Maggie Smith's Dowager Countess was evidently a Bond Girl - Roger Moore is joining Downton Abbey (Express.co)

ROGER MOORE COULD BE JOINING DOWNTON ABBEY CAST

Saturday January 21,2012

By Lizzie Catt with Lisa Higgins and Jack Teague

Programme insiders say it is hoped Sir Roger, 84, will appear in the third series later this year as a potential love interest for Dame Maggie Smith’s character Violet Crawley.

“Sir Roger is considered the perfect choice and his involvement would obviously go down very well with fans of the show,” we’re told.

“He would represent an exciting part of Violet’s past. Hopefully Sir Roger will be able to fit it into his schedule.”

It has emerged that fellow national treasure Joan Collins, 78, is being lined up for a role in the next series and she has announced that she would be happy to join the cast, while the recent Christmas edition saw Nigel Havers appear as the caddish Lord Hepworth.



Read More:  http://www.express.co.uk/features/view/296968/Roger-Moore-could-be-joining-Downton-Abbey-cast

Brendan Coyle: Downton Abbey's Brendan Coyle Nominated For Irish Film And Television Award (Huff Post Entertainment)

Brendan Coyle who plays Mr Bates in Downton Abbey

First Posted: 11/1/12 08:01 GMT Updated: 11/1/12 08:01 GMT       
                      

Brendan Coyle has been nominated for his first Irish Film And Television Award for his role in Downton Abbey.

The actor, who has become an unlikely hearthrob for his role as Mr Bates in the ITV period drama, is up for best supporting actor in a television role.

He's up against actors including Aidan Gillen for Game Of Thrones and Robert Sheehan for Misfits.
Robert's Misfits co-star Ruth Negga has been nominated for the role of Shirley Bassey in Shirley.

In the film categories, period piece Albert Nobbs, rural drama Stella Days and black comedy The Guard will go head to head at the ceremony next month.

The scriptwriters of each film are also nominated, including renowned author John Banville and Hollywood actress Glenn Close who penned Albert Nobbs.

Actors nominated for a lead role are Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy star Ciaran Hinds, The Guard's Brendan Gleeson, Michael Fassbender for his performance in Steve McQueen's drama Shame, and Martin Sheen for his role as an Irish priest in Stella Days.

Sheen's co-star Marcella Plunkett has also been nominated with Antonia Campbell Hughes (The Other Side Of Sleep), Aoife Duffin (Behold The Lamb) and Saoirse Ronan (Hanna) in the lead actress category.

Presented by actor Simon Delaney, the 9th IFTAs will be broadcast in Ireland on Saturday February 11 from the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD).

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/01/11/downton-abbeys-brendan-co_n_1198428.html

Joan Collins to join Downton Abbey as Maggie Smith's cousin? (Metro)

Joan Collins could be set to join Maggie Smith and Hugh Bonneville on Downton Abbey, as insiders talk up rumours of a cameo appearance as a domestic worker.

 

 

Joan Collins for Downton? (Picture: Reuters)

Joan is known to be a big fan of Downton Abbey and she is being tipped to join up with cast members Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern and Michelle Dockery to play the cousin of Violet Crawley (Maggie).
Producers are thought to be keen to sign Joan up for the ITV1 show as they look to line up a number of cameos for the third series after Nigel Havers made an appearance in the latest Christmas special as Lord Hepworth.
A source told the Daily Express: 'A number of cameos are being planned for the next series and Joan’s name is top of the list.
'It’s hoped she can be persuaded to appear in at least one episode.'
It is not the first time Joan has been linked to an ITV programme after her sister Jackie Collins revealed earlier this year that the Dynasty star is a big fan of award-winning sitcom Benidorm and she would like to make a cameo appearance.
Jackie wrote on twitter: 'Benidorm is totally fab. My sis Joan Collins would love to do a guest shot on it. I got her addicted!!! (sic)'.

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/tv/886064-joan-collins-to-join-downton-abbey-as-maggie-smiths-cousin#ixzz1i1gz1NSR

JOAN COLLINS READY TO SWAP DYNASTY FOR DOWNTON? (Express.co.uk)

 

Joan Collins could be swapping Dynasty for Downton

Friday December 30,2011

By Lizzie Catt with Lisa Higgins and Jack Teague

COULD Joan Collins be the next big star to make an appearance in Downton Abbey?

After Nigel Havers’ successful turn in the hit show we hear that Joanie could be swapping Dynasty for Downton as producers bid to sign up show-stopping cameos for the third series, which will be filmed in spring and broadcast in autumn.

A source on the show says plans are afoot for Joan to join Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern and Michelle Dockery as a cousin of Dame Maggie Smith’s character Violet Crawley.

Joan, 78, is known to be a fan of the programme and fans have recently been campaigning for her to be in the show on Twitter.

“A number of cameos are being planned for the next series and Joan’s name is top of the list,” we are told.

 

“It’s hoped she can be persuaded to appear in at least one episode.”

The Christmas edition featured a guest appearance by Havers as the caddish fortune hunter Lord Hepworth, who very nearly became engaged to Lady Rosamund Painswick – played by Samantha Bond – before being caught in a compromising position with her maid.

If Joan is signed up for the show we are still holding out hope that we will also see her appear in a rather different ITV offering in 2012.

In April her novelist sister Jackie revealed that Joan is a big fan of sun, sand and sangria sitcom Benidorm and is keen to guest on the programme.

http://www.express.co.uk/features/view/292518/Joan-Collins-ready-to-swap-Dynasty-for-Downton-