All language subtitles for Downton.Abbey.Celebrates.The.Grand.Finale.2025.1080p.ITV.WEB-DL.AAC2.0.H.264-7VFr33104D_track3_[eng]

For 15 years, Highclere Castle has
been the home of Downton Abbey.

'Over six seasons
and three films,

'all life has happened,
inside and out.

'Upstairs...'
Is it true, what Lavinia says?

'..and down.'
PLATES SHATTERING

'Love...'
I'm asking you to marry me.

'..and loss.'
No!

'Family...'
Are we ready?

'..and friendship.

'Betrayal...

'..and redemption.'
Mr Bates is coming back to Downton!

And more drama than
the Dowager Countess

could shake a stick at.

CANE THUDS
I forbid it.

You'll find there's never
a dull moment in this house.

I'm Michelle Dockery,

and for the cast and crew
of Downton Abbey,

Highclere has been our home, too.

This beloved world
of tea, tears, and tiaras...

I do apologise,
but Lady Mary must go.

..is reaching its closing chapter
with our third and final film.

You must be Mr Sandbrook.
Welcome to Downton.

Come in and have some tea.

Tonight, you are invited to tea
with our entire Downton family

at London's iconic Savoy Hotel.

There'll be celebration...

I'll just pose casually by this.

LAUGHTER
..memories...

My line was, "We could ask
the village people to help."

LAUGHTER
..and lots of laughter.

She went...
LAUGHTER

It is him.
LAUGHTER

Plus one or two surprises.

I don't know whether people know
about myself and Michelle.

I've got something for you.
ALL: Oh!

Including the world premiere of
an exclusive scene from our film.

Is this funny or impertinent?
Find it funny, please.

So join us in a toast
to the house,

the heart, and the people
of Downton Abbey,

as we celebrate The Grand Finale.

Feels like we're in
some sort of weird reality show

where we don't know
who's going to appear.

But it's very good of you to host it
at home, I have to say that.

LAUGHTER

We like the way you've done it.
Thank you.

Oh, this old thing?
LAUGHING: Yeah!

I've enjoyed a good life
in your service, my lord. I hope so.

Be great to see everybody, won't it?
I'm excited, yeah.

15 years.

I've gone through several shades
of grey since we started.

I think we both
had darker hair then.

LAUGHTER

You were by my side
when I inherited,

and here we still are,
however many years later.

Be exciting.
I mean, and possibly,

who knows, maybe the last time
we all get together.

MOCK TEARFULLY: Don't say that, Tim.
Oh, no, no, I've set him off.

He's so sentimental.
LAUGHTER

Oh, look, here we are.
Oh, what a surprise.

Say.
Oh, hello.

Lovely to see you.

Thank heaven, we'll soon be home.

Hello. Mwah!

A wise choice,
if I may say so, milady.

I have to say that Jim and I
are always at a disadvantage,

because you two look nothing like
you do in the show, so...

You don't recognise us.
No!

Exactly!

How are you?

I'm very well.
I'm excited about this.

It'll be fun,
getting the gang back together.

Film starts soon.
Everybody, hopefully, will enjoy it.

The fans will flock in
in their gazillions.

Of course. Well, it's certainly one
for the fans, isn't it?

It's a farewell, a love letter
to everyone who's, you know,

been loyal enough
to stay with us all these years.

We did it for us.

Did you? I did it for the money.
LAUGHTER

Yay!
Dun-dun-dun!

THEY CHUCKLE

PHYLLIS: Yay!

When I look back,
it was just incredible, you know,

the places it took us,
the fun we've had.

I am very grateful.

Don't be. You're my sister.

I remember reading the scripts
and just being so excited.

They were so good.

You went to bed with a stranger?

'I hoped it would be a big deal, but
none of us knew what would happen.'

I feel lucky that... that I get to
sort of be a part of this huge show.

Mr Carson, can I help?

'I think it's something
we all feel super proud of.'

It's the right time for it to end.

I think this is a beautiful way
to end it.

You and all of Sybil's family
have given me everything.

'And I'll miss it.'

I got a call about going
to audition for a period drama,

and I thought, "Well, I think
I've done a few period dramas.

"But... Maggie Smith's in it?

"Perhaps I will go in for an
audition for a period drama, then."

And I know I would have been annoyed
if I hadn't got the part.

I mean, that sounds a bit vain,
but I thought,

"No, I can do... I know this.
I can do this."

And I was delighted when...
when I did get it, of course.

When the audition came in,
there was a real buzz.

And I, like you, Jim, I felt
I would have been really upset

if I hadn't got it.

And I just sort of fell in love
with the character,

and just played it as best I could.

And as I walked out, Dan Stevens
was sat in the waiting area.

And I said, "Matthew?"

And he went, "Yeah. Mary?"
THEY CHUCKLE

And we kind of looked
at one another,

and I just... I remember thinking,
"Well, that could work."

LAUGHS

Goodbye, Mary, and God bless you.

I remember getting a call
from my agent,

"You got the part,
you got the part!"

And I was just, like, thrilled.

And then the next sentence was,

"You gotta go to your accent coach
on Thursday at ten o'clock."

I was like,
"OK, OK! My accent coach?"

"Yeah, you're playing American."

I was like, "I am American."

And they said, "No, but you gotta go
to your accent coach,"

who was an English person

who taught me how to speak
with an American accent.

What did they teach you?
That was how it started. Amazing.

I kind of felt like I was
coming in as the newbie

in episode four of Season 1.
Yeah.

And I remember being so nervous,
doing that scene with Hugh and Jim.

And the lunch break,
I went into my little trailer,

you know, I did my scene,
haven't been fired yet.

LAUGHTER

And it was Michelle came,
just knocked on the door,

she had her hair up
in one of those blue...

Blue nets.
Hairnets.

And she went,
"All right? We're all having lunch."

Cos it was a beautiful day,
and we were all at Highclere.

And she brought me out,
and we all sat on the grass.

And it's, I think, the essence
of that welcoming nature

that, as a cast, we've always,
when anyone has come in... Yeah.

..had that sense of, "Come in,
you're gonna have a great time."

And we had, pretty much, I think,

our first scenes together,
didn't we? Yeah.

It was on the first day
of the shoot,

and it was a scene
where I was crying,

which felt like a huge thing
to start with.

And we were so good in it,
they cut it.

They cut it, yeah.
But you were so kind.

I think you must have realised
how terrified I was, and how you...

I was as terrified as you, trust me.
Yeah.

I do remember, that first
read-through, we started to read,

and suddenly, it was like,
"Oh, my God." It was huge.

The script went...
MIMICS EXPLOSION

It just came to life.

It was just like
lightning had struck.

And we had no idea.
No idea.

None. No idea then that it was gonna
take off like it did,

and we'd be recognised
from China to Patagonia.

And I remember,
didn't you say something to Laura

about, "This doesn't happen often,
dear?"

Well, this doesn't happen
to any of us.

I mean, this doesn't happen
to Maggie Smith.

You know, Maggie, with Oscars
dripping out of every handbag,

you know, I mean,
even she's not been in something

as globally successful as this.

So I mean, it was a phenomenon that
nobody saw it coming, really. No.

Oh, hello. Here's trouble.
Oh, now, hello!

Hello. Nice to see you.
Hello.

How are you?
Good!

It's your time now.

Lovely to see you.

I do have some ideas of my own.

Carter.
Hello, darling.

I admire you, Lady Mary.
You're very brave.

Plethora of loveliness!

So, we walked back
along Piccadilly,

then down through the Green Park.

Everyone, have a seat.
I'll just pose casually by this.

LAUGHTER

Still to come on Downton Abbey
Celebrates The Grand Finale...

PLAYS THEME MUSIC
'Music...'

Oh, yeah. It's so stirring.
It gives you chills.

'..costumes...'

Obviously, I'm gonna bring up Daisy.
What?

And her evolution through style.

To be honest, last year was chaotic.
I beg your pardon?

'..and more memories from the cast.'

I don't know where to look.

I'm just gonna look down.
LAUGHTER

Plus, a world-exclusive scene
from our brand-new film.

LAUGHTER

We have had some giggles,
though.

I had to do a scene where Anna
was looking for Mr Bates,

and she went into a public house.

Director said,
"Oh, just so you know,

"it'd be really shocking for a woman
to walk into a pub on her own."

So, this older gentleman
was at the bar,

and he was like,
"Oh, OK, all right."

So, then, I walked in,
and he literally went like this.

LAUGHTER

Yeah.

And then the director went,
"A little less shocked than that."

LAUGHTER

I remember Maggie,
in the first season,

the director said,
"If we can start the scene

"as if you're already
in conversation."

And they said, "OK, action."

And she looked at me
and went, "Pardon?"

LAUGHTER

And it was just terrifying,
having to improvise with Maggie.

Do you remember, we had our big fete
in the... in the...

Did you say a fight? No.
Oh, a fete?

No, a fete, darling.
Sorry.

I'm just translating for the
Americans. Fete - a party.

Which means a fair.
In the grounds of the castle.

But, you know, for some reason,
we'd lost some people.

I don't know what.
But anyway, my line was,

"Oh, we could ask the village people
to help."

LAUGHTER

And all I could picture was all
these bare-chested lumberjacks.

I feel like this film
wraps up so beautifully

every single character
and their storyline. Yes.

And while they are rounding...

You know, all rounded off, in a way,
they're not ended.

There's always a sort of sense of,
"What's going to happen next?"

Each film, actually, has kind of
been building to this moment

where the baton is firmly...

Finally, finally!
..finally passed on!

He finally lets go of it.

And in so many of the storylines.

You know,
it's Daisy and Mrs Patmore.

At least you're still around,
Mrs Patmore.

Oh, only until now.
Daisy's cooking dinner tonight.

By tomorrow morning,
I'll have retired as well.

So bring your complaints to me.

Carson and Andy.

I would like to thank you,
Mr Carson.

You've taught me so much,

and I hope, one day,
I'll be a worthy successor.

It's the next generation
moving forward.

And, I think, Anna,
with the costumes,

I mean, they're just exquisite.

I mean, every time, it feels like
she surpasses herself.

Yes.
Every single time.

There's gonna be a run
on your red dress, I can tell you.

The red dress is something else.
Going into mass production.

Anna, do you always know
where you're going with the costume?

Or do you start sketching
and it can change drastically?

Or do you sort of have
a set idea straightaway?

Lady Mary's red dress that she wears
to the Petersfield Ball,

I knew straight away the silhouette
that I wanted that to be,

and the colour.

And that's not in the script,
so that's just come to you?

Yeah, and I think, as well,

I knew there was gonna be
some really focused shots,

front and back,
with her coming and going,

and the fact there was a gift
of the scene written,

in the atelier,
where she's trying on the dress.

You will be a sensation.

'So you know there's gonna be
proper 360-degree focus.'

And quite often, you can spend
ages designing something

that's glorious all the way around,

and then someone's sitting
in a chair, and you hardly see it.

Obviously, I'm gonna bring up Daisy
and her evolution through style.

LAUGHTER

'Daisy's kind of really grown up
on camera.'

Have you missed me?
Of course!

'She's, you know,
found her own sense of style,

'has a little bit more means.'

Don't tell Annie!

I think in this final film,
it was definitely, like,

trying to push as much as we could

this really cute little preppy,
Chanel-inspired vibe,

little jackets and cute hats.

This is Mrs Parker.

I definitely felt that when I was
doing the scene in the village hall,

and she's finding her confidence.

Last year's arrangements will,
for the most part, stand?

Yes, absolutely.

Is that a good idea?

It really helps
to express that with the clothes.

What?

Well, to be honest,
last year was chaotic.

I beg your pardon?

And then there's the big set pieces

I think people
will really love, like Ascot.

Oh, I thought they were wonderful.

I mean, apart from it
looking beautiful,

the actual racing...

It looks incredible.
Yeah.

I mean, it was so exciting.

HORSE HOOVES THUDDING,
AUDIENCE YELLING

Oh.

Shouldn't you wait and see
if there's a stewards' inquiry?

Talking about
the production design, really,

I mean, Donal's work throughout,
let's face it, is astonishing.

Oh, it's beautiful.
It's beautiful.

It evokes all that time.

With a project like
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,

where does it start for you?

Each film, we've tried to give

the audience something bigger
and better and more exciting.

Royal Ascot is now
a modern glass building

and not good for any of this.

So we ended up looking at
probably 14

of the flat racing courses
around the country.

The other problem is,
we were filming in the summer,

which is the height
of the flat racing season,

and we needed it for a week.

So there's lots of logistical things
that we had to sort out.

And we ended up
at Ripon Racecourse,

a quiet little Yorkshire racecourse.

They were very accommodating
and very understanding

of all our needs.

That's Yorkshire for you.

Shall we go to the royal enclosure?

Don't make him wait
any longer, Bertie.

He's panting for it.

HE LAUGHS
I would like to see it.

Go, all of you.

We'll stay here.
Are you sure?

I am.

When we were filming
up in Harrogate

doing Ascot and the county fair,

it's really special
when both upstairs and downstairs

are all together doing a scene

because we get to hang out,
all staying in the same hotel.

It was so lovely.

But there have been hundreds
of moments over the years.

ALLEN: It was incredibly poignant
reading this final script,

knowing that that's the end
of a journey

that's been 14 years of my life

and also with what have become
my second family.

We are like family.

We've all been there
for each other.

And it's really important
in this film particularly

because we know it's the last one,

is to relish every second.

If it wasn't a great group
of people,

we wouldn't all keep coming back.

So I guess it shows that we have all
really enjoyed this experience.

It's amazing that we are in
this gang that, after 15 years,

we all still really like
hanging out with each other,

even outside work.

I owe a lot to this show.

I think, like, so much of my life

has been shaped
around this show, you know?

What about if somebody said,
"You are going to find your wife"?

I know. I know.
And have a child.

I know. It's incredible.
Life-changing stuff.

Downton is a sort of central pillar
for all of our lives,

and we've kind of adapted
and moved around it.

And really, the older ones
have watched the younger ones

kind of grow up.
Yeah.

It's kind of touching, really,
to be there with them.

I know. It is lovely
for the start of everybody.

I mean, we are sort of in
the twilight of our careers...

Oh, would you stop?
You know what I mean.

I'm not having that.

Most of our career is behind us
rather than ahead of us.

Well, it is with that attitude.

LAUGHTER

I'm not listening to this.

Carry on.
Well, it's true.

You were legends
when you started this show.

That's how we felt.

Another thing that I don't know
whether a lot of people know,

that what's come out about myself
and Michelle

is that we're related.

In real life?
In real life.

Third cousins.
Wow.

Just as well you didn't marry her.

Well, exactly, yeah.
LAUGHTER

Obviously, one of your bessies.

You're best mates, aren't you?

I could cry thinking about it.

But it's amazing.

I know that we'll always speak
this sort of secret language

to each other or something.

We just get each other.

And I think that's part of
having sisters in real life,

and then playing sisters.

We have a shorthand.

And I don't have any kids,
but Sophie's a bit of a... Yeah.

Your relationship with Sophie
is amazing.

It's not mother and daughter

cos she's got a fine mother
of her own, of course.

I don't know what it is,
but it's a proper friendship.

It's so special.
As is ours.

As is ours.
As is ours. I know.

I had a very grim experience
three years ago.

You...

You rang me every day
for the next part of a year.

And I've got some good friends,
but you were the one, babuh.

Yeah.
She really did.

I always will be.
I know you will. I know.

But that's... that's real.
That's what's authentic about this.

And I think people know
this is real.

Oh, you can see it in every
glance and every moment.

You know, it's why people...

it resonates with people
because you can really feel the...

the history and the relationship
through the screen,

and it's extraordinary.

Yeah, we's lucky.
We's lucky, in't we? Did all right!

Not so bad, is it?
We's lucky.

We's lucky, in't we?
SHE CHUCKLES

Still to come -

composer John Lunn
reveals the secrets

behind Downton Abbey's iconic music.

So, there's a big rising
string tune.

SOFT PIANO MUSIC

Amazing.

My God, what a melody.

And a world-exclusive scene
from our brand-new movie.

At the start of the story,
we're in 1930.

But now we are in
another financial crisis.

You know, the roof is falling in.

But thankfully, we know that
there's gonna be a cash injection

from Cora's late mother.

Cora.

And in this movie,
it really emphasizes this sense

that this world of Downton
is the past

and that there's a future world
sort of encroaching.

The Americans represent
some of that future world.

Hello, Mary.
Mama.

And you must be Mr Sandbrook.
Welcome to Downton.

I mean, particularly
guys like Sandbrook.

I hope you won't be bored.

Harold and I
have a lot to talk about.

You can talk in front of Gus.

Come in and have some tea.

So it's a bit of a shock
to discover that her brother

has actually taken most of the money
and invested it incredibly unwisely.

Give me some credit.
I've known you since you were born.

'I think people will enjoy it.
It's a great movie.'

I collected all of these,
but I can only find one...

Oh, yes. ..which is the marriage
of Lady Mary and Henry.

ALL: Aw.

And they're very
beautifully done, aren't they?

They're really lovely.
Properly done.

There's hymns in there
and everything. Yeah.

I did take my last
menu card from the day.

I have that framed at home.

But is there anything
that you kind of

feel that you would have loved
to have taken from your character?

Well, I asked for...

cos my chatelaine is something
that I wore all the time.

It's iconic.

My chatelaine.
You had that all the time?

I had that all the time,
from the very beginning.

I know, but I...
Oh, hello.

Sorry to interrupt.

Sorry, but Phyllis,
I've got something for you.

ALL GASP

Oh!

You are kidding.
Wow.

Where's the scissors?

HE LAUGHS
Where's the scissors?

Aw. Aw!
Now we know where they've been.

Where did you find...?

No, there should be a pair
of scissors hanging off that.

Yes.
Safety.

Aw.
There you go.

It's a pleasure...
Well done.

Did you nick them?
Is that what it is?

Oh, moi?

No, I am famous for not
taking things from the set.

I'm sorry,
he said sanctimoniously.

Oh, hang on, if you're doing this...
Oh, yeah.

..I really loved
driving that 1910 Renault.

Right, just a minute. Give me
a second, I'll go and get it.

Lady Mary.

'At the start of the film,
we find Mary in a good place.

'The divorce has opened up
a new chapter in her life.'

I think that she's ready
to embark on something new.

We fought like cats.

He wanted to be kingpin.

But I was the heiress,
and he was just the husband.

He hated that.

How intriguing.

So, we're honoured to have
John Lunn, composer, with us here.

So, I'm curious
what you were thinking

when you came up
with the theme tune.

The theme came from
the very beginning

of the very first episode.

And it starts off
with a train, you know, so...

ENERGETIC PIANO MUSIC

Just going with the energy
of the train.

Sure. And then it finally
lands on Bates.

But he looks like he's had his...

his best years have
been behind him, you know?

So I picked out this
lonely tune kind of for him.

So this is going on
at the same time as...

SOMBRE PIANO MUSIC

Oh.
Right?

And then it goes
to the telegraph pole,

and the train's kind of
following the telegram as well.

And it's carrying the information

that the heir to Downton Abbey
has been drowned on the Titanic.

Oh, my God.

The audience know nothing of this.

So the music's giving it
an importance

that you would otherwise miss.

So there's a big rising
string tune, which, you know...

SOFT PIANO MUSIC

And then finally,
you land at Downton Abbey itself,

and the music becomes
suddenly a bit more pompous.

So you get...
Yeah.

SLOW PIANO CHORDS

That's the pompous one.

So those four chords
are really kind of for the house.

Yeah.
Yeah.

First time I saw Highclere,
I got Pat, the driver,

I got him to play it on the speakers

just so we could come up the hill
and see the house with this song.

And it's just like,
even now, in this last film,

when you see it, the house,

with this music, it's so stirring,
it gives you chills.

And each character theme...
So, Anna has a theme.

It wasn't so much individual themes,

it was more about
the relationships between people.

So, you and Matthew
obviously had... Yeah.

..had, well, several, you know?
Yeah. And the train station.

The train station
is one of my favourite.

GENTLE PIANO MUSIC

Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

Oh, boy.
I know.

I wanted to give you this.

It's my lucky charm.

'You were saying goodbye
to Matthew.'

I'm trying not to be a hero,
if that's what you're afraid of.

Just come back safe and sound.

'And it was very obvious
that neither of you

'could say that you were in love.'

Did you have a happy time
yesterday?

But the music was...
It was so unspoken.

It was doing everything
that you didn't say.

Anna and Bates' theme,
you were referring to. It's Bates.

You know, Bates had this limp,
so it was...

SOMBRE PIANO MUSIC
Wow.

Oh!
I mean, it's amazing.

You know, I mean, that's
kind of where it...

Can you play a bit more?

Yeah, yeah.
I love it so much.

And this is usually played
on the viola.

Oh, yeah.

So simple, really.

It's so delicate, considering...
Yeah.

So, the music was like...

it was like a missed opportunity
kind of cue that the two,

those two, Anna and Bates,
could have got together. Yeah.

When the picture starts
to take on a meaning

that it didn't have before,

then you know you're
on to something. Absolutely.

John, you're a genius.
Thank you.

Yeah, thank you.
Thank you.

So, let's have a little look.
OK, here's...

A trip down memory lane.
Here's the beginning.

The beginning.
2010 to 2015.

OK, hang on, actually.

I think there's one here -
I very naughtily

took a photo against all the rules
at the very first read-through.

Oh, yes!
Wow.

Is that me?
So that was 2010.

Yes.
That's me!

Oh, wow.
Oh, my goodness.

Before any of you knew.
Oh, wow.

We look like babies.

What should we call each other?

Well, we could always start with
Mrs Crawley and Lady Grantham.

Oh, do you think
I might have a drink?

Oh, I'm so sorry.
I thought you were a waiter.

Edith, dear,
you're a woman with a brain

and reasonable ability.

Stop whining.

She's left the stage now.

But it was a sadness when she died.

Yeah.
Mm.

And it was one of the great
privileges of our lives,

or certainly my life,
to have worked with her. Yeah.

We were very lucky that
it felt like from day one,

she greeted us
like her grandchildren

and wanted to have a giggle.

Well, particularly when
you showed her cat videos.

Well, yes.
Yeah, she loved a meme.

She loved a cat meme, yeah.
She loved a meme.

And when we realised that
that's what she liked, then,

you know, I had a special
photo album on my phone

of pics to show Mags.

LAUGHTER

There's nothing simpler than
avoiding people you don't like.

Avoiding one's friends,
that's the real test.

Well, there have been
many high moments.

I'm always surprised
when you praise me.

I'm surprised to hear that I have.

But mostly my scenes with Maggie,
they were all such fun to play

because we were always
in some sort of disagreement

with one another.

Oh, and you're
an expert in the matter?

I am an expert in every matter.

And then finally,
we became enormous friends.

After all these years,
you still astonish me.

Oh, good.

I'm glad I'm a revelation
and not a disappointment.

I mean, Lady Grantham
and Isobel Crawley, we were,

anyhow, myself and Maggie,

I'm very, extremely fond of her
and admiring of her as an actress.

Are you keeping something from me?
Come with me.

When I was a young girl,

I went to see her
in the theatre a lot

when I was a drama student.

And I wanted to be Maggie Smith.

I mean, she was a heroine to me.

LIGHT
ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

I was walking out of the church
with her one day,

and we were having a scene
walking along the path.

And she had her stick, and she said,

"I don't know why I'm playing
an old woman. I am an old woman."

LAUGHTER

Yeah.

And then she said,
"Why don't you keep up with me?

"I'm just standing here.
Why aren't you...?"

I said, "I am, Maggie,
I'm absolutely with you."

She said, "Well, you're not.
You're all the way behind me."

And I said,
"No, I'm not. I'm there."

She said, "Why are you doing that?"

Anyhow, the next day, she said,
"Oh, I forgot I'm blind in this eye,

"so I couldn't see you."

LAUGHTER

Anyway, she was a wonderful woman.

Well, you were not only
her sparring partner

but her wrangler, really,
weren't you? Yes, I was.

LAUGHTER

Yes, because she used to not
always be in the best mood

first thing in the morning

and certainly not when
she came into the make-up room.

So one had to have...
You could always make her laugh.

Well, I tried.

And if not, you get Allen in.

She was so formidable.

I remember one of my
first scenes with her,

I had to drive her to the house.

And I had practised
a couple of times.

And they basically said,
"We're gonna go for a take.

"So, Allen, if you don't
mind stopping this 1910 Renault

"on this very mark."

But now Maggie's in the back,

and suddenly, the stakes
were slightly higher.

I missed the mark,
nearly handbrake turned.

And they said, "Back to ones, Allen,
if you just want to reverse."

And I'll never forget, there was
just her cane came to the window,

and I looked back, and she said,
"I think I'll get out first."

LAUGHTER

And that stick would...
If there was anyone who sort of

came a little bit too close to her,
sort of into her space...

It was usually the script
supervisor. Yes.

She would just hold it up
as they were talking to her.

And when they'd finished talking,
she'd go...

and put it down.
LAUGHTER

It's sort of half in character.

She was good with Shirley, too,
MacLaine.

Oh, that was a big moment, actually,
when they met for the first time.

I remember the moment vividly.
I think you were there.

It was at rehearsal or whatever.

In the Great Hall.
The Great Hall.

Maggie said, "I don't think
we've met before."

Shirley said, "Yeah, we did.
We met at the Oscars 40 years ago.

"Don't you recall? Backstage."

And she said, "I was probably
face down in a cake."

LAUGHTER

But it was great to see them spar,
as you say. Yeah.

Once they said action,
it was like,

"Oh, that's what Shirley's gonna do.
Then I'm gonna do this."

And it was just great.
Like a tennis match, wasn't it?

It was. It was always
a tennis match with her, actually.

It was like playing tennis
with someone a bit better than you.

So you had to just raise your game.

And it made everyone better.

Yeah.
It did.

We'll never see her like again,
really. No.

No, the make-up department
certainly won't.

I take that as a compliment.

I must have said it wrong.

Still to come on Downton Abbey
Celebrates The Grand Finale...

"The wife watches
that thing you're in."

Yeah.
And I said, "Oh. Do you?"

"Well, it's on."

LAUGHTER

We're living in the age
of Noel Coward.

Exactly. Although I don't suppose
Noel would put it quite like that.

How would I put it?

We were just saying how your star

shines more brightly
with every new show. Ah.

That's me and you at the Ritz.
At the Ritz.

We filmed right next door

when we shot all of the
Fortnum & Mason shopping day scenes

in this film, and...
Really roughed it.

We stayed... Yeah.
We really roughed it.

Our call was gonna be
very, very early in the morning

to get us ready in time to shoot
before Fortnum's had to open.

This is gonna break
my heart, this story.

It's gonna break your heart.
Carry on.

And because the last episode
of the last series

finished at the Ritz...
There's a theme coming in here.

And they'd been so kind and said,

"Do let us know if you ever
want to come back."

When we saw the call time,
Michelle and I went,

"Do you think you could...?"

"This might be our moment."

Oh, really, yeah?
"See if we can get a room."

And we did, and it was lovely.
We did.

Do you have a similar story to that?

That was the day
I went to work by bus.

LAUGHTER

So, it's time to talk about
the fans.

Who has a story about being
recognised in strange places?

I was in the gym,
and this lady was changing.

And I was looking in the mirror,

I think I was just brushing
my hair or something,

and this lady
was very naked behind me.

And she had her leg up
on the chair like this,

drying herself with her towel.

And she went, "Oh, you're on
Downton Abbey, aren't you?"

LAUGHTER

"Oh, my goodness.
I can't unsee this."

I was literally
looking in the mirror going,

"I don't know where to look.
I'm just gonna look down.

"I'm just gonna look down."

Michelle and myself
went to see Babygirl,

a rather saucy film...
Yes.

..in the middle of the day.

And there weren't many people
in the cinema,

but this woman came out and went,
"Can I just say, I love you guys,

"and I love that you're together
watching this film."

LAUGHTER

It was so funny.

I was in Hyde Park,
having a cup of coffee in the Lido,

and this woman came up to me.

She was American.

And she says, "Excuse me,
my daughter is a great fan of yours.

"Would you mind coming
and saying hello to her?"

So I said, "No, not at all."
So I went out.

And there was this
really cross teenager

who was looking at her phone.

Her mother said, "Colette."

And she said, "Yeah?"

She said, "Colette,
I've got someone to show you."

"Yeah? So what?"

She didn't take her eyes
off the phone.

She said,
"Colette, if you look up..."

"I don't want to look up."

Anyhow, then she looked up
and she went...

LAUGHTER

She nearly fell over.

So I said,
"If you keep your head up,

"you know, you'll see
a lot of us about the place."

LAUGHTER

I've had dogs named after me.

I've had a child named Carson.
What, Carson?

Yeah, in Florida.

LAUGHTER

But the antithesis
of all the excitement is

typical Yorkshire,
in a hotel in Yorkshire,

having breakfast, and suddenly, you
get that lovely thing where, boof.

You know, and then they say,
"The wife..."

Not "my wife".

"The wife watches that thing
you're in."

And I said, "Oh. Do you?"

"Well, it's on."

LAUGHTER

They never watch it.

There's the different levels
of recognition.

There's the supermarket turn,
which is,

"Don't turn round,
but over there is..."

And they always do that.

Or there's what I call the zoo,

when you're standing in front
of a shop window looking in,

and someone comes up and does that
and goes, "It is him."

LAUGHTER
Yeah!

Just talking of...

of fans, I don't know
if I showed you this, Jim.

But it's so lovely.

And it's beautifully...
Aw!

Oh.
Oh, my goodness.

And it's a painting.
Is it a painting?

That's a painting?
Yes.

Oh, my...
Of our favourite scene together.

I know.
Oh, that's lovely.

Oh, my goodness.
That is beautiful.

Isn't it gorgeous?

We're getting on,
Mr Carson, you and I.

We can afford to live a little.

The crew...
Were behind...

..were out of scene.
Oh, in front of us.

With their trousers
rolled up, backing off...

As we approached. As we were
paddling out towards them.

And I could see the waves
coming in behind -

"Boys, you're gonna get such a shock
in a minute, you know."

They go, "Oh!"

So, talking of fans, bizarrely,

this actually came in today
from a gentleman in Turkey.

"Dear Lord Grantham,
I don't know how many times

"I've watched Downton Abbey
from beginning to end.

"I haven't seen the trailer
of the new movie in Turkey yet,

"but I saw it on TikTok

"and watched it
with tears in my eyes.

"I want you to know that
I love the whole team very much.

"Downton Abbey has a very special
place in my heart,

"and it has become
my favourite series.

"I will never forget you all.

"I wish you luck and happiness.
I am so glad you exist."

Aw.
We don't exist.

We're actually fictional characters.
LAUGHTER

Anyway, that's lovely.

Aw, that is gorgeous.

Well, I have some videos
from some fans.

I had gotten caught up
in Downton Abbey

long before I met Dustin.

And when the movie came out,
I messaged him, and I said,

"There's this movie coming out.
You want to go see it?"

And he said he had never heard
of Downton Abbey before,

but he said yes,
and that was our first date.

When we were in the midst
of planning our wedding,

something in me
thought about the honeymoon,

and I just said,
"Why don't we go to the place

"where it all started?"

And that was Highclere Castle,
where Downton Abbey was filmed.

It was so beautiful.

When we got there,
it really felt like

we just stepped into the movie set.

I mean, it really looked
like how it did.

I think that's the reason why
when we went,

we wanted to create our own
Downton Abbey intro.

We love to live in a fantasy world,
and Downton Abbey helps us do that.

Well, I hope they will come
to the film and enjoy it.

Hello.
Hello, hi.

It's been such a joy
to be part of Downton Abbey's

incredible final chapter.

Coming back to Downton
always feels like coming home.

And our last film
is really something special.

Each of our characters,
Molesley, Daisy, and Bertie,

have decades-long journeys
that culminate in The Grand Finale.

And we can't wait
for you to see how it all

plays out on the big screen.

But first, we have something
special just for you.

We are so excited to share
this world-exclusive scene

from Downton Abbey:
The Grand Finale.

I don't understand.

If you're a writer,
then why are you a footman now?

Oh, it's a... it's a long story.

I hope you've enjoyed
your stay at Downton.

Certainly.

And Lady Mary's given me an idea.

What do you mean?

Well, she was talking
about her divorce.

And I can see the play in my head.

Oh, but is it right,

to use what people confide
about their private lives?

SOFT MUSIC

Private lives?

Very good.

Thank you, Mr Molesley.

I'm grateful.

Until the next time.

GROANS

Joseph, you've made a good life
for us, a lovely life.

Won't you please let us be happy?

I will try, I promise.

That's all I ask.

Are you all right?

I wish I was in the right clothes.

They look perfectly right to me.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Hmm. Good Lord, who's that?

Is that Barrow?

Huh.

Yes.

And you're not to make a thing
of it.

Thank you.

We're very informal.

I suppose that comes
with living in America.

HUSHED CHATTER

We're all looking
forward to the show.

Oh, I hope it's one that Violet
would have been proud of.

I feel it's the last thing
I could do for her.

She terrified the daylights
out of me.

Maybe.

But in truth,
she was kinder, funnier,

wiser than most people knew.

Quite irreplaceable.
Oh, I don't agree.

I think Mary will replace her,
if she hasn't already. Mm.

So, gang, with us all
gathered here together,

it seems a good opportunity
for one final toast

to Downton Abbey and to friendship.

Absolutely.

And we've had such
a wonderful day today,

such laughs and such fun
and such love.

And I've asked everyone
to jot down a phrase or a thought

as a takeaway from our experience
over these many years.

"Faith in the power of stories,"
is one.

I know who this is.

"My mistress is Jules,
and the joy of joining a cast

"I had already fallen for."

Was that Raquel, by any...?

LAUGHTER

You work too hard.

Ease up.
No, I can't.

This is my moment.

"What a wonderful group of people
to spend 14 years with."

Welcome to Downton. Have a nice day.

And I think this is my favourite,
which sums it all up perfectly.

"A fictional family
who became real-life friends."

LAUGHTER

I love you.

That's what makes it all
worthwhile.

So, ladies and gentlemen,
we hope you'll go

to the movie theatre and enjoy
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.

ALL: To Downton Abbey.

MUSIC: 'Downton Abbey
Main Theme'

APPLAUSE

Over. Done.

THEY LAUGH

See ya.
See ya.

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