Shirley MacLaine to return to 'Downton Abbey;' Six new characters announced

Carnival Films and MASTERPIECE on PBS announced that six new cast names are joining the series plus the return of Shirley MacLaine for next season's finale. The Hollywood star, who reprises her role as Martha Levinson, proved a huge hit with viewers last year when she joined the cast for Lady Mary's wedding to Matthew Crawley. Her sparky relationship with Violet delighted audiences around the world. The series has won nine Emmys®, two Golden Globes® and a coveted Screen Actors Guild Award for the ensemble cast, which is the first time the cast of a British television show has won this award.

Managing Director Carnival Films and Executive Producer Gareth Neame says:

"Downton Abbey has seen many great characters visit the house over the years and we couldn't be more thrilled to welcome the new faces that will be joining the regular cast of Downton in series 4. We hope audiences will be as excited about them as we are."

MASTERPIECE executive producer Rebecca Eaton says: "The addition of these characters can only mean more delicious drama — which is what Downton Abbey is all about."

The new cast and characters include:

• Tom Cullen as Lord Gillingham, an old family friend of the Crawleys who visits the family as a guest for a house party
• Nigel Harman as Green, a valet
• Dame Harriet Walter as Lady Shackleton, an old friend of the Dowager
• Joanna David in a guest role as the Duchess of Yeovil
• Julian Ovenden as aristocrat Charles Blake
• Dame Kiri Te Kanawa as a guest who sings at the house