Preview tomorrow’s Downton Abbey Season 5 premiere (Episode One) with images and a synopsis. Downton Abbey airs Sundays at 9:00pmET on PBS Masterpiece starting January 4.
Fellow U.S. Downton Abbey fans, after watching our friends across the pond enjoy series 5 (and being slightly jealous) our time as arrived–the fifth season starts airing here tomorrow! Between January 4 and March 1, 2015, we’ll be to able to watch an episode every Sunday at 9:00pmET on PBS Masterpiece.
Season 5 features returning stars Maggie Smith (Lady Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess), Hugh Bonneville (Lord Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham), Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary Crawley), Elizabeth McGovern (Lady Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham), Jim Carter (Mr. Carson), Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith Crawley), Joanne Froggatt (Anna Bates), Allen Leech (Tom Branson), Robert James-Collier (Thomas Barrow), Penelope Wilton (Isobel Crawley), Phyllis Logan (Mrs. Hughes), Lily James (Lady Rose MacClare), Brendan Coyle (Mr. Bates), Lesley Nicol (Mrs. Patmore), Sophie McShera (Daisy), Samantha Bond (Lady Rosamund), Ed Speleers (Jimmy), Kevin Doyle (Mr. Molesley), Raquel Cassidy (Mrs. Baxter), David Robb (Dr. Clarkson), Tom Cullen (Lord Gillingham), Julian Ovenden (Charles Blake), Daisy Lewis (Sarah Bunting), Douglas Reith (Lord Merton), Jeremy Swift (Spratt), and Andrew Scarborough (Mr. Drewe).
This acclaimed ensemble is joined by guest stars Harriet Walter (Lady Shackleton), Peter Egan (Lord Shrimpie Flintshire), Richard E. Grant (Simon Bricker), Anna Chancellor (Lady Anstruther), and Rade Sherbedgia (Prince Kuragin).
When we leave Downton at the end of season 4’s Christmas Special: the Crawleys have successfully put on Rose’s presentation and coming out ball in London, all while saving the Prince of Wales and his mistress an embarrassing scandal; Edith has returned to Geneva to bring back her baby (through Mr. Gregson is still missing); Mary is still torn between her affections for Lord Gillingham and Charles Blake (and we discover Blake is to inherit a title); Anna, Mary, and Mrs. Hughes have suppressed evidence connecting Mr. Bates to Mr. Green’s death; Cousin Isobel might have a new beau in Lord Merton; Branson and his new friend Miss Bunting become closer; Thomas is threatening to expose some secret about Mrs. Baxter’s past, but Molesley encourages her not to kowtow; and Carson and Mrs. Hughes end the episode holding hands while enjoying a lovely day at the beach.
Season 5 kicks off in 1924 as the United Kingdom has elected its first Labor Party prime minister and the radio is the latest miracle of the age. We can expect to follow plot threads that were left dangling from last season, including Mary’s courtship contest, Edith’s trials as a secret single mom, Thomas’s scheming against Bates, Robert’s battles against modernity, Branson’s quest to be true to his ideals, Violet’s one-line zingers, and much more.
In tomorrow night’s Episode One:
A working-class prime minister is elected and old attitudes start to change. Robert is snubbed by the village. Baxter tells all, and Edith plays with fire. (via PBS Masterpiece)
Take a look at images from the upcoming episode below and make sure to join us over on twitter to live tweet as we watch the premiere episode at 9:00pmET on PBS Masterpiece!
What are you most looking forward to seeing in in Downton Abbey season 5? Share your thoughts with us in comments.
[Featured Image Source/Credit: Courtesy of ©Nick Briggs/Carnival Films 2014 for MASTERPIECE]
