Downton Abbey fans set to be thrilled as new TV show takes us back to toffs at Highclere Castle
GOOD news for Downton Abbey fans whose thirst for the show was revived by the recent film: Highclere Castle is returning to our TV screens.
I can reveal Channel 4 is poised to green-light a five-part series about the real-life Crawleys, Lord and Lady Carnarvon, who live at the stately home where Downton is shot.
Cameras will go behind the scenes at the Hampshire pile made famous by the period drama, which was last on ITV in 2015.
The new documentary, which is set to air later this year, follows the success of a one-off special made by C4 which showed a glimpse of Christmas at Highclere.
A telly insider said: “The festive special was so warmly received it felt like a no-brainer to give it a full series.
“The love for Downton Abbey is still strong and the fanbase always lap up anything related to the show. It’s likely the series will air in the autumn and be given a prime-time slot.”
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The sprawling estate has a dedicated team of staff tasked with the upkeep of the centuries-old castle, which has become one of the most famous stately homes in the world.
It is steeped in history every bit as dramatic as the goings-on in Downton, particularly as it was home to the fifth Earl of Carnarvon.
He led the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt and legend has it his death months later was a result of the “Mummy’s curse”.
Hugh Bonneville, who plays Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham, revealed earlier this month the second movie, Downton Abbey: A New Era, is likely to be the final chapter in the hit franchise.
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But the film, released in April to critical and popular acclaim, reinvigorated devotees’ desire for anything related to the show, which was written by Julian Fellowes.
Looks like they could be in luck after all.
Perfect part for George
SEX Education’s George Robinson is to star in a new Dave comedy, Perfect.
George is one of three disabled characters who become unlikely pals after meeting on a pointless work preparation scheme.
He is joined by Wills Whittington of Don’t Forget The Driver, Motherland’s Tanya Moodie and Juliet Cowan from Back To Life.
George said last year appearing on high-profile shows such as Sex Education would help “break down the taboos” around disability.
He said: “Often people don’t necessarily know what to say just because they haven’t got that experience.
“But if they see it on screen that changes. More and more these days, we learn about society from TV and media.”
Looks like he’s going to expand our education even further. Perfect.
THE writer of Disney+ drama Obi-Wan Kenobi has revealed the original ending was far more tragic than what viewers saw.
In the first version, Reva (Moses Ingram) spared the life of Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) knowing she would be killed by Darth Vader.
Fern: I’m not art-broken
CHANNEL 5 has axed Fern Britton’s Watercolour Challenge after one season.
The daytime show, which originally aired on Channel 4 between 1998 and 2001 hosted by Hannah Gordon, was revived last year with the former This Morning presenter at the helm.
Amateur artists were given three hours to paint the same landscape.
Speaking to Iain Dale’s Book Club podcast, she said: “It was a lovely series. We did 20 shows but I hear that it’s not coming back, which is fine.
“It just didn’t perform consistently. You can’t afford to have a show that doesn’t perform consistently.
“But it was good fun and it was well-made.”
Dixon down under
ALESHA DIXON celebrated her appearance on Australia’s Got Talent by posting this dazzling Instagram image in which she’s head to toe in pink sequins.
Fresh from her stint on Britain’s Got Talent, she headed straight off to join the hunt for gifted performers Down Under.
In a nod to the Netflix sci-fi hit in which a disturbing alternate world lurks beneath our own, she wrote: “Stranger Things have happened . . . and that’s a wrap on the auditions from The Upside Down.”
Given it’s a wretched place full of weird creatures, I’m not sure Aussies will like the comparison.
Council Jackie’s bruv bid
HER lockdown Zoom debacle catapulted her into the national consciousness – now Jackie Weaver could soon be on all our screens.
Handforth council’s “meeting facilitator” says she fancies trying her hand at reality TV . . . and has one specific show in mind.
Talking to Cheshire Life magazine, she said: “I’d do it, although I don’t know which one.
“Dancing On Ice would be an absolute disaster waiting to happen. So something like Big Brother, probably. I think I’d end up being the group counsellor.”
Since talk of a reboot on ITV hasn’t yet come to anything, she’d have to get BB brought back first. But I’m not sure she has the authority.
GOOD Morning Britain host Kate Garraway has thanked fans on social media for helping to recover essential medical supplies for ill husband Derek Draper.
Kate left medicines and kit in the back of a cab but got them back after appealing to her followers for help.
Crawley kick off new doc
CAMERAS will follow footie club Crawley Town for a new reality series in which fans vote on new signings.
US crypto investor Wagmi United bought the League Two club, for whom Towie’s Mark Wright briefly played, in April.
Wall To Wall, the telly firm behind Who Do You Think You Are? and Long Lost Family, will get behind-the-scenes access for the new season.
Under its unique model, buyers of club NFTs – digital tokens Crawley bosses have compared to virtual season tickets – can vote on which players to sign.
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While streaming giants are bidding for the series, Channel 4 had to abandon a show giving armchair fans a say in running Stevenage FC when league bosses objected.
Welcome To Wrexham, following the Welsh club after its unlikely takeover by Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds, will air on Disney+ this summer.