Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey

Intertitle
Genre Period drama
Created by Julian Fellowes
Written by
Directed by
Starring Hugh Bonneville
Jessica Brown-Findlay
Laura Carmichael
Jim Carter
Brendan Coyle
Michelle Dockery
Siobhan Finneran
Joanne Froggatt
Thomas Howes
Rob James-Collier
Rose Leslie
Phyllis Logan
Elizabeth McGovern
Sophie McShera
Lesley Nicol
Amy Nuttall
Maggie Smith
Dan Stevens
Penelope Wilton
Theme music composer John Lunn
Opening theme "Did I Make the Most of Loving You?"
Composer(s) John Lunn
Country of origin United Kingdom
Language(s) English
No. of series 2
No. of episodes 16 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Julian Fellowes
  • Gareth Neame
Producer(s)
  • Liz Trubridge (Series Producer)
  • Nigel Marchant
Editor(s)
  • John Wilson
  • Steve Singleton
  • Mike Jones
Cinematography David Katznelson (series 1),
Gavin Struthers (series 2)
Running time 45–67 minutes per episode
(excluding commercial breaks)
Production company(s)
Broadcast
Original channel ITV (ITV1/STV/UTV)
(also ITV1 HD/STV HD/UTV HD)
Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
Original airing 26 September 2010–present
External links
Website

Downton Abbey is a British television period drama series, produced by British media company Carnival Films for the ITV network. The series is set during the late Edwardian era (after Edward VII's death, the series beginning with news of the Titanic's sinking) on the fictional estate of Downton Abbey in North Yorkshire, and features an ensemble cast. It was created and principally written by actor and writer Julian Fellowes, and premiered on ITV on 26 September 2010.

Reception of the programme was predominantly positive; ratings were extremely high for what is usually considered a "genre" show, and the first series picked up a number of awards and nominations after its initial run. It has subsequently become the most successful British costume drama since the 1981 television serial version of Brideshead Revisited,[1] and in 2011 it entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the "most critically acclaimed television show" for the year, becoming the first British show to be so recognised.[2]

A second series aired in autumn 2011. On 3 November 2011, ITV confirmed that a third series has been commissioned and will be broadcast from September 2012.[3]

Contents

Overview

The series is set in the fictional Downton Abbey, the Yorkshire country house of the Earl and Countess of Grantham, and follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the reign of King George V. The first series spans two years before the Great War, beginning with news of the sinking of the Titanic, which sets the story in motion. The second series covers the years 1916 to 1919 and the 2011 Christmas Special December 1919 to January 1920.

Highclere Castle in Hampshire[4][5] was used for exterior shots of Downton Abbey and most of the interior filming. The servants' living areas were constructed and filmed at Ealing Studios.[6]

The village of Bampton in Oxfordshire was used for filming outdoor scenes, most notably St Mary's Church and the library, which serves as the entrance to the cottage hospital.[7] The North Yorkshire towns of Malton, Thirsk, Easingwold, Kirkby, Kirkbymoorside, Middlesbrough, Ripon and Richmond have been mentioned by characters in the series.

The first series cost an estimated £1 million per episode, and is the most successful British period drama since Brideshead Revisited, with ratings exceeding 10 million viewers.[1] The series was well received in the United States, averaging more than six million viewers per episode.[8]

Cast

Main article: List of characters in Downton Abbey

Main cast

Crawley family

Actor Character Relation Series
Hugh Bonneville The Right Honourable Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham The Earl and the head of the Crawley family 1–
Elizabeth McGovern The Rt Hon Cora, Countess of Grantham The American wife of the Earl 1–
Michelle Dockery Lady Mary Josephine Crawley Eldest daughter of the Earl 1–
Laura Carmichael Lady Edith Crawley Middle daughter of the Earl 1–
Jessica Brown-Findlay Lady Sybil Crawley, later (Lady) Sybil Branson Youngest daughter of the Earl 1–
Maggie Smith The Rt Hon Violet, Countess of Grantham Dowager Countess and the Earl's mother 1–
Dan Stevens Mr Matthew Crawley Third cousin, once removed, of the Earl; heir presumptive to the title and estate 1–
Penelope Wilton Mrs Isobel Crawley Matthew's mother 1–

Staff

Actor Character Position Series
Jim Carter Charles Carson Butler 1–
Phyllis Logan Elsie Hughes Housekeeper 1–
Brendan Coyle John Bates Lord Grantham's valet 1–
Siobhan Finneran Sarah O'Brien Lady Grantham's maid 1–
Rob James-Collier Thomas Barrow Footman, later Lord Grantham's valet 1–
Allen Leech Tom Branson Downton's Chauffeur later journalist and Lady Sybil Crawley's husband 1–
Thomas Howes William Mason Footman 1–2
Joanne Froggatt Anna Smith, later Anna Bates Head housemaid 1–
Rose Leslie Gwen Dawson Housemaid 1
Amy Nuttall Ethel Parks Housemaid 2
Lesley Nicol Beryl Patmore Cook 1–
Sophie McShera Daisy Robinson, later Daisy Mason Kitchen maid 1–

Recurring and guest cast

Actor Character Position Series
Zoe Boyle Miss Lavinia Catherine Swire fiancée of Matthew Crawley 2
Clare Calbraith Jane Moorsum Housemaid 2
Samantha Bond Lady Rosamund Painswick Sister of the Earl 1–
Andrew Westfield Lynch Groom 1
Kevin Doyle Joseph Molesley Matthew Crawley's butler and valet 1–
Christine Lohr Mrs Bird Matthew Crawley's cook 1–
David Robb Dr. Richard Clarkson Medical doctor 1–
Cal Macaninch Henry Lang Lord Grantham's valet 2
Sharon Small Marigold Shore Lady Rosamund's maid CS
Lionel Guyett Taylor Chauffeur 1
Robert Bathurst Sir Anthony Strallan Family friend and suitor of Lady Edith 1, CS
Brendan Patricks The Hon. Evelyn Napier Suitor of Lady Mary 1
Charlie Cox Duke of Crowborough Suitor of Lady Mary 1
Jonathan Coy Mr George Murray Lord Grantham's lawyer 1
Nicky Henson Mr Charles Grigg Former colleague of Carson's 1
Theo James Mr Kemal Pamuk Ottoman Empire Embassy attaché 1
Bill Fellows Joe Burns Mrs. Hughes's former suitor 1
Fergus O'Donnell John Drake Farmer on the Grantham estate 1, 2
Cathy Sara Mrs Drake Wife of Mr Drake 1, 2
Nigel Havers Lord Hepworth Lady Rosamund's beau CS
Iain Glen Sir Richard Carlisle Publisher and Lady Mary's suitor 2, CS
Maria Doyle Kennedy Vera Bates Wife of Mr Bates 2
Lachlan Nieboer Lieutenant Edward Courtenay Wounded officer 2
Daniel Pirrie Major Charles Bryant Wounded officer 2
Trevor White Major Patrick Gordon Wounded officer 2
Paul Copley Mr Mason Farmer and William's father 2, CS
Kevin McNally Mr Bryant Major Bryant's father 2
Christine Mackie Mrs Bryant Major Bryant's mother 2

CS = 2011 Christmas Special

Episodes

Main article: List of Downton Abbey episodes

Series one

The first series was broadcast in the UK on 26 September 2010, and explored the lives of the Crawley family and their staff 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 entail that accompanies the (fictional) Earldom of Grantham, which endows both title and estate exclusively to heirs male. This is complicated as the estate had been in near financial ruin, and was only saved when the present Earl, then the heir apparent, married a rich American heiress. On his marriage, her considerable fortune was contractually incorporated into the comital entail in perpetuity. The earl, having had three daughters and no son, had arranged for his elder daughter to marry her cousin, and son to the heir presumptive, keeping both title and estate within the family. The demise of both heirs presumptive in the sinking of the Titanic destroys the family plans and brings a distant cousin, a young solicitor from Manchester, in line to inherit everything, including the personal wealth of the countess, who will not be able to bequeath it to her daughters.

Series two

The second series premiered in the UK on 18 September 2011, and is due to do so in the U.S. on 8 January 2012.[9] There was a Christmas special,[10][11] broadcast on Christmas Day 2011.

The series comprises eight episodes, running from the Battle of the Somme in 1916 to the Spanish 'flu pandemic in 1919. Social equality, redemption and death are the themes of this series. Matthew Crawley, Thomas, and William Mason went to fight in the war; Tom Branson, an Irishman, is unsure that he wants to fight for the British; and Lord Grantham cannot serve due to his age. Lady Sybil Crawley defies her aristocratic position and joins the Voluntary Aid Detachment.[12][13] Filming began in March 2011.[14]

Michelle Dockery, Dame Maggie Smith, Brendan Coyle, Rob James-Collier, Dan Stevens,[1] Elizabeth McGovern, Hugh Bonneville,[15] Jessica Brown-Findlay, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt, Phyllis Logan[16] and Allen Leech[17] all returned and Cal Macaninch, Iain Glen, Amy Nuttall, Zoe Boyle and Maria Doyle Kennedy joined the cast[18] as the new valet Lang, Sir Richard Carlisle, the new Housemaid Ethel, Miss Lavinia Swire and John Bates' wife Vera respectively.[19]

Christmas Day Special 2011

Most of the regular cast, with Nigel Havers as Lord Hepworth and Sharon Small as Lady Rosamund's new maid, Marigold Shore, appeared in a Christmas special.[20] This single episode visited Downton between Christmas 1919 and early 1920 and saw Mr Bates convicted of the murder of his ex-wife, Vera, but with his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment. The relationship between Matthew Crawley and Lady Mary Crawley took a twist, after she jilted her fiancé and, in the final scene, accepted Matthew's proposal of marriage.

Series three

It was confirmed on 29 July 2011 at the preview of the second series at Highclere Castle[13] that Fellowes was working on a third series, set during the 1920s.[13] Amy Nuttall will not return for that.[21] ITV confirmed the commissioning of a third series on 3 November 2011 which will enter production in early 2012, and be broadcast from September 2012.[3] According to Independent Catholic News, Fellows has stated that it will include a Catholic storyline.[22]

Reception

Series one

The first episode of Downton Abbey had a consolidated 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 ITV1 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.[12]

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".[23] 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.[24]

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.[25]

Viewers were critical of the number of advertisement breaks during the first episode (seven in a 90-minute episode), 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.[26]

Series two

The second series premiered in Britain on 18 September 2011 in the same 9pm slot as the first series with the first episode attracting an average audience of 9 million viewers on ITV1, a 34.6% share.[27] The second episode attracted a similar following with an average of 9.3 million viewers.[28]

Consolidated Ratings Figures from www.barb.co.uk ITV1 Sunday night viewing figures across ITV1, ITV1HD and ITV+1.

Ratings

Series 2:

Airdate Episode No. Viewers on ITV
(in millions)		 Viewers ITV1+1 Total viewers
(in millions)
18 September 2011 1 10.93 470k 11.40
25 September 2011 2 11.17 601k 11.77
2 October 2011 3 10.80 531k 11.33
9 October 2011 4 10.69 606k 11.30
16 October 2011 5 11.11 486k 11.60
23 October 2011 6 10.83 504k 11.33
30 October 2011 7 11.88 383k 12.26
6 November 2011 8 12.42 312k 12.73
25 December 2011 Christmas
special		 8.56 513k 8.9

Although the second series maintained viewer numbers, critical reception to it was not as universally positive as it had been for the first. Several critics suggested that the new series had raced through plot lines, with increasingly difficult to believe stories.[29][30]

The Guardian's John Crace described it as,

an institution that began life as an upstairs-downstairs costume drama and ended as pure comedy. Just how intentional the humour was meant to be only Julian Fellowes can know for sure, but having started off the first series writing a leisurely paced, middle-brow Edwardian soap he signed off with a helter-skelter theatre of the absurd.[31]

Awards and nominations

Downton Abbey was placed tenth on the Top 10 TV programmes of 2010, and came second in the Top 10 TV dramas of 2010 list, beaten only by Doctor Who. It came first in the Top 10 new drama category.[32]

It won two Broadcasting Press Guild awards in 2011. It won Best Drama Series and Julian Fellowes won for writing.[33] It has also won 5 Primetime Emmy Awards.[34]

In September 2011, the show entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the 'most critically acclaimed television show' for the year, becoming the first British show to win the award. It beat American shows Mad Men and Modern Family to the title.[2]

Downton Abbey series is currently up for nominations at the 2012 National Television Awards for Best Drama, Drama Performance: Male for actors Brendan Coyle and Dan Stevens, and Drama Performance: Female for actresses Joanne Froggatt and Michelle Dockery. The awards nominations are voted by the public, the winners announced at the award show, which takes place on 25 January 2012.

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result
2010 BAFTA Craft Best Fiction Director Brian Percival Won
Sound Award Nigel Heath
Alex Sawyer
Adam Armitage
Mark Holding		 Won
2011 Broadcasting Press Guild Best Drama Series Downton Abbey Won
Best Actor Hugh Bonneville Nominated
Best Actress Maggie Smith Nominated
Best Writer Julian Fellowes Won
BAFTA Awards Supporting Actor Brendan Coyle Nominated
YouTube Audience Award Downton Abbey Nominated
Monte-Carlo Television Festival Outstanding Actor Hugh Bonneville Nominated
Outstanding Actress Michelle Dockery Nominated
Outstanding Actress Maggie Smith Nominated
Best International Producer Gareth Neame Nominated
Best European Producer Gareth Neame Nominated
RTS Awards Best Drama Series Downton Abbey Nominated
TRIC Awards TV Drama Programme of the Year Downton Abbey Won
TCA Awards Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Mini-Series and Specials Downton Abbey Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries or Movie Downton Abbey Won
Outstanding Lead Actress In a Miniseries or a Movie Elizabeth McGovern Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Miniseries or a Movie Maggie Smith Won
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special Brian Percival Won
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special Julian Fellowes Won
Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Jill Trevellick Nominated
Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie David Katznelson Won
Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie Donal Woods
Charmian Adams
Gina Cromwell		 Nominated
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries or a Movie John Wilson Nominated
Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Susannah Buxton
Caroline McCal		 Won
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Adam Armitage
Alex Sawyer		 Nominated
TV Choice Awards Best New Drama Downton Abbey Nominated
2012 National Television Awards Best Drama Downton Abbey Pending
Drama Performance: Male Brendan Coyle Pending
Drama Performance: Male Dan Stevens Pending
Drama Performance: Female Joanne Froggatt Pending
Drama Performance: Female Michelle Dockery Pending
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries Maggie Smith Pending
Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Television Film Downton Abbey Pending
Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Hugh Bonneville Pending
Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Elizabeth McGovern Pending
Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Maggie Smith Pending
Satellite Awards Best Miniseries or Television Film Downton Abbey Nominated
Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television Hugh Bonneville Nominated
Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television Elizabeth McGovern Nominated
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Maggie Smith Nominated
Producers Guild of America Awards Long-form Television Downton Abbey Pending

International broadcasts

Over 100 countries have acquired the rights to broadcast Downton Abbey.[35]

STV opt out

STV, which broadcasts ITV productions in Scotland, 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 Britain-wide ITV programmes.[58] 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 ITV1 London, with viewing figures showing this is also commonplace for other ITV programmes.[59] The series received its first Britain-wide broadcast when it was shown on ITV3 in February 2011.

STV announced in July 2011 that it will show the first and second series of Downton Abbey, as part of its autumn schedule.[60]

Phyllis Logan, who plays Mrs Hughes, said: "I'm delighted that STV is showing Downton Abbey in Scotland – it means my family and friends in Scotland will be able to watch it at the same time as the rest of the UK. This might push our viewing figures up even higher which can only be good." Iain Glen, who plays Sir Richard Carlisle, added: "I am not party to the original decision as to why STV didn't acquire the original series from ITV, but I am delighted the decision has been reversed and the people of Scotland will be able to see what all the fuss has been about."[61]

Releases

Blu-ray and DVD

Blu-ray/DVD Title # of Disc(s) Year # of Episodes Release dates (UK Only)
Blu-ray DVD
Complete Series One 2 (Blu-ray)
3 (DVD)		 2010 7 8 November 2010 8 November 2010
Complete Series Two[62] 3 (Blu-ray)
4 (DVD)		 2011 8 7 November 2011 7 November 2011
Complete Series One and Two[63] 5 (Blu-ray)
7 (DVD)		 2010–11 15 7 November 2011 7 November 2011
Downton Abbey Christmas Special[64] 1 2011 1 26 December 2011 26 December 2011

Internationally, the U.S. 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.[65]

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.[66]

Book

The World of Downton Abbey, a book featuring a behind-the-scenes look at Downton Abbey was released on 15 September 2011. It was written by Jessica Fellowes (the niece of Julian Fellowes) and was published by HarperCollins.[66][67]

See also

References

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  2. ^ a b Downton Abbey enters Guinness Book of Records TNT UK Magazine, September 2011
  3. ^ a b Downton Abbey: ITV confirms third series The Guardian, 3 November 2011
  4. ^ "Highclere Castle". Highclere Castle. http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-10-31. 
  5. ^ Highclere Castle is located in Hampshire, though it lies close to the Berkshire town of Newbury, and its postal address is Newbury
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  21. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Nuttall; see Help:Cite errors/Cite error references no text
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  58. ^ STV's Opting-out Policy Again Comes in for Criticism allmediascotland, 30 September 2010
  59. ^ Viewers opt out of STV on satellite, BBC News, 31 October 2010
  60. ^ STV to show Downton Abbey in Autumn schedule, STV, 21 July 2011
  61. ^ "BBC News – STV decides to show 'Downton Abbey'". Bbc.co.uk. 21 July 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-14230189. Retrieved 2011-10-31. 
  62. ^ Downton Abbey Series Two DVD Amazon, 2011
  63. ^ Downton Abbey Series One and Two DVD Amazon, 2011
  64. ^ Downton Abbey Christmas Special Amazon, 2011
  65. ^ "Downton Abbey becomes top selling DVD box set of all time". Metro. 16 September 2011. http://www.metro.co.uk/tv/875697-downton-abbey-becomes-top-selling-dvd-box-set-of-all-time. Retrieved 21 September 2011. 
  66. ^ a b Downton Abbey Series Two Press Pack ITV Press Centre, July 2011
  67. ^ Interview with Jessica Fellowes Edwardian Promenade, 12 September 2011

Further reading

External links

Anne Frank: The Whole Story (2001) · Band of Brothers (2002) · Taken (2003) · Angels in America (2004) · The Lost Prince (2005) · Elizabeth I (2006) · Broken Trail (2007) · John Adams (2008) · Little Dorrit (2009) · The Pacific (2010) · Downton Abbey (2011)
Complete List · (1973–2000) · (2001–2025)