Downton on the down-turn

Downton Abbey has come crashing down. No, it’s not Lord Grantham’s ruinous investments but rather the uncomfortable fact that the world has finally realised that the show is overhyped tripe.

Julian Fellows and, it seemed, anyone who’d ever walked on set donned their tuxedos at last night’s Emmys. Expectations were high with sixteen nominations for ITV Drama’s flagship production; but those hopes were dashed as the Americans made clear what most of us have known for ages: Maggie Smith’s hilarious dowager is the only thing worth watching. She was the sole Downtonite to get a gong. Ironically, she was the only person involved not to show up.