By Lacy Baugher for Drama on December 7th, 2013

Splashy New Trailer for the 'Downton Abbey' Series 4 Christmas Episode Has Arrived

The Crawley family has a bunch of great outfits for the holiday special. (Photo: ITV)
The Crawley family has a bunch of great outfits for the holiday special. (Photo: ITV)
ITV has released a trailer for the forthcoming Downton Abbey Christmas special, and it is beautiful.

The clip gives us our first look at the return of the indomitable Shirley MacLaine as Cora’s mother Martha Levinson, as well as the debut of award-winning actor Paul Giamatti as Cora’s brother Harold.

The clip is not terribly spoilerish for those who have seen nothing of Series 4, but depending on your own personal tolerance for such things, you might want to think about it for a moment before clicking play. 

Doesn’t everyone just look gorgeous? What amazing costumes.

The Christmas special will see the Crawleys head to Buckingham Palace, as Lady Rose (Lily James) is to be presented as part of her “coming out” into the social season.

Take a moment and imagine Martha Levinson anywhere near the monarchy.  Obviously, this will be fantastic.

This episode will air on Christmas Day in the United Kingdom, and as the finale to our Series 4 run here in the US, which begins on Masterpiece Classic on January 5.

By Lacy Baugher for Drama on December 7th, 2013
Lacy Baugher

Lacy's love of British TV is embarrassingly extensive, but primarily centers around evangelizing all things Doctor Who, and watching as many period dramas as possible.

Digital media type by day, she also has a fairly useless degree in British medieval literature, and dearly loves to talk about dream poetry, liminality, and the medieval religious vision. (Sadly, that opportunity presents itself very infrequently.) York apologist, Ninth Doctor enthusiast, and unabashed Ravenclaw. Say hi on Threads or Blue Sky at @LacyMB. 

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