Y that simply goes on and on
which they exist. e up one morning I the seventh Earl of thinks, ‘What’s for
how the and Mrs Hughes d to rights today. vent a time m, “And go back ameron, ‘What are n?’”
ost unlike their r, I wonder? They all e Rob James-collier ys the eternally w. “He’s happy and ple of kids,” says Jim. yllis reminds him ns.” set usually involves “But Jim really is ooks after
different from Mrs ael, 31. “She’s so larious.” ughter spills over se. One scene in the olesley make a fool of himself serving the Royal Family – and then curtsey in embarrassment.
“We were all in hysterics and had to be po-faced,” grins Michael. “The producers and cameramen were shaking with laughter. But he won’t tell us what Maggie Smith whispered in his ear afterwards. Apparently it was something lovely.”
And what is it like casually sharing the day with the Dame?
“It’s amazing,” Michael says. “She starts talking about Olivier, Burton and Gielgud.you can’t fathom how influential and iconic she is – but she never takes herself seriously.”
“She is so funny,” Sophie adds. “Her one-liners are as good as the Dowager’s. She’s very quick.”
Highclere Castle famously stands in for Downton Abbey – but that’s only “upstairs”. In the film, all the kitchen and servants’ quarters scenes were shot at Shepperton Studios. “I didn’t go to Highclere once,” sighs Sophie.
Michael and Jim, meanwhile, were dashing between the two. Every time someone goes into the main house it appears seamless but was actually shot days apart. “I’d go out one door and appear in another room two weeks later,” says Michael. “And try to remember what I’m doing with the tray!”
OF COURSE, everything about Downton is an illusion, a cosy, rose-tinted view of the past. Should we even idealise a show where everyone is so firmly in their place?
“Julian has written one specific family,” says Michael. “It’s escapism. Hillary Clinton binge-watched it to get over the shock of losing the presidential election. But I think people respond to his view that the family has a a sense of duty.we all relate to being part of something bigger.”
“There is a lot of unpleasantness on screen today, golly,” adds Julian. “You’re watching people you’d run a mile from rather than have dinner with. Not that I’m against any kind of show – good luck to them if they can find an audience. But I think we are warmer than most. Most of the characters, not quite all, are pretty decent people.”
Rather indecently, I finish by asking whether Carson and Hughes share a full “physical” relationship.
“Do you really want to go there with your fevered imagination?” Jim booms. “Carson was most concerned about his conjugal rights but I think we should probably draw a veil over it.”
He pauses and then, with true Downton timing adds: “I like to think they spoon.”
● Downton Abbey The Movie (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment) is available on digital tomorrow and on Blu-ray and DVD on January 27