A new costume drama series heads up ITV’sautumn/winter drama season. Written andcreated by Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes,the series boasts an all-star cast including Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Penelope Wilton, Dan Stevens, Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter,  Phyllis Logan, Lesley Nicol, Laura Carmichael, Jessica Brown Findlay,  Brendan Coyle, Thomas Howes, Sophie McShera, Siobhan Finneran, Rob James-Collier, Joanne Froggatt and Rose Leslie.

Set in an Edwardian country house in 1912,Downton Abbey portrays the lives of the Crawleyfamily and the servants who work for them. Downton is the home of the Crawleys, who have been the earls of Grantham since 1772. In thedrawing rooms, library and beautiful bedrooms,with their tall windows looking across the park, lives the family, but below stairs are other residents – the servants, as fiercely possessive of their ranks as anyone above. Some of them areloyal to the family and are committed to Downton as a way of life, others are moving through, on the lookout for new opportunities, love or just adventure.

The difference being that they know so many of the secrets of the family, while the family knows so few of theirs.

The series producer is Liz Trubridge (From Timeto Time, A Short Stay in Switzerland), the producer is Nigel Marchant (Fanny Hill, ThePhilanthropist) and the directors are BrianPercival (Gracie, A Boy Called Dad), Ben Bolt(Doc Martin, Ashes to Ashes) and Brian Kelly(Lilies, Torchwood).