12 Secrets Revealed About Downton Abbey

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11. Success!!!

In 2013, Downton Abbey was watched in 200 regions and countries and had approximately 120 million viewers. Downton is the PBS drama series with the highest ratings ever. The show has received the most Emmy nominations for a British TV series. It also costs a million pounds to produce one episode.

©PBS/courtesy EC

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10. The Pharaoh’s Tomb

Downton Abbey’s real name is Highclere Castle and, since 1679, it has been occupied by the Carnarvon family. The fifth Earl of Carnarvon, George Hubert, was an Egyptian archaeologist and discovered King Tut’s tomb in 1922. The family’s Egyptian connection inspired the names of the Earl of Grantham’s dogs: Isis and Pharaoh. The home is open for public visitation in the summer with a $27 admission fee.

Photo by Rex Features

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9. Sound Stage

While most of the show’s scenes are filmed on location at Highclere Castle, Downton’s servants’ quarters and kitchen are shot on a sound stage due to reproduction issues.

Nick Briggs / © Carnival Films for Masterpiece/PBS / Courtesy: Everett Collection

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8. Historically Accurate

Downton Abbey was turned into a hospital and recovery home for World War One soldiers in Season 2. The Abbey was actually used for the same purpose in real life and letters of the soldiers’ appreciation are currently displayed in the home.

Nick Briggs / © Carnival Films for Masterpiece/PBS / Courtesy: Everett Collection

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7. Made For You

Writer and Creator Julian Fellowes wrote the characters of Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville), John Bates (Brendan Coyle), and Dowager Countess Violet Crawley (Maggie Smith) for the actors who portray them.

Nick Briggs / © Carnival Films for Masterpiece/PBS / Courtesy: Everett Collection

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6. Why Sybil Left Downton

Jessica Brown Findlay (Sybil Crawley) got her first big break on Downton Abbey, but after three seasons, she left the show for fear of being typecasted. Her fellow actors tried to convince her to stay, but she was determined. Her gamble paid off as she has not stopped working since, and will be appearing in Victor Frankenstein (2015) with James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe.

Photo by David Fisher/REX

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5. The Secret Diary

Downton’s writer and creator Julian Fellowes is close friends with the current owners of Highclere Castle (where Downton is filmed). He based Kemal Pamuk’s (Mary’s love interest) death on a diary entry he had read while visiting Highclere.

Source: PBS

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4. This is the Dr.’s office, Edith Speaking…

Laura Carmichael (Edith Crawley) was working as a physician’s receptionist and about to go on a Shakespearean tour in Dubai when she got the part of Lady Edith.

Photo By: Jason Smith/Everett Collection

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3. Servant Michelle

Michelle Dockery (Mary Crawley) told David Letterman that her ancestors were likely to be a lady’s maid (like Anna Bates) than her aristocratic character Mary.

Photo by Joan Wakeham/REX

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2. Role Reversal

Sophie McShera plays Daisy Mason, one of Downton’s chefs and Lily James portrays socialite and newlywed Lady Rose MacClara. Roles were reversed in Disney’s Cinderella (2005) when James appeared as Cinderella and had to serve her mean stepsister Drisella (McShera).

Photo by Jonathan Hordle/REX

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1. Why Matthew Had to Die

Dan Stevens (Matthew Crawley) apparently gave Downton’s writer and creator Julian Fellowes very little notice when he decided to leave the show during Season Three. Fellowes claimed he had no choice but to kill Matthew and he met his end in a car accident.

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