The house part
IN DARK and divided times, Downton is just the tonic. Indeed, the big-screen sequel to the hit television series took £145million worldwide, half of that in the US where it obliterated Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo: Last Blood on its opening weekend.
I met creator Lord Julian Fellowes and stars Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan (Carson and Mrs Hughes), plus Sophie Mcshera and Michael Fox (Daisy and Andy) to discuss the phenomenon – and what comes next.
“Well, I hear we’re the Avengers of period drama,” says Jim in that fabulous baritone. “And we knocked out Rambo. Boom!” He loudly smacks a fist into his palm with satisfaction.
Did they ever in a million years see this coming?
“I haven’t quite been around for that long,” Jim growls. “But no.the first series took us by surprise and the rest has amazed and delighted us.when the series finished we thought, ‘That was lovely, thanks’. But it wouldn’t go away. Every question afterwards was always about a film.”
“I thought it was over,” admits Julian, 70. “And suddenly here we are again.
It’s extraordinary.”
Inevitably, after such box office success, there is already word that a sequel is in motion – and Jim Carter knows exactly how it should start.
“You see all the family on the drive, dressed in black and then cut to 12 gravestones,” he says, adding: “You need a bit of tragedy to spice it up.” Twelve?who would be left?
“It depends who’s available,” laughs Phyllis, 63. “But of course we’d all be delighted to return.we always tell the youngsters it’s never like this on any other show. Savour it.this is special, this sense that we are all a family.”
Of course, their “family” has always been generously garnished with guest stars.who would they like to see in the next film?
“Och, I’ve already had mine,” sighs Phyllis, “when George Clooney did the Comic Relief special. He was so handsome and polite and charming.”
“He was everything you could want,” adds Jim, 71. “He even hung around and played Bananagrams with us – it’s what we do when we’re bored with gossiping. Perhaps I can persuade him to come back as Carson’s long-lost son. Or Anthony Hopkins as an under-gardener...”
“We’ll need some guest stars for
Daisy and Andy’s marriage,” says Sophie, 35. “We want Kathy Burke to play his mum.”
Will the marriage even happen? I ask, gently pointing out that Daisy can be a little fickle.
“I don’t know,” Sophie teases. “Is he good enough for her?”
“How rude.thanks,” Michael groans. Daisy has become impressively stroppy and contrary over the years. Is that from Sophie?
“It might be,” she laughs. “She wasn’t a major character in the beginning so maybe I’ve brought in all the huffing and eye-rolling.”
I can’t resist wondering if Julian has a favourite character. “It’s like asking someone who’s their favourite child,” he says. “They protest but, of course, they secretly do. I hear my father in
Robert, Lord Grantham. My father was more intelligent but they’re similar in their moral stand.
They’re both decent men doing their best but neither questions the moral world in w Robert doesn’t wake and think ‘Why am I Grantham?’ he just t breakfast?’”
Even so, I wonder indomitable Carson would put the world
“We’d have to inv machine,” growls Jim and say to David Ca you doing, you clow
WHO IS m character nominate who play unhappy Mr Barrow married with a coup “He’s got four!” Phy “You forgot the twin
“Every prank on s Rob,” Sophie adds. “like the daddy. He lo everyone.”
“Phyllis is totally d Hughes,” says Micha warm and totally hil
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