As Julian Fellowes plots a follow-up to his hit film version of Downton Abbey, the Oscar-winning screenwriter has revealed a very unlikely secret about the costume drama.
As Julian Fellowes (pictured) plots a follow-up to his hit film version of Downton Abbey, the Oscar-winning screenwriter has revealed a very unlikely secret about the costume drama
Lord Fellowes has disclosed that the title of his main characters, the Earl and Countess of Grantham, was inspired by the Lincolnshire town where he was stopped by police when running away from boarding school.
Grantham was as far as he got while fleeing the famous Catholic boarding school Ampleforth, in North Yorkshire, which he attended from 11 to 18.
Asked if he enjoyed his time there, Fellowes says: ‘I’m not sure how much I enjoyed it, except towards the end when everything gets better.
‘In fact, when I was 11, I ran away with a friend of mine called Peter Collingridge.
‘We managed to borrow enough money to get the bus into York and buy a ticket to London.
‘We got on the train and we were pulled off it by police in Grantham, which is why I called Robert Crawley the Earl Of Grantham when I eventually wrote Downton Abbey.’
Lord Fellowes has disclosed that the title of his main characters, the Earl and Countess of Grantham ((pictured), was inspired by the Lincolnshire town where he was stopped by police when running away from boarding school
Fellowes, 70, adds that the escapade wasn’t provoked by any great unhapppiness at £36,486-per-year Ampleforth, whose alumni include actors Rupert Everett and James Norton, rugby player Lawrence Dallaglio, and Angel Of The North sculptor Antony Gormley.
‘It was all rather a big thing, but I’m not sure I was really as unhappy as all that; I think I just wanted something to happen,’ he said in a new podcast for Ampleforth.
Pictured: An exterior view of the Highclere Castle in England. Behind the scenes of Downton Abbey
‘I got very bored with being a child. I wanted to be an adult, and I think I wasted a lot of my young years just wanting to get on and be grown up and that was a manifestation of it, really.’
Ampleforth went fully co-educational in 2010 and Fellowes adds: ‘When I was there, girls and boys mixing in the school was about as likely as landing on the Moon.’
Carey Mulligan is a shrinking violet compared with her fellow Hollywood stars.
‘I’ve got a generational hangover of that British reserve, stiff upper lip thing, whereas kids growing up now are more outspoken,’ says the 35-year-old. ‘I am more reserved, a bit quieter, not initially very gregarious.’
Carey Mulligan (pictured) is a shrinking violet compared with her fellow Hollywood stars. ‘I’ve got a generational hangover of that British reserve, stiff upper lip thing, whereas kids growing up now are more outspoken,’ says the 35-year-old
The London-born mother of two claims it has also helped her acting. ‘My instinct is always to do less because I don’t like big, showy performances.
‘With the director Paul Dano in Wildlife, I remember saying to him, “This feels like terrible acting,” and he said, “Great! Do the worst take you can.”’
Sixties songbird Sandie Shaw is no longer anyone’s Puppet On A String. ‘For a female artist it was extremely lonely, extremely isolating.
Everybody’s after you for so many reasons, to exploit you in one way or another and there was nobody to turn to,’ the Eurovision-winning singer-turned-therapist says of her experience.
At least Shaw did not have Twitter to contend with.
‘I absolutely could not do what young artists have to do today.
‘To be so self-obsessed and so out of touch with reality because you exist virtually, and so narcissistic.
‘It’s not a healthy place to be.’
Petrolhead Jeremy Clarkson’s daughter, Emily, who promotes positive body image on social media, celebrated the troubles of the British arm of racy lingerie firm Victoria’s Secret in her own special way.
The 25-year-old donned a pair of translucent wings as a nod to the supermodels — or ‘angels’ — who appeared in the company’s controversial star-studded shows.
Petrolhead Jeremy Clarkson’s daughter, Emily, who promotes positive body image on social media, celebrated the troubles of the British arm of racy lingerie firm Victoria’s Secret in her own special way (pictured)
Victoria’s Secret UK, which has 25 stores in Britain, went into administration last week, putting 800 jobs at risk.
‘I am sad for the employees but for all that this brand’s demise represents, I am ecstatic,’ declares Emily.
Britain’s highest-paid male model David Gandy might want to stick to the day job after his foray into politics backfired.
The M&S campaign star, 40, wrote in a post online that he was ‘sad’ to learn that Sir Winston Churchill’s statue had been defaced during the protest marches in London — but quickly deleted his comment after upsetting some of his one million followers.
‘I respect your opinion and your freedom of speech, but David, you know better . . . come on,’ wrote one, while another added: ‘Bad timing, David! I’m a fan but Black Lives Matter!’
Sitar maestro Ravi Shankar’s ethereally voiced daughter, Norah Jones, admits that working from home has its funny moments.
‘I was doing a Zoom interview with this very nice woman from Italy and at the end of the conversation, I said: “Thank you so much. It was great talking to you.
Sitar maestro Ravi Shankar’s ethereally voiced daughter, Norah Jones (pictured), admits that working from home has its funny moments
Hey, love you,” ’ explains Jones, who is in lockdown with her husband, musician Pete Remm, and their two young children.
‘ “Hey, love you” — just like on autopilot when you talk to your mum every day. That is kind of cracking me up.’
Tony Hadley, former lead singer of Spandau Ballet, reckons lockdown has made him fitter.
‘Every morning at 9am, I turn on a Joe Wicks workout — and that’s been brilliant,’ he says.
‘Then it’s just gardening and eating better.
‘But I still have the compulsory “lockdown wine” in the evening.’
To cut a long story short, you’re indestructible, Tony.