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The Georg Solti Accademia is elated to announce its 20th anniversary celebration, commemorating two decades of unparalleled excellence in nurturing young talent in the technique and style of Italian “Bel Canto.” This milestone not only celebrates the Accademia’s commitment to continuing the operatic legacy of the legendary British-Hungarian conductor Sir Georg Solti but also underscores its significant impact on the world of classical music.

The gala concert, set for October 20th, 2024, will feature performances by distinguished alumni: mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina, tenor Freddie De Tommaso, soprano Hera Hyesang Park, and baritone Paul Grant. This special event, co-produced with the Hungarian State Opera and backed by the Accademia’s principal sponsor, Rolex, promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of these exceptional artists. The Hungarian State Opera’s orchestra and conductor will also contribute to this extraordinary evening.

For these four celebrated singers, this concert in Budapest marks a rare convergence to...

10 November 2023 — Today, Lise Davidsen, the most in-demand soprano in the world right now, releases her new album, ‘Christmas From Norway’ via Decca Classics/Universal Music Canada. Hailed as “The living, breathing meteor of the current opera world.” (The I Paper), Lise Davidsen‘s forthcoming album presents a delightful and personally selected collection of traditional Norwegian Christmas music and classic festive favourites, spreading the warm glow of the Scandinavian Christmas spirit. Reflecting on the project, Lise expresses her long-standing desire to create this album. “For Scandinavians, Christmas serves as a beacon of light in the midst of a lengthy winter. Perhaps that is why we embrace it so wholeheartedly.” says Lise.

The ‘Norwegian Starlight’ (quote) is unstoppable: this season alone Lise has starred in the BBC’s Last Night of the Proms, where she ‘swept all before her’ (The i Paper), alongside cellist and label-mate Sheku Kanneh-Mason, during an event she...

Andrew Lloyd Webber has shared the official version of “Make a Joyful Noise,” the specially commissioned anthem he composed and premiered during Saturday’s Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III & Queen Camilla.

The studio version was performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Choir of Westminster Abbey, the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Royal Air Force, Westminster Abbey sub-organist Peter Holder, and conducted by organist & Master Of The Choristers at Westminster Abbey, Andrew Nethsingha, while the version that premiered live Saturday features the handpicked Coronation Orchestra.

The live recording is...

It was time to celebrate Downton Abbey this evening (July 11) as a special BAFTA event paid tribute to the period drama series.

The likes of Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville and Michelle Dockery took to the red carpet before an award ceremony at the Richmond Theatre in Surrey.

Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes hints at "some afterlife" for the ITV period drama

Jonathan Ross hosted the event, which saw Julie Walters present Downton executive producers Gareth Neame, Liz Trubridge and Julian Fellowes with the Special Award recognising the global success of the show.

Penelope Wilton, Jim Carter and Joanne Froggatt were also in attendance, as well as previous cast members including Dan Stevens, Nigel Harmon and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.

BAFTA's Downton Abbey tribute will air on ITV later this year.

On hearing that Downton was to be honoured with the Special Award, executive producer Neame said: "‎As Downton Abbey moves...

Downton Abbey is to release its first ever Christmas album.

Christmas at Downton Abbey features 45 tracks on two discs, and is released next month, reports The Guardian.

The album will feature hymns, carols and Christmas songs, as well as a festive version of Downton Abbey's theme tune.

Actors in the series will also perform on the album, including Elizabeth McGovern (Countess of Grantham), Julian Ovenden (Charles Blake) and Jim Carter (Carson).

McGovern said: "It was so exciting for me to have been given the opportunity to sing two songs in a totally different context to that which I'm accustomed - without my guitar, without my band."

Other songs on Christmas at Downton Abbey are performed by musicians including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and the Choir of Kings College, while Carter reads the popular Christmas story 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Christmas at Downton Abbey will be released on November...

"Downton Abbey" took a dark turn for its second episode of Season 4 on PBS. Warning -- don't keep reading if you haven't watched the episode yet.

Downstairs

The Crawleys are hosting a house party featuring a performance by famed opera singer Dame Nellie Melba from Australia (guest star Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, doing her own singing). Lord Gillingham is invited and brings with him his valet, Mr. Green (guest star Nigel Harman), who takes a shine to Anna.

Green seems like a fun man, teaching the servants a wild card game and cracking jokes. But Bates is instantly suspicious of him and his suspicions are proven right when Green follows Anna downstairs during the opera performance and beats and rapes her in the servants' hall.

It's incredibly upsetting, even with most of the attack happening off-screen. Anna's screams echo in the halls in a sharp juxtaposition with the singing upstairs that everyone is busy enjoying,...

While Lady Mary, Branson, The Dowager Countess and the whole of Downton Abbey's staff will remain front and center in the upcoming fourth season, the new year will also introduce a host of new faces, and ETonline has a sneak peek at the actors joining the show and, as Michelle Dockery perfectly puts it, "They're all really handsome."

Related - Downton Creator Talks Death of Matthew

Tom Cullen plays Lord Gillingham, a childhood friend of the Crawley clan who catches Mary's eye. "He's someone whose heart rules his head," producer Liz Trubridge says. Another potential suitor for Mary is Charles Blake, played by Julian Ovenden.

Another twosome arrives downstairs as Nigel Harman plays Green, a new valet, and Raquel Cassidy plays Lady Cora's new maid, Baxter, who shares a past with Thomas and looks to function as the show's new O'Brien.

Lastly, a pair of performers join the show with Gary Carr playing a singer by the...

Whenever you think things are starting to run smoothly at Downton, somebody puts a spanner in the works.

This weekend's episode will feature some major twists, and the arrival of Nigel Harman's character Green looks likely to be the cause of the upset. Keep reading for 12 clues about the dramatic episode:

1. Nigel Harman arrives to play new valet Green. He's going to be bad. Very bad."This guy doesn't have redeeming qualities," says Harman.

2. There's a big party at the Abbey this week. But this is 'Downton', so we doubt everything will run smoothly.

3. Kiri Te Kanawa makes a very special appearance in the show, playing opera singer Dame Nellie Melba.

4. Well hello sir! This dashing young chap is the eligible Sir John Bullock. We'll have the seat next to him please.

5. Lady Rose looks like she might be the first to fall for Sir John's charms.

6. Another guest...

A major twist is expected to take place in this weekend's Downton Abbey, following ITV's decision to withhold preview copies of the show's latest episode from the press.

Producers made the same decision not to preview episodes in series three when Lady Sybil was killed off and when Matthew Crawley exited in the Christmas special.

The opening two episodes of series four have featured both upstairs and downstairs at Downton slowly recovering from the loss of Matthew Crawley.

However, speculation is rife online that another major character might have been killed off by Julian Fellowes in a new twist for the hugely popular ITV drama series.

Further speculation about a possible dramatic twist in this week's episode has been sparked by the arrival of Nigel Harman's character Green.

Harman has claimed that his valet character has "no redeeming qualities" and said previously that he will "stir things up" in the period drama.

We already knew that Downton Abbey would return to PBS on January 5. Now we have an official UK air date. Season 4 of the hit period drama will kick off on ITV on September 22 at 9 Pm in what will be the world premiere. As with last year, it will have X Factor UK as a lead-in. The Season 3 debut on September 16, 2012 drew 8.64M viewers, down about 200K from the previous season. However, overall Season 3 was the highest-rated season so far for the series with an average of 9.7M viewers. The show’s return is marked by the absence of Dan Stevens, whose Matthew Crawley character died in the Christmas special last year, and by the lack of Siobhan Finneran, whose O’Brien has also left the show. The rest of the Crawley clan and the below-stairs crew are returning along with Shirley MacLaine as Cora’s mother Martha Levinson. New this year,...

Last time we caught up with the action in Downton Abbey, we were sobbing into a mince pie as we bid a shocking, unexpected and dramatic farewell to Matthew Crawley.

However, the show must go on and the fourth series is just around the corner (September to be precise) and the cast and producers have been teasing clues, hints and exciting plot details about what is in store at the Abbey.

Matthew Crawley is gone. Totally gone. Really gone.

Julian Fellowes didn't hold back with his brutal send-off for Matthew Crawley in last year's Downton festive special. And despite the wishes of a heartbroken nation, that car crash wasn't a dream and he was unable to make a miraculous recovery. He clearly wasted those magic powers on learning to walk again after the war.

Producer Gareth Neame has also defended that dramatic ending to the Christmas episode, describing it as...

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has named her dog Abbey, after her happy day’s filming on the set of 'Downton Abbey’.

“I took my two dogs to the set, and I expecting doggy number three,” she revealed at the launch of Series 4 in London’s Mayfair yesterday. “So when she was born, she became my Downton dog, my special prize.”

Dame Kiri was a surprise special guest at the series 4 launch in London yesterday

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has sung for presidents and princes, including in front of a 600-million audience at Prince Charles's wedding to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.

But the New Zealand-born opera singer has revealed that nothing was as frightening as her first day on the set of 'Downton', where she joined the rest of the established cast in her role as celebrated soprano Dame Nellie Melba.

“I’m not sure I was acting,” Dame...

Season four of Downton is big on anachronistic dialogue, dowager's wit and famous guest stars

Downton Abbey will break from tradition when the new series opens later this year.

Not for series four the Labrador's bottom in the opening credits. This time we begin with the midnight flit of one of the main characters. The servants are seen scurrying to and fro, gossiping about the sudden departure as the kitchen buzzes to the sound of a new-fangled electric food mixer: the unstoppable force of progress making itself felt despite the Crawley family's continuing troubles.

It is 1922 and the family are still black-clad and mourning Downton's recently deceased heir, Matthew Crawley. We rejoin them six months after the car crash that killed off the heart-throb husband of Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) during the show's Christmas day episode, which was watched by over seven million viewers. We know six months have passed...

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has said that she "couldn't say 'yes' fast enough" to appearing in Downton Abbey.

Te Kanawa has been cast as real-life opera singer Dame Nellie Melba in Downton Abbey's fourth series, and will appear in a scene in which she performs at a party at the Grantham estate.

The star was in attendance at Downton Abbey's launch in London on Tuesday (August 13), and revealed that she celebrated joining the series by giving her new dog a special name.

"The most incredible thing is I took my two dogs along [to filming] and Lady Carnarvon didn't want those anywhere near the place... During the time, I was expecting doggy number three and [now] she's called Abbey as in Downton," Te Kanawa declared.

Te Kanawa added of the dog: "She's my little Downton prize."

> Downton Abbey series four: First full cast picture without Dan Stevens

> Downton Abbey: Meet...

"Downton Abbey" is a smash hit on both sides of the pond, but who came up with the ingenious idea to bring some soapiness to the early 1900s?

In the new issue of Emmy Magazine, executive producer Gareth Neame said he and "Downton Abbey" creator Julian Fellowes developed the idea for the series over dinner. Neame said he asked Fellowes if he'd be interested in revisiting themes of his 2001 flick "Gosford Park," but with fast-paced, soapy stories. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Now entering its fourth season, "Downton Abbey" has become a smash hit with the Season 3 finale breaking ratings records on PBS. Neame said the secret to the show's success is the amount of players behind the scenes or rather, lack thereof -- Fellowes writes every episode by himself.

"Part of the show's success is that we are still operating as a result of that first...

London — "Downton Abbey," the world's favorite country-house soap, is getting a dose of opera.

Producers say soprano Kiri Te Kanawa will appear in the upcoming fourth season as real-life diva Nellie Melba.

The New Zealand-born singer says "I couldn't say yes fast enough" to appearing in a show she loves – and enjoyed her time on set so much she named her new dog Abbey.

Te Kanawa sang for journalists at a preview of the new season on Tuesday. In the new series, Melba – a huge star of the early 20th century – joins the aristocratic Grantham clan for a house party.

The costume drama about the family and servants in an English stately home returns to British television this fall, and airs in the U.S. on PBS in January.

Beverly Hills, Calif. — Lady Mary will be mired in grief as season four of "Downton Abbey" begins, mourning the loss of her husband, Matthew.

But a string of suitors awaits when she's ready to live again, said Michelle Dockery, who plays Mary in the hit drama that will return to PBS' "Masterpiece" next January.

"She has more than one love interest," Dockery said. "She's kind of slowly throughout the series coming back to real life, and of course it's important for her to eventually move on."

All of those men are, she noted with satisfaction, handsome.

"That was stipulated by you," executive producer Gareth Neame said, dryly.

He and several cast members including Dockery and Laura Carmichael, who plays Mary's sister, Edith, attended a Television Critics Association news conference Tuesday evening to promote the show.

Mary's husband, played by Dan Stevens, was killed in a car crash just after welcoming the couple's newborn son,...

The Levinsons are coming to "Downton Abbey" for the Season 4 finale.

Paul Giamatti will make his first appearance as Harold Levinson, Cora's (Elizabeth McGovern) brother and Shirley MacLaine will return as their mother, Martha. The American actors were snapped on set filming a scene together.

"We're excited that Paul Giamatti will be joining us on 'Downton' to play Cora's brother Harold, the rather free-spirited uncle to Mary and Edith," Gareth Neame, managing director of Carnival Films, said in a statement. "We can't wait to see him work alongside Shirley MacLaine, who are both sure to upset the Grantham's apple cart in this year's finale.”

Giamatti is just one of the many new faces on "Downton Abbey" for Season 4. Daisy Lewis will play Sybil's new nanny, Gary Carr will play jazz singer Jack Ross and Tom Cullen, Nigel Harman, Dame Harriet Walter, Joanna David, Julian Ovenden and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa...

New "Downton Abbey" pictures are here.

The new photos from "Downton Abbey" Season 4 feature Branson (Allen Leech) and his young daughter Sybil, Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) and her son George and new addition to "Downton" Lily James as Lady Rose.

"Downton Abbey" Season 4 will be filled with new characters including Daisy Lewis as Sybil's new nanny and Gary Carr as jazz singer Jack Ross. Tom Cullen, Nigel Harman, Dame Harriet Walter, Joanna David, Julian Ovenden and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa will also appear in "Downton Abbey."

Paul Giamatti will also appear in "Downton Abbey" as Harold Levinson, Cora's (Elizabeth McGovern) brother. Shirley MacLaine will also return to the period drama.

Season 4 of the crossover hit premieres Sunday, January 5 on PBS.

"Downton Abbey" has reportedly cast Daisy Lewis in a key role.

According to The Mirror, Lewis will play the live-in governess for the daughter of Tom Branson (Allen Leech) and the late Sybill Crawley (Jessica Brown Findlay).

"Daisy will become one of 'Downton's' most prominent characters. She wowed producers in her audition and they are delighted to have secured such a brilliant young actress," a source told The Mirror. Look for the two to start a secret affair.

Lewis' other credits include "Doctor Who" and "Downton Abbey" creator Julian Fellowes' "From Time to Time." Request for confirmation from Masterpiece was not immediately returned.

Lewis isn't the only new face popping up on "Downton Abbey." Gary Carr will portray the show's first black character, Jack Ross, a jazz singer. Other new cast additions include Tom Cullen, Nigel Harman, Dame Harriet Walter, Joanna David, Julian Ovenden and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.

Daisy Lewis is the newest actress to join the cast of Downton Abbey and is set for romance at the house.

The actress, who has appeared in Doctor Who, will play the governess of heartbroken widowed chauffeur Tom Branson's (Allen Leech) daughter Sybil and helps him to get over his late wife, said the Daily Mirror.

A source said: "Daisy will become one of Downton's most prominent characters. She wowed producers in her audition and they are delighted to have secured such a brilliant young actress.

Daisy Lewis has reportedly been cast in Downton Abbey

"Her romance with Tom will be one of the main storylines of the series. He will begin to develop feelings for her and they start a secret affair. Tom will have an even bigger role in the new series after becoming the estate manager of Downton. The writers know he is a very popular character...

The first photos of "Downton Abbey's" new cast member Gary Carr in character as Jack Ross have surfaced.

The photos, taken in late June 2013 in England, feature Carr in a boat with actress Lily James. James, who appeared in Season 3 as Rose, the Dowager Countess' (Maggie Smith) great niece, will be a part of the main cast for "Downton Abbey" Season 4.

James and Carr aren't the only new cast members joining "Downton Abbey" Season 4. "Downton's" new cast includes Paul Giamatti as Harold Levinson, Cora's (Elizabeth McGovern) brother. He'll appear in the "Downton Abbey" Season 4 finale with Shirley MacLaine who returns as Martha Levinson.

Other new cast additions include Tom Cullen as Lord Gillingham, a family friend of the Crawleys; Nigel Harman as Green, a valet; Dame Harriet Walter will play Lady Shackleton; Joanna David will play the Duchess of Yeovil; Julian Ovenden will appear as aristocrat Charles Blake; and...

Turns out, Diddy might actually guest star on "Downton Abbey."

"Downton Abbey" creator Julian Fellowes has seen Diddy's Funny or Die video and said he thought it was fabulous. "I absolutely adored it, but I just couldn’t see how he could have done it," the creator told The Telegraph.

As for an actual part for Diddy on "Downton Abbey," Fellowes said, "Never say never ... though I imagine he'd steal the scene, even if it was a small part."

If Diddy joined the "Downton" cast, he wouldn't be the only American. Paul Giamatti will guest star as Harold Levinson, Cora's (Elizabeth McGovern) playboy brother in the "Downton Abbey" Season 4 finale. Shirley MacLaine will also return as Martha, Cora's mother.

Season 4 of "Downton Abbey" will be filled with new faces. Tom Cullen will play Lord Gillingham, a Crawley family friend; Nigel Harman will play Green, a new valet; Dame Harriet Walter will play Lady Shackleton,...

Sideways star will play Cora's 'playboy brother' in Christmas special, with Shirley MacLaine returning as her mother

The Sideways star Paul Giamatti is joining the cast of Downton Abbey alongside his fellow Us actor Shirley MacLaine.

But Downton fans will have to wait until the feature-length final episode of the fourth series at Christmas for Giamatti's entrance, playing Harold, the "maverick, playboy brother" of Elizabeth McGovern's Cora, Countess of Grantham.

MacLaine, who had a guest starring role in last year's third outing of the hit ITV drama as Cora's straight-talking American mother, will also be back for the Christmas special.

The casting of big-name Us talent is a canny move by Downton Abbey's producers with one eye on the American market, where the show is arguably an even bigger hit than in the UK.

It is the highest-rating drama in Us broadcaster PBS's 40-year history and has won...

No stranger to period pieces - as those who saw him in the superlative HBO miniseries John Adams will attest - Paul Giamatti is joining the cast of Downton Abbey next year, for the season 4 finale, PBS announced on its website Monday. He'll play the playboy brother of Cora, Countess of Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern), and the son of Martha Levinson (Shirley MacLaine, who is also returning to the popular British drama). "Downton Abbey has seen many great characters visit the house over the years, and we couldn't be more thrilled to welcome the new faces that will be joining the...

News Louisa Mellor 24 Jun 2013 - 14:00

Joyous news this, Paul Giamatti is to join the cast of Downton Abbey for this year's Christmas Special...

Regular readers will already have sighed their way through our list of Downton Abbey's geek credentials, a list that now requires updating as it's announced that Sideways, Barney's Version, and of course, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 actor, Paul Giamatti is joining the show.

Giamatti is to play Lady Cora's "maverick playboy brother Harold" in this year's Christmas Special, another yank sure to ruffle a feather or two on the Countess Dowager's hat. Whether his role will extend beyond the festive episode is yet to be confirmed.

Carnival Films’ Managing Director, Gareth Neame, describes Giamatti's Downton character as "the rather free-spirited uncle to Mary and Edith. We can't wait to see him work alongside Shirley Maclaine, who are both sure to upset the Granthams' apple cart...

Paul Giamatti has joined the cast of "Downton Abbey" for the show's upcoming fourth season.

TVLine reports that Giamatti will appear on "Downton Abbey" as Harold Levinson, Cora's (Elizabeth McGovern) brother in the Season 4 finale, alongside Shirley MacLaine who returns as Cora's mother Martha. The character is described as a playboy and maverick.

A rep for Masterpiece confirmed TVLine's report to The Huffington Post. "We're excited that Paul Giamatti will be joining us on 'Downton' to play Cora's brother Harold, the rather free-spirited uncle to Mary and Edith," Gareth Neame, managing director of Carnival Films, said in a statement. "We can't wait to see him work alongside Shirley MacLaine, who are both sure to upset the Grantham's apple cart in this year's finale.”

Giamatti isn't the only new face on "Downton Abbey" next season. Tom Cullen will play Lord Gillingham, a family friend of the Crawleys; Nigel Harman will play Green,...

Paul Giamatti is going to be visiting "Downton Abbey." Carnival Films, ITV, and "Masterpiece" on PBS announced today that the award-winning actor is going to appear as "Cora's maverick, playboy brother Harold" in the upcoming fourth season.   Giamatti joins other new cast members Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Nigel Harman, Joanna David, and Gary Carr. According to the press release, we can expect to see Giamatti appear in the season finale alongside Shirley MacLaine who plays Cora's mother.   The period drama is scheduled to begin its fourth season on "Masterpiece" on January 5, 2014. The show, created by Julian...

Downton Abbey is getting another American visitor.

Sideways’ star Paul Giamatti will appear as Cora’s playboy brother, Harold, in the season four finale, a rep for Masterpiece on PBS confirms.

He’ll be joined by returning guest-star Shirley MacLaine, who crossed the pond to play Cora’s brazen mother, Martha Levinson, in season three.

“We’re excited that Paul Giamatti will be joining us on Downton to play Cora’s brother Harold, the rather free-spirited uncle to Mary and Edith. We can’t wait to see him work alongside Shirley MacLaine, who are both sure to upset the Grantham...

As a follow-up to the casting of Shirley MacLaine, another top American actor is joining the British drama series Downton Abbey. Paul Giamatti will play Cora’s (Elizabeth McGovern) maverick and playboy brother Harold in the Season 4 finale. He joins new cast members Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Nigel Harman, Joanna David and Gary Carr. Season 4 of Downton Abbey premieres on Masterpiece on PBS on January 5, 2014.

Hollywood star Paul Giamatti has been cast in the fourth series of Downton Abbey, it has been confirmed.

The Sideways actor will play Harold Levinson, the brother of Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) and the son of Martha (Shirley MacLaine).

Giamatti's character is described as a "maverick playboy".

Carnival Films' managing director, Gareth Neame said: "We're excited that Paul Giamatti will be joining us on Downton to play Cora's brother Harold, the rather free-spirited uncle to Mary and Edith.

"We can't wait to see him work alongside Shirley Maclaine, who are both sure to upset the Grantham's apple cart in this year's Christmas Day episode."

Hugh Bonneville, Dame Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Shirley MacLaine and Jim Carter will all return for the show's fourth run later this year.

They will be joined by new cast members Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Nigel Harman, Joanna David and Dame Harriet Walter.

At the end of Season 3 of "Downton Abbey," Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) became a single mother after her husband Matthew (Dan Stevens) died in a car accident. But is the widow moving on already when the show returns in January 2014?

When asked about a second wedding for Lady Mary in the show's upcoming Season 4, Dockery assured fans that her character "hasn't moved on that quickly" and that she will mourn Matthew properly. "The predicament that Mary's in now is that she does need to find someone eventually," Dockery explained to the La Times. "She has the heir to Downton, she has baby George and she is under pressure to find someone. In that world, women had to find someone. It was all about marriage and who you'd spend the rest of your life with."

As fans know, Lady Mary will have no shortage of suitors in Season 4. "She's an eligible bachelorette,...

Downton Abbey's fourth series is underway with filming and fresh pictures from the set featuring stars Dame Maggie Smith and Penelope Wilton have been released.

The pictures feature Smith (Dowager Countess) and Wilton (Isobel Crawley) shooting scenes in a graveyard in Bampton, Oxfordshire.

Downton will return for an eight-part fourth series and a Christmas special in the autumn on ITV.

It will air in the Us on PBS in the New Year.

Downton Abbey - filming on the set for series four:Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Shirley MacLaine and Jim Carter will all return for the new series.

They will be joined by new cast members Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Nigel Harman, Joanna David and Dame Harriet Walter.

Death in Paradise and Bluestone 42 actor Gary Carr has also joined the cast as a "charming and charismatic" jazz singer named Jack Ross.

The popularity of...

Find out when ‘Downton Abbey’ is returning with new episodes — and which new faces you can expect to see!

Ready your finest coat tails! Downton Abbey will return for its fourth season Jan. 5, PBS has announced, reuniting us with the never-dull — and constantly shrinking — Crawley family.

As you know, season three ended with the birth of Mary’s (Michelle Dockery) first son, and the tragic death of her husband, Matthew (Dan Stevens). ITV recently released the following statement about what fans can expect in season four:

In the next series, alongside all the usual drama, comedy and romance involving the much loved cast of characters, viewers will see Mary adjusting to her life and attempting to move on without the man she loved.

But even though season four will be down one Matthew, there will be plenty of new faces to meet.

‘Downton Abbey’ Season 4: New Characters

Here’s...

Season 4 of "Downton Abbey" has a premiere date!

The series is set to return to PBS on Sun., January 5, 2014. Season 4 will run for eight weeks, concluding on February 23, 2014.

The upcoming season will see the return of series regulars Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter, Joanne Froggatt, Brendan Coyle and more. They will be joined by guest stars Shirley MacLaine, Tom Cullen, Nigel Harman, Dame Harriet Walter, Joanna David, Julian Ovenden, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Gary Carr.

A couple of familiar faces will be missing from the "Downton" cast, however, including Dan Stevens, who played Lady Mary's (McGovern) husband Matthew Crawley.

The actor left the series behind last year to pursue other opportunities.

“We were always optioned for three years,” Stevens told The Telegraph in December. “And when that came up it was a very difficult decision. But it felt like a good time to take stock,...

The news from PBS is in: The the most talked about shows on television has an official premiere date: Downton Abbey Season 4 will begin on Masterpiece on PBS on Sunday, January 5, 2014. Masterpiece executive producer Rebecca Eaton announced the U.S. airdates today at the PBS Annual Meeting. The hightest-rated drama in PBS history, Downton Abbey Season 4 will run for eight weeks, from January 5 to February 23, 2014. Casting news for season 4 includes the return of Shirley MacLaine as Martha Levinson and several new actors, including Tom Cullen, Nigel Harman, Dame Harriet Walter, Joanna David, Julian Ovenden, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Gary Carr. They will join Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle...

"Downton Abbey" Season 4 will begin on "Masterpiece" on PBS on Sunday, January 5, 2014. "Masterpiece" executive producer Rebecca Eaton announced the U.S. airdates today at the PBS Annual Meeting. The hightest-rated drama in PBS history, "Downton Abbey" Season 4 will run for eight weeks, from January 5 to February 23, 2014. In total, 24 million viewers tuned into the third season of "Downton Abbey," and its emotional February 17 finale was the #1 show on television, beating all broadcast and cable in primetime. Casting news for season 4 includes the return of Shirley MacLaine as Martha Levinson and several new actors, including Tom Cullen, Nigel Harman, Dame Harriet Walter, Joanna David, Julian Ovenden, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and...

Even super heroes love "Downton Abbey" ... at least they do in "Iron Man 3." According to several reports, including one from Yahoo! TV, a scene from "Downton Abbey" appears in Marvel's latest "Iron Man" installment.

In the movie, in theaters May 3, former "Iron Man" director Jon Favreau -- in character as Happy Hogan, Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) chauffeur/body guard -- watches a scene featuring Branson (Allen Leech) and Sybil (Jessica Brown Findlay).

Leech took to Twitter saying he heard several reports of his appearance.

And Favreau also tweeted about the scene.

"Downton Abbey" is currently filming Season 4 without Dan Stevens and Siobhan Finneran, but in addition to the returning cast members, the new season will feature Gary Carr as the show's first black character, a jazz singer named Jack Ross, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Nigel Harman, Joanna David and Dame Harriet Walter and the return of Shirley MacLaine.

It wasn’t so long ago that Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes promised fans he would diversify his cast. That dynamic ensemble is a big part of the charm of the British period series. And speaking of charm, I daresay the show’s freshly reported, brand new, Black actor, Mr. Gary Carr has got that in spades.

How does it feel to be the Abbey‘s first recurring cast member of color? I’d imagine it is both exhilarating and nerve wracking. Let’s not forget that Carr is cast in the first season, the upcoming fourth for the popular show, that will have to get along without Lady Mary’s formidable love interest, Matthew, acted by Dan Stevens, who is now dead.

Giving female fans more fellas to fall in love with should aid the show in leaping over this hurdle created by missing fan favorites. I read not...

Back in March we first had word that "Downton Abbey" was looking for an actor to play the show's first black character, a "charming and charismatic" jazz singer named Jack Ross. Now comes word from Deadline.com about who got the role. Gary Carr will be playing Ross in season four of the hit show. Carr previously appeared in the BBC series "Bluestone 42" and "Death in Paradise." He won't be the only new face next season, though. He’ll join previously announced new cast members Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Nigel Harman, Joanna David and Dame Harriet Walter. Shooting is...

Downton Abbey has just announced its newest resident.

British actor Gary Carr is joining the series in season four as jazz singer Jack Ross, a rep for Masterpiece on PBS confirms to EW. Carr, whose character is described as “charming and charismatic,” will be the series’ first black cast member.

“We are delighted to introduce another fantastic, dynamic character to Downton Abbey,” exec producer Gareth Neame said in a statement. “His addition will bring interesting twists to the drama which we can’t wait for viewers to see in Series four.”

He’s not the only new actor headed to Downton.

Downton Abbey has cast its first African-American character.

Gary Carr will recur on Season 4 as Jack Ross, a jazz singer who ITV describes as "charming and charismatic," while producer Gareth Neame has confirmed the news via the following statement:

“We are delighted to introduce another fantastic, dynamic character to Downton Abbey. His addition will bring interesting twists to the drama which we can’t wait for viewers to see in Series Four."

Downton Abbey Season 4 is filming now in Great Britain and will air overseas later this year.

Other new cast members set to come on board include Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Nigel Harman, Joanna David and Dame Harriet Walter. Shirley MacLaine will also return as Martha Levinson.

Gary Carr has been cast as the first black character in 'Downton Abbey'. The 'Death in Paradise' star will play charming and charismatic jazz singer Jack Ross in the ITV period drama's fourth series, which will also see former 'EastEnders' actor Nigel Harman and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa make their debuts in the show. Gareth Neame, Carnival Films' Managing Director, said: ''We are delighted to introduce another fantastic, dynamic character to 'Downton Abbey'. His addition will bring interesting twists to the drama which we can't wait for viewers to see in Series four.'' Other new faces arriving in Downton include Tom...

Gary Carr has been cast as the first black character in 'Downton Abbey'. The 'Death in Paradise' star will play charming and charismatic jazz singer Jack Ross in the ITV period drama's fourth series, which will also see former 'EastEnders' actor Nigel Harman and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa make their debuts in the show. Gareth Neame, Carnival Films' Managing Director, said: ''We are delighted to introduce another fantastic, dynamic character to 'Downton Abbey'. His addition will bring interesting twists to the drama which we can't wait for viewers to see in Series four.'' Other new faces arriving in Downton include Tom...

Downton Abbey is expanding its cast next season, and the show will finally include a recurring black character, producers announced today. Gary Carr, a British actor best known for his role on the U.K.'s Bluestone 42 (a dramedy set within a bomb squad in Afghanistan), will play an enchanting jazz singer. Presumably there will be a bunch of singing on Downton next season, given that Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, one of the world's greatest sopranos, will also be on several episodes. Maybe this will be the season where no one dies! And Edith finds love! And Daisy gets a promotion!

"Downton Abbey" has cast Gary Carr to play the show's first black character, a jazz singer named Jack Ross.

ITV announced Carr's Season 4 casting. Carr's jazz singer character is described as a "charming and charismatic young man."

“We are delighted to introduce another fantastic, dynamic character to 'Downton Abbey,'" Gareth Neame, an executive producer of "Downton Abbey," said in a statement. "His addition will bring interesting twists to the drama which we can’t wait for viewers to see in Series Four."

Carr's other UK TV credits include "Bluestone 42" and "Death in Paradise."

Carr joins previously announced new cast members Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Nigel Harman, Joanna David and Dame Harriet Walter. Eagle-eyed "Smash" viewers will recognize Ovenden from his time playing Simon, JFK in "Bombshell," opposite Megan Hilty as Ivy Lynn.

Shirley MacLaine will also return to the series as Martha Levinson,...

Downton Abbey executive producer Gareth Neame said today that Gary Carr’s addition to the ITV show “will bring interesting twists to the drama.” The actor has most recently been seen in BBC series Bluestone 42 and Death In Paradise. His Downton character, Jack Ross, is a jazz singer described as “a charming and charismatic” young man. The addition marks the first time Downton has had a black character. The show has in the past faced criticism that it lacks cultural diversity. In the fourth season, he’ll join previously announced new cast members Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Nigel Harman, Joanna David and Dame Harriet Walter. The fourth season is currently shooting for air later this year.

'Downton Abbey' has cast its first black character.

The hit ITV period drama has announced 26-year-old Gary Carr, previously seen in 'Death In Paradise' and 'Bluestone 42', will play a jazz singer called Jack Ross.

Ross is said to be "a charming and charismatic young man".

Gary Carr in ITV drama 'Foyles War'

Carr will be joining new cast members of the Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning drama Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Nigel Harman, Joanna David and Dame Harriet Walter who are all set to star in the fourth series.

Carnival Films’ Managing Director, Gareth Neame, said in a statement: “We are delighted to introduce another fantastic, dynamic character to Downton Abbey. His addition will bring interesting twists to the drama which we can’t wait for viewers to see in Series Four”.

As well as filming an eight-part fourth series,...

London – Downton Abbey is ramping up its roster of fresh cast, inking a deal with Gary Carr (TV's Death In Paradise) for the hit British costume drama's fourth season. Carr will be the show's first recurring black cast member, playing a "charming and charismatic" young jazz singer. Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes said in November that it would be “rather nice to open it up ethnically a bit,” amid criticism from some over the lack of ethnic diversity among the cast. Carr joins fellow newbie cast members Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Nigel Harman, Joanna

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ITV has announced that Gary Carr has joined the cast of Downton Abbey.

The Death in Paradise and Bluestone 42 actor will play a "charming and charismatic" jazz singer named Jack Ross.

Carnival Films' managing director Gareth Neame said: "We are delighted to introduce another fantastic, dynamic character to Downton Abbey.

"His addition will bring interesting twists to the drama which we can't wait for viewers to see in Series 4".

Other new cast members include Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Nigel Harman, Joanna David and Dame Harriet Walter.

Downton Abbey will return for an eight-part fourth series and feature-length special at Christmas 2013.

Regulars Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery and Jim Carter return, as does special guest Shirley MacLaine as Martha Levinson.