TV3 will air Downton Abbey S4 Christmas Special on St. Stephen’s Day.

Wednesday 4th, 16:01pm

For further information:

Sharon McHugh
TV3 PRESS OFFICE
+3531 419 3430 / 087 922 4143
sharon.mchugh@tv3.ie
publicity@tv3.ie

Ciara Byrne
+353 1 419 3329 / 087 3199732
ciara.byrne@tv3.ie

TV3 GROUP RELEASE

IMMEDIATE: Wednesday 4th December 2013.

TV3 will air Downton Abbey S4 Christmas Special on St. Stephen’s Day.

TV3 announced today that it will air the Downton Abbey S4 Christmas Special on St. Stephen’s Day at 9pm.

The two hour special will rejoin the Crawley family six months on from the end of series four.

TV3 has also confirmed that it will continue to air Downton Abbey for the life of the series, having signed a deal with NBC/Universal.

Downton Abbey S4 Christmas Special airs Thursday 26th December, 2013 on TV3.

Following the recent announcement that TV3 secured the rights from NBC/Universal to broadcast Downton Abbey exclusively in this territory, details of the S4 Christmas Special have been revealed. TV3 will continue to air Downton Abbey for the life of the series with this year’s two hour special airing at 9pm on St. Stephen’s Day.

This is thethird Christmas episode to air since the series began in 2010 and the two hour special is sure to be one of the highlights of the festive season.

Rejoining the Crawleys six months on from the end of series four, the family is implicated in a Royal scandal which threatens to engulf the monarchy. As part of Rose's 'coming out' she is to be presented at Buckingham Palace but when the scandal arises Robert will go to great lengths to protect both the royal family and his own.

This year’s special will also see the return of Cora's mother, Martha Levinson, who makes the journey from New York with her playboy son Harold, fresh from his recent brush with the law. Both outspoken and larger-than-life, they make quite an impression amongst certain members of London's high society, in particular with Lord Aysgarth, played by James Fox.

Isobel finds herself with an admirer while Edith is wrestling with a moral dilemma. Downstairs, Daisy gets an unexpected invitation and Carson treats the staff to a special day out.

The episode will feature returning stars Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Jim Carter, Penelope Wilton, Phyllis Logan, Samantha Bond, Laura Carmichael, Lily James, Allen Leech, Brendan Coyle, Joanne Froggatt, Lesley Nicol, Sophie McShera, Rob James-Collier, Ed Speleers, Cara Theobold, Kevin Doyle and Raquel Cassidy.

Also making a return to Downton Abbey is Shirley MacLaine reprising her role as Martha Levinson, Cora’s mother, along with some familiar faces in Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Daisy Lewis, Patrick Kennedy, Tim Drewe and Douglas Reith. Joining the cast for the Christmas episode is Emmy and Golden Globe winner Paul Giamatti portraying Cora’s brother Harold Levinson, BAFTA award winner James Fox, alongside Poppy Drayton, playing his daughter Madeline, Oliver Dimsdale who plays the Prince of Wales, Janet Montgomery, Guy Williams, playing King George V and Michael Benz as Harold Levinson’s valet, Ethan.

Downton Abbey S4 Christmas Special airs Thursday 26th December, 2013 on TV3.

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ENDS

For further information
Ciara Byrne

Press Officer

00353 1 419 3329

00353 87 319 9732

Sharon McHugh
Head of Press & Publicity

00353 1 419 3430
00353 87 922 4143

publicity@tv3.ie
www.tv3.ie

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