The Earl And Countess Of Carnarvon

AHEAD OF THE BIG-SCREEN DEBUT OF ‘DOWNTON ABBEY’ THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF CARNARVON INVITE HELLO! INSIDE THEIR MAGNIFICENT HIGHCLERE CASTLE HOME AND REVEAL THE SECRETS OF ITS STARRING ROLE

- Sally Morgan

Although it is their magnificent gothic mansion, Highclere Castle, that stars as Downton Abbey, the Earl, and Countess of Carnarvon are having great fun imagining the characters they might have played if they’d had roles in the upcoming big-screen adaptation of the celebrated TV show.

“We’ve never appeared in a scene so far, but it would be fun to do,” says Lord Carnarvon – George Herbert, the 8th Earl – inviting hello! into the castle for this exclusive interview. “I’d like to be a gardener or a gamekeeper.”

A below-stairs role would appeal to his wife, too. “I love cooking so I’d choose to be in the kitchen,” she tells us. “Or perhaps I could play a gardener. While I’m walking the dogs in the evening, I often pick up a fork and do some weeding.”

They may not have roles in the film, but the couple will be gracing the red carpet when they join the stars of the show at its premiere on 9 September.

“It’s all very exciting,” says Lady Carnarvon. “It’s almost as if the house is a character in its own right. The idea of a film had been mentioned, but we had to wait for the script to be ready and the cast available. It’s wonderful that it all turned out well. For us, though, it’s home and we love it.”

Among the cast members who returned for filming at Highclere was Jim Carter as loyal head butler Carson, Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley, Laura Carmichael as Lady Sybil and Allen Leech as chauffeur turned estate manager Tom Branson.

Written and produced by series creator Julian Fellowes, the film sees the abbey and its inhabitants preparing for a visit from King George V, played by Simon Jones, and Queen Mary, played by Geraldine James.