Downton Abbey

In case you were worried that it was all hiking with wild ponies or history lessoning in secret London, you'll be relieved to know that we're also partaking in another delightfully English pastime. No, not going the pub (but that, too!) -- I'm talking about watching telly!


Downtown Abbey is our new favourite show. Written by Oscar-winning Julian Fellowes, it's a period costume drama set in the years just prior to WWI, and it follows the lives of the Crawley family...and their servants. Very above-and-below-the-stairs stuff.

We started watching it in ironic way -- "I dare say, Swiss Mister, aren't the manners of these aristocrats frightfully amusing?" "Hm, yes, quite, Swiss Miss, quite!" -- but then we got well and truly hooked.

And it's not just us: it's the most successful British period drama since Brideshead Revisited, which is good news for the network, of course, but especially because Downton Abbey is the most expensive British TV show ever produced (clocking in at £1 million an hour to film).

It's recently been confirmed that Lord Grantham and Co. will be back for a second season come 2011, but how will we fill our nights until then? Bear in mind our nights begin at 4.15pm!!!