George Clooney Stars in Downton

This Christmas at Downton Abbey is Clooney theme as the Hollywood actor lands the cameo of the century. The Guardian reports that Clooney will be appearing in a comedy fundraising sketch for the Christmas special, not acting in a full episode, but we think this still calls for a celebration. Cigars and after-dinner brandy with Lord Grantham, anyone?

The sketch has already been filmed and Clooney will allegedly be playing an American Guest at a country wedding which ties in very nicely with what is going on in real life. Earlier this year the press went into a speculative frenzy reporting that the actor was to marry his fianc?e, human rights barrister Amal Alamuddin, at Highclere Castle, the real life Hampshire home of the ITV hit series. Now the stately home rumours make sense!

Clooney joins a long line of acting luminaries to guest on creator Julian Fellowes show. Shirley Maclaine and Paul Giamatti count among visiting yanks, and Lady Cora’s fictional family, so it’ll be interesting to see which character Dr. Doug Ross will briefly play – The Guardian claims he’ll be sharing short scenes with Michelle Dockery and Hugh Bonneville, the man who may have gotten the ball rolling after starring opposite the actor in the war drama The Monuments Men last spring.

Jeanne Sutton @jeannedesutun