Will you have “Downton Abbey” withdrawal symptoms this weekend?
You are not alone; the drama drew the largest audience for PBS in more than three years--5.4 million viewers. But, fear not, next season’s “Downton” is already being filmed with Shirley MacLaine in the cast, playing the mother of American-born Lady Cora. From all we hear, the cast loves MacLaine: Brendan Coyle, who plays Bates, said in an online chat that he "had the privilege of sitting next to @maclaineshirley at lunch...this casting is ingenious...her scenes are brilliant and I can assure you she will be a dazzling addition to "Downton Abbey." For her part, MacLaine tweeted her followers: "Everything is going well. We shot outside in wind and rain. Love the cast and crew."
Season 3 begins in January--and we can hardly wait to see MacLaine's first encounter with Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess of Grantham!
