ITV have excited Downton Abbey's hordes of fans by releasing the official trailer for its fourth series.The trailer, which aired during the return of reality show X Factor on Saturday evening, gave viewers a glimpse at what is to come when the popular costume drama returns to UK TV screens in the Autumn.SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO
The mostly silent minute-long clip begins with a brief dialogue between the newly widowed Lady Mary Crawley, played by Michelle Dockery, and the Dowager Countess of Grantham, who is played by Dame Maggie Smith. "You have a straight forward decision to make, either death or life" the Dowager tells Lady Mary, who responds "and you think I should choose life?"The trailer goes on to show many members of the large ensemble cast including maid Anna and her husband Mr Bates, who is seen crying in one shot.Tom Branson, who is played by Allen Leech, is seen talking to a woman believed to be his new love interest following the death of his on-screen wife, Lady Sybil, in series three.
The show's numerous new cast members also feature in the brief clip, including former EastEnders actor, Nigel Harman, Black Mirror star Tom Cullen and New Zealand born soprano, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.Gary Carr, who joins the show as Downton's first African American actor, is seen ballroom dancing with Lady Rose Macclare and signing for the family's patriarch, Lord Grantham.
