Jolly marvellous! The Crawleys are back at last

DOWNTON ABBEY

Downton Abbey Season 4 Sundays (from 12 April) BBC Entertainment 21:00 While it’s been a year-and-a-half since South African fans last tuned into Downton Abbey (2010- current), in the show only six months have passed since the estate heir Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) died. His family is still reeling from his death, especially his widow Mary (Michelle Dockery). But as new Downton resident Lady Rose MacClare (Lily James) fully embraces the Roaring ’20s focus on jazz, joy and youth, Mary will also find herself back on the market, with potential suitors lining up to woo her. “We’re a show about romantic love and the moment they were together, I was not sure if Mary and Matthew were as interesting as they had been. So to have her start life over in Season 4 gave us a lot of new ground,” says executive producer Gareth Neame. “Mary is a beautiful, eligible young widow and there are men around who start to show interest. There’s something intriguing about her coldness.” With new characters, new inventions, new loves and new politics, Downton’s dragging itself into the 20th century… sometimes rather reluctantly.

UPSTAIRS Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess Of Grantham (Maggie Smith)

Then: sided with the rebellious youth.

Now: sets aside her acid tongue to be a loving grandmother. Robert Crawley, Earl Of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville)

Then: facing bankruptcy head on. Now: back in control of Downton but Matthew’s left him a financial mess and he’ll fight with Mary over the estate’s management. Cora Crawley, Countess Of Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern)

Then: blamed her husband for their daughter Sybil’s death during childbirth.

Now: reconciled with her husband but she’s still worried about her children and their lives.

Lady Edith Crawley (Laura Carmichael) Lady Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery) Lady Rose MacClare (Lily James) Lady Rosamund Painswick (Samantha Bond) Isobel Crawley (Penelope Wilton) Tom Branson (Allen Leech)

Now:

“She’s takes us into the world of jazz clubs,” reveals Gareth.

Then: started working as a newspaper columnist and her married boss Michael Gregson asked her to be his mistress.

Now: enjoying a secret Bohemian life. “There’s lots of romance,” says Gareth.

Then: caught keeping news of Rose’s unsuitable affair from her mother. Now: opens her posh London house to Edith and Rose and she keeps their secrets… again.

Then: a widow and single mother after Matthew’s death. Their baby son George is now heir to Downton but Matthew’s will has a surprising term.

Now: “Mary’s completely given up. Her family and servants will slowly start to bring her back to the fact that she has a child and has to live,” says Gareth.

Then: turned down Dr Clarkson’s proposal.

Now: grieving over the loss of her only son.

Then: Lady Sybil’s widower became Downton’s estate manager and a single dad to baby Sybil.

Now: “He fell in a love with a person from the wrong tribe. Now that she is gone, he’s trapped behind enemy lines,” Gareth explains.

Then: sent to stay at Downton when her family lost their fortune and moved to India.