What To Know<\/h3>\n\n\n- PBS will rebroadcast all six seasons of Downton Abbey<\/em> starting May 17.<\/li>\n
- Alastair Bruce, the show\u2019s historical advisor, emphasized the importance of balancing historical accuracy with creative storytelling.<\/li>\n
- Bruce reflected on the show\u2019s enduring appeal as an escapist pleasure, the camaraderie among cast and crew.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
PBS<\/a> is preparing to open the doors of <\/span>Downton Abbey<\/a> <\/span><\/i>once again as episodes from the iconic Masterpiece<\/a><\/em> series return to its airwaves. The network will begin rebroadcasting the British historical drama Sunday evenings starting May 17 from the first season onward up to sixth going into 2027.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe runaway hit that initially ran on the network in 2011 followed the aristocratic Crawley family and their domestic servants between 1912 and 1925. Its popularity gave way to a number of accolades and three movies. One person who was most excited about the news was Alastair Bruce, who served as <\/span>Downton Abbey\u2019s <\/span><\/i>historical advisor. <\/span>His keen eye stood as the foremost authority on historical accuracy. From Edwardian protocol in dress, posture, and manners to serving of food, vocabulary or even the correct way to step out of a car, he made sure production got it right.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nBruce\u2019s resume speaks for itself as <\/span>a British television journalist and\u00a0 former senior officer in the British Army Reserves. He also served as the Governor of Edinburgh Castle from 2019 to 2024. Fans may recognize him from hosting two Masterpiece<\/em> specials or blink or you\u2019ll miss him cameos.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\u2018Manners of Downton Abbey\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
What does it mean to you to see the show return in this way on PBS? How is it looking at those early years through today\u2019s lens?<\/b><\/p>\n
Alastair Bruce: <\/b>We were immensely proud of the <\/span>Downton Abbey <\/span><\/i>project, and it seems to have brought so much pleasure and joy. Indeed it\u2019s brought a great deal of escapism, to so many people, and I think that, in this time when life is full of challenges, it\u2019s tough for lots of people and <\/span>Downton Abbey<\/span><\/i> has managed to bring an escape.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nIt\u2019s a delightful escape that takes you into a story and you meet and get to know so many delightful people. So to see it come back to PBS is like seeing a group of friends who you may think you remember the story about, but when you watch it again, it comes to life in its own remarkable way, and I hope that it will bring new escapes for people who wish to return to a place where they felt safe and they enjoyed learning about a family and their staff.<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\nWhat were some of the biggest challenges you faced with the team as they worked to find the balance between accuracy and artistic liberty?<\/b><\/p>\n
It was made very easy for me to bring accuracy into fiction because I was supported by the producers. First of all there was Julian Fellowes<\/a>, who had asked for me to be part of the team, in order to bring his writing into a very specific period and to have it correct. Then there was Gareth Neame<\/a>, who was running everything and Liz Trubridge, who was on set. She was the producer I went to if I thought any director was about to make an error.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nShe eloquently helped the director achieve his story, while accommodation was made for my concern. In the end, I was there to help but I was helping with advice and the director must have his or her story and what worked is that we combined my demand for accuracy with the brilliant creativity of directors and the artistic interpretation of actors, to produce something that I think is truly good.<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\nDid you ever have a scene or moment during an episode that you re-watched, and were like\u2026I missed that?<\/b>
<\/b><\/p>\n
There was an occasion when I was looking through one of the earliest programs, and I noticed that [John] Bates was walking into a room past a light switch! This was at a time before electric light had been brought to <\/span>Downton Abbey.<\/span><\/i> I suppose it wasn\u2019t specifically my fault, but we were all working together to try and catch these human weaknesses of missing this, or that. Of course, immediately the footage was altered to remove the light switch and no one would have known.<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\nDo you have a favorite memory from set?<\/b><\/p>\n
My favorite memory of working on set with <\/span>Downton Abbey<\/span><\/i> was just how well everyone got on. Now that may seem strange, but I\u2019ve worked on a lot of films and in many productions and, on the whole, we were very lucky with the ensemble of both cast and crew and I think it was down to the leadership. Liz Trubridge was an outstanding producer on set, and she just made sure everyone got on. I can assure you, this does not always happen.<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\nAny character\/cast member you enjoyed working with most?<\/b><\/p>\n
The actor I most enjoyed working with was Kevin [Doyle]<\/a>, who played [Joseph] Molesley. I think it was his friendship, his courtesy, his interest in what I had to say. The\u00a0 fact that you can\u2019t take your eyes off him, whether he is the focus of a scene, or he\u2019s just part of its background. I have always found him compelling to watch and I found him delightful, as a friend, to spend time with and if I\u2019m honest, I rather miss him.\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Credit:](\"https:\/\/www.tvinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Downton-Abbey-855x570.jpg\")
<\/p>\nCredit: Photograph by Nick Briggs<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
What do you remember about sharing time with Maggie Smith?<\/b><\/p>\n
Maggie Smith<\/a> was part of the \u2018filmocracy\u2019. She was a leader in her trade. Her background was irreproachable, as an actress, and so all of us were moderately in awe of her. However, that doesn\u2019t always make life with her easy!\u00a0 She could have her moments, albeit resting on that great reputation, but, in truth, I got on with her very well. I think that was because, after the first series, where I think she thought very little of me, I gave a talk about warfare. Now, I have been a soldier, and I had been in battle and so I had some quite helpful things to share with the actors about that before the First World War.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nFrom the moment I had done that she took me seriously. I suppose if you are a professional of her level, you have a right to take time in making a judgement about whether the \u2018add-on advisors\u2019 who appear on set giving you information have value or not. In the end, I think she thought I did have value and we got on very well, but I never took my conversations with her for granted because sometimes she was possibly in pain, but definitely sometimes in a bad mood. We miss her desperately because it was a privilege for all of us to work with her.<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\nHow much time would you say was spent on your end, including research ahead of production, whether it\u2019s a movie or episode?<\/b><\/p>\n
Research for accuracy is something that you do over your life. I have a well of residual information drawn from the most esoteric rainfall of research, and it is that deep well into which I drop the bucket, in order to bring information for any scene, or any situation, that comes up. My role was to be clear and immediate with information. It was not good for any director to pose a question at me or challenge me with a situation to which I couldn\u2019t come up with the answer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhen was the moment you felt the show had resonated? <\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nIt was the viewing figures that surprised us first, but when Downton Abbey went to America and picked up such an enormous viewing public; then we knew!<\/span><\/p>\nWhat do you remember about the show\u2019s response from the royal community over the years? Queen Elizabeth II was a noted fan, but reportedly also liked to pick inaccuracies. What do you make of that?<\/b><\/p>\n
I can confidently say that Elizabeth II was not a fan of <\/span>Downton Abbey,<\/span><\/i> contrary to everyone\u2019s opinion. Indeed, the late Queen was not a television watcher, unless it was the news or horse racing!<\/span>\u00a0You must remember that, unlike most other people, the Queen had her own <\/span>Downton Abbey<\/span><\/i> existence and I would imagine living within a story like that was quite enough to say her interest if our houses were run.<\/span><\/p>\nThat said, quite a few members of the royal family were great fans. The present Queen, Camilla<\/a>, always enjoyed it and, I believe, never missed an episode. Also a great fan was the Princess of Wales (Kate Middleton<\/a>). Indeed, as Duchess of Cambridge she came to visit the set, which was a tremendous boost for all of us and I think gave the project a bit of useful British status at a rather interesting time in the show\u2019s popularity.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat would you say was your favorite season or movie to work on?<\/b><\/p>\n
- \n
- PBS will rebroadcast all six seasons of Downton Abbey<\/em> starting May 17.<\/li>\n
- Alastair Bruce, the show\u2019s historical advisor, emphasized the importance of balancing historical accuracy with creative storytelling.<\/li>\n
- Bruce reflected on the show\u2019s enduring appeal as an escapist pleasure, the camaraderie among cast and crew.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
PBS<\/a> is preparing to open the doors of <\/span>Downton Abbey<\/a> <\/span><\/i>once again as episodes from the iconic Masterpiece<\/a><\/em> series return to its airwaves. The network will begin rebroadcasting the British historical drama Sunday evenings starting May 17 from the first season onward up to sixth going into 2027.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
The runaway hit that initially ran on the network in 2011 followed the aristocratic Crawley family and their domestic servants between 1912 and 1925. Its popularity gave way to a number of accolades and three movies. One person who was most excited about the news was Alastair Bruce, who served as <\/span>Downton Abbey\u2019s <\/span><\/i>historical advisor. <\/span>His keen eye stood as the foremost authority on historical accuracy. From Edwardian protocol in dress, posture, and manners to serving of food, vocabulary or even the correct way to step out of a car, he made sure production got it right.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Bruce\u2019s resume speaks for itself as <\/span>a British television journalist and\u00a0 former senior officer in the British Army Reserves. He also served as the Governor of Edinburgh Castle from 2019 to 2024. Fans may recognize him from hosting two Masterpiece<\/em> specials or blink or you\u2019ll miss him cameos.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\u2018Manners of Downton Abbey\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
What does it mean to you to see the show return in this way on PBS? How is it looking at those early years through today\u2019s lens?<\/b><\/p>\n
Alastair Bruce: <\/b>We were immensely proud of the <\/span>Downton Abbey <\/span><\/i>project, and it seems to have brought so much pleasure and joy. Indeed it\u2019s brought a great deal of escapism, to so many people, and I think that, in this time when life is full of challenges, it\u2019s tough for lots of people and <\/span>Downton Abbey<\/span><\/i> has managed to bring an escape.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
It\u2019s a delightful escape that takes you into a story and you meet and get to know so many delightful people. So to see it come back to PBS is like seeing a group of friends who you may think you remember the story about, but when you watch it again, it comes to life in its own remarkable way, and I hope that it will bring new escapes for people who wish to return to a place where they felt safe and they enjoyed learning about a family and their staff.<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\nWhat were some of the biggest challenges you faced with the team as they worked to find the balance between accuracy and artistic liberty?<\/b><\/p>\n
It was made very easy for me to bring accuracy into fiction because I was supported by the producers. First of all there was Julian Fellowes<\/a>, who had asked for me to be part of the team, in order to bring his writing into a very specific period and to have it correct. Then there was Gareth Neame<\/a>, who was running everything and Liz Trubridge, who was on set. She was the producer I went to if I thought any director was about to make an error.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
She eloquently helped the director achieve his story, while accommodation was made for my concern. In the end, I was there to help but I was helping with advice and the director must have his or her story and what worked is that we combined my demand for accuracy with the brilliant creativity of directors and the artistic interpretation of actors, to produce something that I think is truly good.<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\nDid you ever have a scene or moment during an episode that you re-watched, and were like\u2026I missed that?<\/b>
<\/b><\/p>\nThere was an occasion when I was looking through one of the earliest programs, and I noticed that [John] Bates was walking into a room past a light switch! This was at a time before electric light had been brought to <\/span>Downton Abbey.<\/span><\/i> I suppose it wasn\u2019t specifically my fault, but we were all working together to try and catch these human weaknesses of missing this, or that. Of course, immediately the footage was altered to remove the light switch and no one would have known.<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\nDo you have a favorite memory from set?<\/b><\/p>\n
My favorite memory of working on set with <\/span>Downton Abbey<\/span><\/i> was just how well everyone got on. Now that may seem strange, but I\u2019ve worked on a lot of films and in many productions and, on the whole, we were very lucky with the ensemble of both cast and crew and I think it was down to the leadership. Liz Trubridge was an outstanding producer on set, and she just made sure everyone got on. I can assure you, this does not always happen.<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\nAny character\/cast member you enjoyed working with most?<\/b><\/p>\n
The actor I most enjoyed working with was Kevin [Doyle]<\/a>, who played [Joseph] Molesley. I think it was his friendship, his courtesy, his interest in what I had to say. The\u00a0 fact that you can\u2019t take your eyes off him, whether he is the focus of a scene, or he\u2019s just part of its background. I have always found him compelling to watch and I found him delightful, as a friend, to spend time with and if I\u2019m honest, I rather miss him.\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\nCredit: Photograph by Nick Briggs<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
What do you remember about sharing time with Maggie Smith?<\/b><\/p>\n
Maggie Smith<\/a> was part of the \u2018filmocracy\u2019. She was a leader in her trade. Her background was irreproachable, as an actress, and so all of us were moderately in awe of her. However, that doesn\u2019t always make life with her easy!\u00a0 She could have her moments, albeit resting on that great reputation, but, in truth, I got on with her very well. I think that was because, after the first series, where I think she thought very little of me, I gave a talk about warfare. Now, I have been a soldier, and I had been in battle and so I had some quite helpful things to share with the actors about that before the First World War.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
From the moment I had done that she took me seriously. I suppose if you are a professional of her level, you have a right to take time in making a judgement about whether the \u2018add-on advisors\u2019 who appear on set giving you information have value or not. In the end, I think she thought I did have value and we got on very well, but I never took my conversations with her for granted because sometimes she was possibly in pain, but definitely sometimes in a bad mood. We miss her desperately because it was a privilege for all of us to work with her.<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\nHow much time would you say was spent on your end, including research ahead of production, whether it\u2019s a movie or episode?<\/b><\/p>\n
Research for accuracy is something that you do over your life. I have a well of residual information drawn from the most esoteric rainfall of research, and it is that deep well into which I drop the bucket, in order to bring information for any scene, or any situation, that comes up. My role was to be clear and immediate with information. It was not good for any director to pose a question at me or challenge me with a situation to which I couldn\u2019t come up with the answer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
When was the moment you felt the show had resonated? <\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
It was the viewing figures that surprised us first, but when Downton Abbey went to America and picked up such an enormous viewing public; then we knew!<\/span><\/p>\n
What do you remember about the show\u2019s response from the royal community over the years? Queen Elizabeth II was a noted fan, but reportedly also liked to pick inaccuracies. What do you make of that?<\/b><\/p>\n
I can confidently say that Elizabeth II was not a fan of <\/span>Downton Abbey,<\/span><\/i> contrary to everyone\u2019s opinion. Indeed, the late Queen was not a television watcher, unless it was the news or horse racing!<\/span>\u00a0You must remember that, unlike most other people, the Queen had her own <\/span>Downton Abbey<\/span><\/i> existence and I would imagine living within a story like that was quite enough to say her interest if our houses were run.<\/span><\/p>\n
That said, quite a few members of the royal family were great fans. The present Queen, Camilla<\/a>, always enjoyed it and, I believe, never missed an episode. Also a great fan was the Princess of Wales (Kate Middleton<\/a>). Indeed, as Duchess of Cambridge she came to visit the set, which was a tremendous boost for all of us and I think gave the project a bit of useful British status at a rather interesting time in the show\u2019s popularity.<\/span><\/p>\n
What would you say was your favorite season or movie to work on?<\/b><\/p>\n
![\"Manners](\"https:\/\/www.tvinsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MANNERS-OF-DOWNTON_PIC_1-1014x570.jpg\")
<\/p>\n