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Tourists head to the wrong Downton – Daily TV round-up

Wiltshire village sees fans of the show turning up 40 miles from actual location.

Downton... in Berkshire not Wiltshire (Copyright: ITV)

Tourists hoping to bask in the reflected splendour of Downton Abbey and maybe catch a glimpse of their favourite stars of the show are making their way to the wrong Downton, it's emerged.

According to the Daily Telegraph, fans and autograph hunters are turning up in the small village of Downton in Wiltshire and then asking locals for directions to 'the abbey'.

What they seem not to realise is that the 'real' abbey and the principle location for the drama is fact Highclere Castle, some 40 miles away from the village near Newbury in Berkshire.


[Downton Abbey goods to go on sale]


“We had one couple who were absolutely adamant that this was where it was filmed,” said one pub landlord.

Final work is currently under way on the fourth series of the show, due to hit screens next month.

Meanwhile, writer and creator Julian Fellowes has slated the depiction of black characters in TV drama.

He is about to introduce the first black character into the new series, jazz singer Jack Ross, played by Gary Carr, but doesn't think much to what he sees in other shows.

“I was very keen he should be a positive character. I feel this quite strongly,” he said.

“So many black characters in TV drama are victims and things are not going well for them. Even when they’re positive, even when they’re sympathetic, everything’s terrible.

“I feel for black young men and women. It’s very important that you see people on the screen who are not victims.

“This guy is not a victim. He is a very successful entertainer, a very positive guy, very attractive, and there’s no negative side, and that was important to me.” [Daily Telegraph/Daily Mirror]

Also in today's press

Judge's houses auditions on 'The X Factor' had to be halted because of noise from former French president Nicolas Sarkozy. A villa had been rented next to the former premier's house in Saint-Tropez for Louis Walsh, but filming was interrupted by the sound of loud hedge strimmers in his garden. [Daily Mirror]

Meanwhile, Simon Cowell has said that he will leave none of his £225 million fortune to his children. “'I'm going to leave my money to somebody. A charity, probably - kids and dogs,” he said. “I don't believe in passing on from one generation to another. Your legacy has to be that hopefully you gave enough people an opportunity, so that they could do well, and you gave them your time, taught them what you know.” [Esquire]

'Homeland's Damian Lewis has revealed that he asked former 'House' star Hugh Laurie for advice on being a British actor in a long-running US TV show. “He had become a global superstar... just like that... I just said, 'Hello, it's Damian Lewis. I'm sitting in your bedroom',” he said. “Then I said, 'So, what's it like making one of these TV things? Because I'm just about to make a decision'. And he gave me advice. He was very sweet.” [Esquire]