Downton Abbey

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First there were the paper dolls and now there is a rap about Downton Abbey.

“If you’re from where I’m from then you call it Downton
In the house like Lord Grantham
That’s the damn anthem
Live the high life in the abbey we run
And we sip Earl Grey when the day is done.”

Written and produced by Adam WarRock

8:00pm Friday, March 2 on Prime

Drama

In the final episode of the second series, a wedding is fast approaching. Unfortunately, so is the dreaded Spanish Influenza, both of which have the potential to cause difficulties for some residents of Downton Abbey. Things are not going well for Thomas either, and Branson could pose quite a problem. For Ethel, there are considerations of a different kind concerning Major Bryant’s family, and Anna forces Bates to finally make some decisions.

8:30pm Friday, February 24 on Prime

Drama

As the storms of war clear will life ever be the same again at Downton? A new development stuns the family. How long can Sybil and Branson keep their secret? Meanwhile Carlisle puts Anna in a difficult position, Bates is reeling from the news about Vera, and Thomas embarks on a new money making scheme.

An American illustrator has designed a little something for Downton Abbey fans play around with between seasons.

Kyle Hilton has created four sets of paper dolls depicting characters from the much-loved ITV series.

The Dowager Countess even comes with multiple facial expressions. Brilliant.

Source: vulture.com

8:30pm Friday, February 17 on Prime

Drama

Now wheelchair bound, Matthew is convalescing at Downton with Mary as his constant carer. Carlisle expresses his worries to Cora as to what this means for their future. He informs Robert of his intention to buy neighbouring Haxby Park, for him and Mary to live in once they are married. Mary reminds Matthew she doesn’t have to marry Carlisle, but Matthew will not hear it. Robert is incensed when Cora engineers for Lavinia to return to Downton to reclaim Matthew, and Carlisle threatens to ruin Mary if she jilts him.

This is the fourth post in a series of analyses that we’ll be doing on the last 12 months of ratings data from the overnights. The previous posts covered the “other” channels, Four vs C4 and TV3.  Today we’re looking at Prime.

2010 (blue line) was a better year for Prime than 2011 (pink line) thanks to the Winter Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.  The highlight in 2011 was the Tri Nations game on the 6th of August.

Overall, the channel share dipped slightly from 5.7 to 4.9.  The numbers are fairly consistent across the year but the rise towards the last quarter of 2011 is due to Downton Abbey.

2012 will be interesting to watch as the Summer Olympics in London will inevitably provide a solid boost towards the end of the year.

Next up we’ll look at Sky

8:30pm Wednesday, February 15 on Prime

Drama

Want to learn more about your favourite costume drama? You can now take a peek behind the scenes of the second season of the multi-award winning Downton Abbey. See how the Crawley’s world is created through exclusive interviews with the cast and crew.

Friday 10 February 8.30pm

Drama

Lord Grantham receives some terrible news from the front line which will impact on everyone at Downton. It looks as though the future of the entire family could be under threat as the greedy Vera Bates threatens to expose the secrets of the Crawley family. Can Lady Mary stop her, using her connection with Sir Richard Carlisle, before it’s too late? What will happen if she doesn’t? For Daisy, life is complicated enough without everything else that is going on and she feels caught up in a whirlwind with regard to her relationship with William. Meanwhile Ethel is struggling to cope, but with Mrs Hughes’ help she tries to make contact with Major Bryant.