Downton Abbey star hits out at ‘old Etonians’ running country

DOWNTON Abbey star Jim Carter, who plays Mr Carson the butler in the hit period drama, has hit out at the “old Etonians” who he says are still running the country.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Dec 2013, 00:01 BST

The Harrogate-born actor, whose character is a stickler for tradition in the downstairs half of Downton, told the Radio Times there were “very few similarities” between him and Carson.

He said: “We have a Tory cabinet stuffed full of old Etonians – so what’s changed? Is this Harold Macmillan or is this 2013?

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“And being embarrassed about (their background) doesn’t stop them being it, I don’t suppose.

“People always strive for more – whether it’s more social status or more money or more possessions.

“Maybe if enough bankers do us a favour and ruin the economy, maybe we’ll say, ‘Shall we just back out of this system?’”

The actor first trod the boards at the private Ashville College in Harrogate where he was head boy.

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Fans of the show will see Carter in the Christmas Day special alongside American guest star Paul Giamatti who is joining the cast to play Lady Grantham’s brother.

Shirley MacLaine also returns as Lady Grantham’s mother Martha and James Fox joins the cast as aristocrat Lord Aysgarth.

The two-hour stand-alone 
episode of the award-winning ITV series, which will be 
shown at 8.30pm on Christmas Day, picks up the story six 
months on from the end of series four.

A fifth series is due to be shown next year.

Related topics:PeopleHarrogateAshville College