Are Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley getting close?

Photo: ITV Pictures

Fans of Downton Abbey are in for a treat this Christmas if these images of the hit drama are anything to go by!

Picking up from where series two of the ITV1 period drama left off, the status of Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley's relationship will be brought to the forefront once more following images of the couple dancing together at the New Year's Eve party.

The feature length episode which will be aired on Christmas day, will also feature Earl Grantham, played by Hugh Bonneville, giving his staff the day off as he takes charge of the kitchen preparing Christmas

lunch.

It has been reported that the show, which attracted record numbers of viewers for it's second season, will run at the same time as EastEnders, with sources revealing to the Metro that the clash of the shows will be "the biggest ratings battle for decades."

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