Below stairs, the household is stirred by the arrival of John Bates , the Earl's new valet and former Boer War comrade. Bates walks with a limp due to a war injury, leading several staff members—most notably the footman Thomas Barrow and lady's maid Sarah O'Brien—to scheme against him to protect their own advancement. Key Cast & Characters
The story opens with the news of the sinking of the . This tragedy is personal for the Crawleys: Lord Grantham's cousin and heir presumptive, James Crawley , and his son Patrick (who was engaged to the eldest daughter, Mary), both perish in the disaster. Below stairs, the household is stirred by the
The ensemble cast is led by high-profile actors and introduced many breakout stars: Full cast & crew - Downton Abbey - IMDb This tragedy is personal for the Crawleys: Lord
The first episode of (Season 1, Episode 1) originally aired on September 26, 2010 , on ITV in the UK. Set in April 1912 , the series begins with a world-changing event that throws the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants into turmoil. Plot Overview Plot Overview Because Lord Grantham (Robert Crawley) has
Because Lord Grantham (Robert Crawley) has only three daughters and the estate is under a strict "entail," the title and fortune cannot pass to them. The new heir is revealed to be Matthew Crawley , a distant cousin and "middle-class" solicitor from Manchester—a choice that shocks the family, especially the Dowager Countess, Violet.