Pupils only learned about world wars from watching Downton, says its creator

MANY children only know there had been two world wars because they watched Downton Abbey, the TV show’s creator claims.

Julian Fellowes says pupils are taught ‘nodules’ of history and struggle to make sense of how events are linked together.

At a discussion at the China Exchange in west London, he said: ‘I got a lot of letters from teachers because ... history is very oddly taught at the moment. They sort of get these nodules about the Second World War or the Tudors, but there doesn’t seem to be any linear narrative linking up the different periods of history at all now.

‘What had happened is that a large number of pupils didn’t know there was a difference between the two world wars, they thought that was “the world war”. Downton of course made it quite clear that the First World War was specific and was over before the 1920s began.

‘I had a lot of letters about that. It’s surprising, but it’s always nice when you feel you have opened up a door a bit and helped people understand something they didn’t completely grasp before.’

Despite apparent confirmation last week that a Downton Abbey film is happening, Lord Fellowes told the audience: ‘I don’t know anything more than you do.

‘I think it is sad if we don’t do it, there is a reasonably solid audience for it. I have written the basis of it… when it becomes a reality and a director steps up then there are more drafts.’

And, asked about potential storylines for the film, Lord Fellowes replied: ‘I do not think it would be terribly likely I would answer that question.’