Monday, March 18, 2013

Hugh Bonneville opposes David Cameron's press proposals (THE TELEGRAPH)

Hugh Bonneville, the Downton Abby star, is pre-occupied with legislation for the press and a rude word used by Rowan Atkinson


Hugh Bonneville as the Earl of Grantham in Downton Abbey Photo: Nick Briggs / Carnival Films

By Tim Walker7:30
AM GMT 18 Mar 2013

Filming may be getting under way on the new Downton Abbey, but Hugh Bonneville’s mind was on other matters over the weekend: legislation to control the press and “shagging”.

The 49-year-old actor, who plays the Earl of Grantham in the series, has been vociferously supporting the Hacked Off campaigners. He has written to his local MP to get him to vote against David Cameron’s alternative proposal for a Royal Charter to regulate the press, and urged his 100,000-odd followers on a social networking site to follow suit.

Mandrake can think of at least two people who are unlikely to have heeded his call. Julian Fellowes, the creator of Downton Abbey, is a staunch Conservative who was made a peer by the Prime Minister. He was unavailable for comment, but he will be mindful that today’s Commons vote on press regulation is now being seen as a test of Cameron’s authority.

READ MORE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/downton-abbey/9936048/Hugh-Bonneville-opposes-David-Camerons-press-proposals.html

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