Catherine Scott: Shocking storyline that shook cosy Downton

No, it wasn’t that Edith did something “jolly” with her hair again, or God forbid Lady Mary broke into a smile, although she did. It is far worse than that. Downton lost its innocence.

Sunday’s episode which saw lady’s maid Anna (Joanne Froggatt) beaten and then, off screen, raped by a valet (Nigel Harman) has drawn around 90 complaints and has caused concern among rape crisis charities. Even the Countess of Carnarvon, owner of Highclere Castle where Downton is filmed, has joined the criticism, saying she preferred to “look at nice things” on a Sunday.

So let’s get this clear. Are we outraged because the rape scene upset our cosy Sunday night viewing, or because it was a cynical attempt to liven up the ITV drama’s script?

Rape charities have a very good point. Although there was a warning before the programme was broadcast that it contained “violent scenes that some viewers may find upsetting” there was no warning this violence was of a sexual nature. An oversight by the broadcaster indeed. Rape Crisis say that they should have made it clear the episode contained sexual violence to allow the victims of rape to turn it off. It is hard to understand why ITV failed to do this or offer advice at the end as is normal when scenes of violence are contained in a drama.

Whether writer Julian Fellowes is guilty as charged when it comes to using the scene as a way of livening up Downton or as a plot device, who can say? With 8.8 million viewers he doesn’t really need to stoop so low. Only he knows what his real motives were. Yorkshire actress Joanne Froggatt has defended the storyline.“I was really proud of the show for tackling a subject like this. It’s a really brave thing to do and I really do believe that Julian’s written that in a way that is not gratuitous at all, he does very much go on to explore the emotional journey of Anna and Bates,” she told BBC Breakfast.

“He’s done a beautiful job of hitting the right note with it. I think we all just felt a big responsibility to get it right.”

There is no denying that the scene and its obvious repercussions were upsetting – and may be that was Fellowes’ intention. May be he wanted to shake us out of our complacent Sunday night stupor.

But I can’t help feeling a little betrayed, Downton is so not real life. It is more pantomime than soap opera, so why do something so vile to one of our favourite characters?

Julian Fellowes has shaken his loyal viewers, intentionally or not, and it will be interesting to see whether they stick with him, though I am sure they will.