Buckingham Palace special takes on BBC for TV glory
USINFO | 2013-12-05 17:58

 

 

As they climb the plush staircase side by side, watched by liveried footmen, there is no mistaking the glamour of the occasion.

This is Downton Abbey’s rebellious Lady Rose, accompanied by her aunt Cora, Countess of Grantham, at her 'coming out' at Buckingham Palace.

The scene is from the two-hour Christmas Day episode, which promises to be quite the contrast to last year’s festive offering.
Then, many fans complained that ITV had ruined their day by killing off much-loved character Matthew Crawley in a car crash.

This year it would seem they can look forward to a cheerier affair as the Crawley family and their servants celebrate the summer season.

Downton will be ITV’s big weapon in the traditional battle for Christmas Day viewers with BBC1, starting at 8.30pm and going head-to-head with the corporation’s soap EastEnders.

ITV have given a tantalising peek at this year’s Downton special, set six months on from the end of the recently completed series four.

Debutante Lady Rose, played by 24-year-old Lily James, is at Buckingham Palace to be presented to society in a floor-length white gown, white gloves and an elaborate feathered head dress.

Usually up to mischief, she behaves herself as she curtseys for King George V and his wife Queen Mary.

But despite being surrounded by a host of wealthy bachelors, the moment is likely to prove bittersweet for Rose, who viewers know is in love with jazz singer Jack Ross, the show’s first black character, who called off their engagement at the end of Series Four.

Elsewhere in the Christmas Day schedules, EastEnders will see the debut of hard man actor Danny Dyer as the new landlord of the Queen Vic.

The soap will be followed at 9.30pm by sitcom Mrs Brown’s Boys, which despite being panned by critics was watched by 11.7million viewers last Christmas, coming second only to Strictly Come Dancing in the ratings.

This year Strictly itself will air on BBC1 at 5pm, up against Paul O’Grady’s hit For The Love Of Dogs on ITV.

At 7.30pm ITV soap Coronation Street will compete with BBC1’s much-anticipated Doctor Who special The Time Of The Doctor, in which Matt Smith’s Time Lord will make his last appearance, regenerating into Peter Capaldi.

One thing that unites BBC1 and ITV, however, will be the traditional 3pm showing of the Queen’s Christmas message.
 

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