distant male cousin, Matthew Crawley, a solicitor from Manchester, as heir presumptive to Downton and the countess's fortune.

Series two

The second series premiered in the UK on 18 September 2011 and in the US on 8 January 2012.[37] A Christmas special[38][39] was broadcast on Christmas Day 2011 in the UK.

The series comprised eight episodes, running from the Battle of the Somme in 1916 to the 1918 flu pandemic. Matthew Crawley, Thomas Barrow, and William Mason go off to fight in the war; Tom Branson, an Irishman, refuses to fight for the British. Lady Sybil Crawley defies her aristocratic position and joins the Voluntary Aid Detachment.[40][41] At the end of the series she leaves Downton Abbey for Dublin to marry Tom Branson, who is now a journalist and on the road to becoming a political activist.

Michelle Dockery, Dame Maggie Smith, Brendan Coyle, Rob James-Collier, Dan Stevens,[6] Elizabeth McGovern, Hugh Bonneville,[42] Jessica Brown Findlay, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt, Phyllis Logan[43] and Allen Leech[44] all returned and Cal MacAninch, Iain Glen, Amy Nuttall, Zoe Boyle and Maria Doyle Kennedy joined the cast[45] as the new valet Lang, Sir Richard Carlisle, the new housemaid Ethel, Miss Lavinia Swire and John Bates's wife Vera respectively.[46] Filming began in March 2011.[47]

Christmas Special 2011

Most of the regular cast, with Nigel Havers as Lord Hepworth and Sharon Small as Lady Rosamund's new maid, Marigold Shore, appear in a Christmas special.[48] This single episode visited Downton between Christmas 1919 and early 1920.

Series three

The third series of Downton Abbey premiered on 16 September 2012 in the UK and in the US on 6 January 2013. Mary and Matthew are married early on. Branson and a pregnant Lady Sybil return to Downton to live after the burning of an aristocrat's house in Ireland, in which Tom was criminally implicated. Downton's estate and business functionality are in jeopardy because Robert has lost most of Cora's fortune on poor investments. In exchange for becoming co-owner of the estate, Matthew gives Robert a large sum of money inherited from the father of his former fiancée Lavinia Swire. Tragedy hits when Sybil dies of complications following childbirth; Tom names their child Sybil and christens her a Catholic. Mr Bates is finally released from prison following a confession from a witness confirming his innocence. Matthew and Tom, who on Violet's suggestion has become the new estate agent, begin to turn Downton Abbey into a profitably managed estate.

Christmas Special 2012

ITV announced at the end of the last episode of Series Three, broadcast on 4 November 2012 in the UK, that a special episode would be broadcast on Christmas Day.[49]

Actress MyAnna Buring appeared in the 2012 Christmas special, playing the role of maid Edna Braithwaite.,[50] as the family visits Violet's niece and her husband, the Marquess and Marchioness of Flintshire, at their estate in Scotland, Duneagle, while awaiting the birth of Mary's baby. Scottish actress Simone Lahbib played the role of Wilkins, Lady Flintshire's (Phoebe Nicholls) maid.[51]

Series four

On 23 November 2012, ITV announced that a fourth series had been commissioned and that filming would begin in February 2013.[52][53] The series began broadcast in the UK on ITV on 22 September 2013[54] while there was a 5 January 2014 premiere in the US on PBS with the series concluding in the US on 23 February 2014.[55]

On ITV, the Downton Abbey official website released some information about series four. Viewers will find Lady Mary Crawley mourning her husband Matthew Crawley, who died six months earlier in a car crash. Matthew had just visited his wife and new baby son, George, in hospital, and was returning to see his family when his car overturned, killing the heir to Downton. Viewers will find out whether Lady Mary will find happiness again.[56]

Various new cast members joined for series four: Tom Cullen as Lord Gillingham, an old childhood friend of Mary whom she hasn't seen in years; Nigel Harman as Gillingham's valet Green; Dame Harriet Walter as Violet's friend Lady Shackleton; Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, played the Australian opera singer Dame Nellie Melba who appeared as a house guest;[57] Joanna David, who will guest star as the Duchess of Yeovil;[58] and Julian Ovenden as the aristocrat Charles Blake. Returning to series four in the 2013 Christmas episode were Shirley MacLaine, who reprised her role as Cora's mother, Martha Levinson,[59] and Paul Giamatti has been cast as Harold, her son and Lady Grantham's brother. The show's first black character was introduced: Jack Ross, a jazz musician and singer from Chicago, played by Gary Carr, whose presence ignited race-related tensions within the household. Daisy Lewis portrayed a local schoolteacher, Miss Sarah Bunting, Andrew Alexander played Sir John Bullock, and Raquel Cassidy portrayed a new lady's maid named Baxter. Brendan Patricks returned to the show as Evelyn Napier. Christine Carty played Virginia Woolf, the third "real life" character in the series, at a Bloomsbury Group party attended by Edith.[60]

Actress Siobhan Finneran, who played lady's maid Sarah O'Brien, did not appear in series four. A rep for the ITV series has confirmed Finneran's departure, but said that the character could return in the future.[61]

The relationship between lady's maid Anna and valet Mr Bates faced additional difficulties, with a plot line that caused uproar among some British viewers.[62]

With the fourth series, Fellowes continued his writing method, which he explained was to subject 'a couple of characters per series to a very difficult situation and you get the emotions that come out of these traumas.'[63] This was 'about taking characters to the brink', he said.[63]

Christmas Special 2013

Scenes for the 2013 Christmas special were filmed at Royal Holloway, University of London, Goldsmith's College London, West Wittering beach in West Sussex and Berkshire's Basildon Park. Lancaster House in London stood in for Buckingham Palace.[30][31]

The episode featured Paul Giamatti in the role of Lady Grantham's brother, Harold Levinson [8]

Series five

ITV announced at the end of series four that Downton Abbey would return for a fifth series in 2014.[64] The British airdates for series five were set to start in late September leading to the seasonal 2014 Christmas special.[2] On 20 August 2014 Vanity Fair magazine announced that the U.S. airdates for season five were set to start on Sunday, 4 January 2015, following the UK broadcast of the 2014 Christmas special.[2] The first episode (of 8 total) of series 5 was broadcast in the UK on 21 September 2014.

Christmas special 2014

The 2014 Christmas special airdate in the U.S. has been set to follow the U.S. season for series five which starts on 4 January 2015.[2]

Prequel

In September 2012, The Telegraph reported Julian Fellowes as saying that he was working on a spin-off prequel of Downton Abbey which revolves around Lord Grantham and Cora's courtship. Initially planned as a book, it was then picked up by ITV.[65]

Themes

The series has been noted for its relatively sympathetic portrayal of the aristocratic family, and the class-based society of early 20th century Britain. This has led to criticism from the political left and praise from the right.[66] James Fenton wrote in The New York Review of Books "it is noticeable that the aristocrats in the series, even the ones who are supposed to be the most ridiculous, never lapse into the most offensive kind of upper-class drawl one would expect of them. Great care has been taken to keep them pleasant and approachable, even when the things they say are sometimes shown to be class-bound and unfeeling."[67] Jerry Bowyer argued in Forbes that the sympathy for aristocracy is over-stated, and that the show is simply more balanced than most period dramas, which he believes have had a tendency to demonise or ridicule upper class characters. He wrote that Downton Abbey shows "there is no inherent need for good TV to be left of center. Stories sympathetic to virtue, preservation of property and admiration of nobility and of wealth can be told beautifully and to wide audiences."[66]

Reception

Downton Abbey has been a commercial success, and has received generally positive reviews from critics. Some, however, have criticized the series as superficial, melodramatic or unrealistic. Others defend these qualities, calling it the reason for the show's appeal. David Kamp of Vanity Fair wrote, "Melodrama is an uncool thing to trade in these days, but then, that's precisely why Downton Abbey is so pleasurable. In its clear delineation between the goodies and the baddies, in its regulated dosages of highs and lows, the show is welcome counter-programming to the slow-burning despair and moral ambiguity of most quality drama on television right now."[10]

James Parker, writing in The Atlantic said, "Preposterous as history, preposterous as drama, the show succeeds magnificently as bad television. The dialogue spins light-operatically along in the service of multiplying plotlets, not too hard on the ear, although now and again a line lands like a tray of dropped spoons. The acting is superb—it has to be."[68] Ben W. Heineman Jr. compared the series unfavourably to Brideshead Revisited, writing "Downton Abbey is entertainment. Its illustrious predecessor in television mega-success about the English upper class, Brideshead Revisited, is art."[69] He noted the lack of character development in Downton. Writing in The Sunday Times, A. A. Gill said that the show is "everything I despise and despair of on British television: National Trust sentimentality, costumed comfort drama that flogs an embarrassing, demeaning, and bogus vision of the place I live in."[10]

Series one

The first episode of Downton Abbey had a consolidated British audience of 9.2 million viewers, a 32% audience share—making it the most successful new drama on any channel since Whitechapel was launched on ITV in February 2009. The total audience for the first episode, including repeats and ITV Player viewings, exceeded 11.6 million viewers. This was beaten by the next episode, with a total audience of 11.8 million viewers—including repeats and ITV Player views.

Downton Abbey broke the record for a single episode viewing on ITV Player, the ITV online catch-up service.[40]

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the first series received an average score of 92, based on 14 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim".[70] This result earned the show a Guinness World Record in 2011 for "Highest critical review ratings for a TV show", making Downton Abbey the most critically well received TV show in the world.[71] Season 4 of Breaking Bad surpassed Downton Abbey's record later in the year, with a score of 96, making series1 of Downton Abbey the 2nd highest rated show of 2011.[72]

Sam Wollaston of The Guardian said,

It's beautifully made—handsome, artfully crafted and acted. Smith, who plays the formidable and disdainful Dowager Countess, has a lovely way of delivering words, always spaced to perfection. This is going to be a treat if you like a lavish period drama of a Sunday evening.[73]

Viewers were critical of the number of advertisement breaks during the first episode (five in a 90-minute episode, as well as one before and one after), claiming it ruined the continuity. ITV responded by saying that the number of breaks complied with Ofcom regulations and that the advertising was necessary to cover the high costs of production.[74]

Series two

The second series premiered in Britain on 18 September 2011 in the same 9 pm slot as the first series, with the first episode attracting an average audience of 9 million viewers on ITV1, a 34.6% share.[75] The second episode attracted a similar following with an average of 9.3 million viewers.[76] In January 2012, the PBS premiere attracted 4.2 million viewers, over double the network's average primetime audience of 2 million. The premiere audience was 18% higher than the Season 1 premiere.[77]

The second season of Downton Abbey gave PBS its highest ratings since 2009. The second season averaged 5.4 million viewers, excluding station replays, DVR viewings and online streaming. The 5.4 million average improved on PBS first season numbers by 25%. Additionally, episodes of season two have been viewed 4.8 million times on PBS's digital portal, which bests season one's online viewing numbers by more than 400 percent. Overall, Downton Abbey-related content has racked up more than 9 million streams across all platforms, with 1.5 million unique visitors, since season 2's 8 January premiere.[78] In 2013, Downton Abbey was ranked the 43rd most well-written TV show of all time by the Writers' Guild of America.[79]

Series three

The third series premiered in the UK on 16 September 2012 with an average of 9 million viewers (or a 36% audience share).[80] For the first time in the UK, episode three received an average of more than 10 million viewers (or a 38.2% audience share).[81] Premiering in the US in January 2013, the third series had an average season audience of 11.5 million viewers and the finale on 17 February 2013, drew 12.3 million viewers making it the night's highest rating show.[82] Overall, during its seven-week run, the series had an audience of 24 million viewers making it PBS's highest-rated drama of all time.[82]

While rumoured, due to the departure of actor Dan Stevens, the death of Matthew Crawley, in the 2012 Christmas special, drew criticism.[83][84] Julian Fellowes defended the decision stating that they 'didn't really have an option' once Stevens decided to leave.[84] Stevens later said that he had no say in the manner of his character's departure but that he was 'sorry' his character had died on Christmas Day.[85]

Series four

The fourth series premiered in the UK on 22 September 2013 with an average audience of 9.5 million viewers which was the highest ever for one of the drama's debut episodes.[86] It premiered in the US on 5 January 2014, to an audience of at least 10.2 million viewers, outperforming every other drama on that night; it was the largest audience for PBS since the 1990 premiere of the Ken Burns documentary The Civil War.[87]

In the UK, the second episode attracted an average of 9.6 million viewers.[88]

The third episode, which aired on 6 October 2013, included a warning at the beginning: "This episode contains violent scenes that some viewers may find upsetting."[89] The episode content, which saw lady's maid Anna Bates raped, led to more than 200 complaints by viewers to UK television regulator Ofcom,[90] while ITV received 60 complaints directly.[63] On 4 November 2013, Ofcom announced it would not be taking action over the controversy citing the warning given, that the episode was screened after 9pm, and, that the rape took place 'off-screen'.[91]

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Downton Abbey

Anti-Irish allegations

Charges that the series depicts the Irish characters—and Irish history—in a negative light have been made in some Irish newspapers especially The Herald. The Irish War of Independence, for example, is incorrectly described in the blurb as the Irish Civil War. Allen Leech, who plays Tom Branson in the series, was asked about this by an Irish reporter writing for the Irish newspaper The Herald, and denied the notion that the series depicted the Irish characters in a stage Irish pejorative fashion.[92] Nevertheless, Tom's brother Kieran is depicted as boorish, rude, and drunken, and is described by the Dowager Countess as a 'drunken gorilla'—an unwelcome reminder to an Irish audience of the ape-like figures depicting the Irish that featured in British[93] and American[94] publications in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.[95][96] The character of the Earl of Grantham expresses anti-Catholic views and is described, by The Washington Post, as 'xenophobic' but 'at least historically accurate'.[97] The series writer, Julian Fellowes, explains that he chose to address this in terms of 'that casual, almost unconscious anti-Catholicism that was found among the upper classes, which lasted well into my growing up years'.[98] Fellowes, himself a Catholic, said that he 'thought it might be interesting' to explore this in the series and described his own experiences where the British upper classes 'were happy for you to come to their dances or shoot their pheasants, but there were plenty who did not want you to marry their daughters and risk Catholic grandchildren'.[98]

Authenticity

Fellowes tries to be as authentic in his depiction of the period as he can.[10] Despite this, the show features many linguistic anachronisms.[99] The accents of characters have also been questioned with the Received Pronunciation of 'the actors who play the wealthy characters' described as 'slightly more contemporary' than would be expected 'among early-20th-century aristocrats', however, this 'elicited more natural and unaffected performances from the cast'.[100]

In 2010, Fellowes hired Alastair Bruce, 'an expert on state and court ritual', as historical adviser.[101] Bruce explains his role as being 'here to guide the production and particularly the director as they bring Julian's words to life. That also involves getting the social conduct right, and giving actors a sense of surety in the way they deliver a performance.'[101] Actor Jim Carter, who plays butler Carson, describes Bruce as the series 'etiquette watchdog'[101] and the UK's Daily Telegraph finished its 2011 profile of Bruce's role stating 'Downton's authenticity, it seems, is in safe hands.'[102] However, historian Simon Schama criticised the show for historical inaccuracies and "pandering to cliches."[103] Producer Gareth Neame defended the show, saying "it was not intended to be an historical documentary."[104]

A 'tremendous amount of research' went into recreating the servants quarters at Ealing Studios because Highclere Castle, where many of the 'upstairs' scenes are filmed,[105] 'was not adequate for representing the "downstairs" life at the fictional abbey'.[106] Researchers visited 'nearly 40 English country houses' to help 'inform what the kitchen should look like' and production designer Donal Woods said of the kitchen equipment that 'Probably about 60 to 70 percent of the stuff in there is from that period'.[105] Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management is an 'important guide' to the food served in the series' but Highclere owner, and author of Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle, Lady Carnarvon, states that dinner parties in the era 'would have been even more over the top' than those shown.[105] However, she 'understands the compromises that need to be made for the purposes of television', and adds 'It’s a fun costume drama. It’s not a social documentary. Because it’s so popular, I think some people take it as historical fact.'[105]

Relationships between servants and the Grantham family, as well as with other upper class characters, are portrayed in a manner excessively familiar and more informal than the norm for the era. For example servants below the level of butler and housekeeper regularly ignore protocol and address senior members of the family with personal requests or observations.[citation needed]

Influence

Downton Abbey has been credited with spawning a massive worldwide increase in demand for professionally-trained butlers, especially British butlers, notably in China, Russia and parts of the Middle East. Between 2010 and 2012, demand was thought to have doubled, leading to some butlers fetching salaries as high as £150,000.[107] In 2014, China's first school for butlers opened, to meet a demand again attributed to the influence of Downton Abbey.[108]

Some of the fashion items worn by characters on the show, including starched collars, midi skirts, beaded gowns and hunting plaids, have seen a strong revival of interest during the show's run, in the UK and elsewhere.[109]

The Equality (Titles) Bill, an unsuccessful piece of legislation introduced in the UK Parliament in 2013 that would have allowed for equal succession of female heirs to hereditary titles and peerages, was nicknamed the "Downton Abbey law" because it addressed the same issue that affects Lady Mary Crawley, who cannot inherit the estate because it must pass to a male heir.

Broadcast

The rights to broadcast Downton Abbey have been acquired in over 220 territories and is viewed by an estimated global audience of 120 million people.[110]

In the United States, Downton Abbey was broadcast in January 2011 on PBS, as part of the 40th season of Masterpiece.[111] The programme was broadcast in four 90-minute episodes, requiring PBS to alter the beginning and endpoints of each episode with minimal editing.[112] In Canada, VisionTV begin airing the programme on 7 September 2011. Canadians can also view it on PBS.[113] A French-language version of the series debuted 12 January 2013 on Radio-Canada.[114] In Ireland, independent television channel TV3 aired the first series in January and February 2011.[115] In Australia, the first series was broadcast on the Seven Network from 29 May 2011.[116] The second series was broadcast on the Seven Network from 20 May 2012.[117] The third series was broadcast on the Seven Network from 10 February 2013.[118] In New Zealand, Prime began airing the first series on 10 May 2011.[119] the second series on 18 October 2011 and the third series on 18 October 2012. In South Africa, BBC Entertainment via DSTV began airing the first series on 19 February 2012. In the Philippines, the series airs over the Velvet Channel. Expat channel Manoto1 has so far broadcast seasons 1 to 3 in Persian for Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

STV opt out

STV, the ITV franchisee in central and northern Scotland (including the Orkney and Shetland islands), opted out of showing Downton Abbey, choosing instead to screen a brand-new six-part series of Taggart, following a long practice of opting out of networked United Kingdom-wide programming on the ITV network.[120] This led to backlash from Scottish viewers, who were frustrated at not being able to watch the programme. Many viewers with satellite or cable television tuned into other regional stations of the ITV network, for example ITV London, with viewing figures showing this is also commonplace for other ITV programmes.[121] The series received its first Britain-wide broadcast when it was shown on ITV3 in February 2011.

STV announced in July 2011 that it would show the first and second series of Downton Abbey as part of its autumn schedule.[122] Scottish cast members Phyllis Logan and Iain Glen were both quoted as being pleased with the decision.[123]

Releases

Streaming

The complete series is available from Amazon Instant Video. It is currently available free for Amazon Prime members. Direct streaming and downloads are both permitted.

Blu-ray and DVD

Title Number of discs Year(s) Number of episodes Release date (UK only)
Blu-ray DVD
Complete Series One 2 3 2010 7 8 November 2010
Complete Series Two 3 4 2011 8 7 November 2011
Complete Series One and Two 5 7 2010–11 15 7 November 2011
Christmas at Downton Abbey 1 1 2011 1 26 December 2011
Complete Series Three 3 4 2012 8 5 November 2012
Complete Series One-Three & Christmas at Downton Abbey 9 11 2010-12 24 5 November 2012
A Journey to the Highlands 1 1 2012 1 26 December 2012
Complete Series Four 3 3 2013 8 11 November 2013
Complete Series One-Four & Christmas at Downton Abbey and A Journey to the Highlands 13 15 2010-13 33 11 November 2013
The London Season 1 1 2013 1 26 December 2013
Complete Series Five 2 3 2014 8 17 November 2014
Complete Series One-Five & Christmas at Downton Abbey, A Journey to the Highlands and The London Season 16 19 2014 42 17 November 2014

Internationally, the US DVD release date was 11 January 2011, in New Zealand it was released on 22 June 2011 and in Australia on 4 August 2011. The release in Australia and New Zealand has an exclusive bonus disc in both the DVD and Blu-ray versions. It contains extras such as cast interviews, geography of Downton: upstairs and downstairs, a day in service and others.

On 16 September 2011, two days before the UK premiere of the second series, it was reported by Amazon.com that the first series of Downton Abbey had become the highest selling DVD Boxset on the online retailer's website of all time, surpassing popular American programmes such as The Sopranos, Friends and The Wire.[124]

On 1 October 2013, a limited edition 10-disc DVD boxset of Downton Abbey was released, which included Seasons 1-3 in an inner slipcase, labelled as a '9-disc set', as well as a bonus disc featuring the exclusive TV documentary, 'Secrets of Highclere Castle', which focuses on the real-life history of the castle used as the Downton Abbey estate in the series.

Soundtrack

A soundtrack, featuring music from the series and also new songs, was released by Decca in September 2011. Music by John Lunn and Don Black features, with vocals from Mary-Jess Leaverland and Alfie Boe.[125]

Track listing

Downton Abbey: Original Music from the Television Series
No.TitleArtistLength
1."Downton Abbey: The Suite"John Lunn & Chamber Orchestra of London7:09
2."Love and the Hunter"John Lunn & Chamber Orchestra of London3:18
3."Emancipation"John Lunn & Chamber Orchestra of London2:15
4."Story of My Life"John Lunn & Chamber Orchestra of London1:58
5."Fashion"John Lunn & Chamber Orchestra of London1:19
6."Damaged"John Lunn & Chamber Orchestra of London5:25
7."If You Were the Only Girl in the World"Alfie Boe3:47
8."Preparation"John Lunn & Chamber Orchestra of London3:27
9."Such Good Luck"John Lunn & Chamber Orchestra of London2:30
10."Us and Them"John Lunn & Chamber Orchestra of London1:53
11."Violet"John Lunn & Chamber Orchestra of London1:56
12."A Drive"John Lunn & Chamber Orchestra of London1:04
13."An Ideal Marriage"John Lunn & Chamber Orchestra of London2:43
14."Roses of Picardy"Alfie Boe3:55
15."Telegram"John Lunn & Chamber Orchestra of London1:45
16."Deception"John Lunn & Chamber Orchestra of London2:51
17."Titanic"John Lunn & Chamber Orchestra of London2:10
18."A Song and a Dance"John Lunn & Chamber Orchestra of London1:30
19."Did I Make the Most of Loving You?" (a shortened version of "Downton Abbey: The Suite" with lyrics)John Lunn, Chamber Orchestra of London & Mary-Jess Leaverland4:18

Books

The World of Downton Abbey, a book featuring a behind-the-scenes look at Downton Abbey and the era in which it is set, was released on 15 September 2011. It was written by Jessica Fellowes (the niece of Julian Fellowes) and was published by HarperCollins.[125][126] A second book also written by Jessica Fellowes and published by HarperCollins, The Chronicles of Downton Abbey, was released on 13 September 2012. It is a guide to the show's characters through the early part of the third series.[127]

See also

References

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  3. ^ http://www.geektown.co.uk/tvairdates/downton-abbey/
  4. ^ "Downton Abbey commissioned for a SIXTH season", Mail Online, 6 November 2014
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  11. ^ "Highclere Castle: Downton Abbey". Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  12. ^ Dickson, Elizabeth (January–February 1979). "Historic Houses: the Splendors of Highclere Castle". The Architectural Digest. Retrieved 14 November 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ Brennan, Morgan (2 May 2013). "Inside Highclere Castle: the Real Life Locale of Downton Abbey". Forbes Magazine. Retrieved 14 November 2013. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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  16. ^ Ffrench, Andrew (23 April 2010). "Village is the star of the show". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
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Further reading

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