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MUCH talk of Downton Abbey being “trounced” by EastEnders in the ­Christmas night ratings war.
But while the BBC was crowing about its hollow victory no one mentioned that the Cockney rabble pulled in 1.5 million fewer viewers than last year.

And that was down to Downton... which bucked the depressingly downbeat trend by daring to offer us a story of festive ­happiness. What an unusual idea. ­Wonder if it’ll catch on?

Sod the numbers. While the relentlessly grim soaps waded through their oceans of despair, Lord Grantham and his aristocratic chums sent our seasonal spirits ­soaring.
The bad guys got what they deserved. Gold-digger Lord Hepworth was caught frolicking with the maid. And nasty Press baron Sir Richard Carlisle was ­humiliatingly punched and dumped.

And the good guys got what they deserved. Mr Bates wasn’t hanged. The magnificent Matthew ­Crawley knelt in the snow and asked Mary to marry him. And she said YES!

Genuine thanks to ITV for a lavish film-length special that warmed the nation’s heart. Roll on series three...