Downton Abbey’s Jim Carter: ‘I think Carson’s kiss with Mrs Hughes rocked her world’

The final series of Downton Abbey is over (boo!) but there is light on the horizon. Not only is series six of the hit ITV period drama now available on DVD, we’ve still got the Christmas special to look forward to.

To celebrate the launch of the DVD and in anticipation of the special, heat caught up with the stars of Downton to find out their favourite moments and what they’ll miss most about the show.

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Jim Carter (Mr Carson) thoroughly enjoyed his slow burning romance with Mrs Hughes – we were screaming at the TV when it finally happened – and we’re not surprised. Phyllis Logan is a very lovely lady.

“I’m sure [the kiss] rocked her world,” Jim tells us. “We got together like two old tortoises, crawling down the beach over six years. That kiss was a nice moment and since the kiss, Phyllis has never been quite the same woman.”

And how does Phyllis feel about hooking up with the stern butler?

“It was a shock, actually. We weren’t fully expecting it,” Phyllis explains. “We thought there might be more of a preparation towards it but suddenly it was, ‘Okay, right, off you go!’ It paid off on the end, I think.”

It certainly did.

Hugh Bonneville, who nicked a letter from the set as a memento of his time on the show, will clearly miss playing the part of Lord Grantham.

“It will feel strange next spring when we are not putting on thermal underwear to start filming again in freezing cold Highclere Castle,” he laughs. “I think it will take a couple of years to sink in, for us to realise what it means to us all.

He added: It’s been a ridiculously happy six years doing a project that we all love, sharing the workload and sharing the friendships.”

And Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary, tells heat the show has changed her life forever after it propelled her to fame.

“A week or two after the first episode was aired I went to my local newsagents to get a pint of milk and on the cover of three newspapers were the three sisters, me, Laura [Carmichael] and Jess [Brown-Findlay],” Michelle explains.

“I had only gone in to buy a pint of milk. I could not believe it. That was a big, big moment. From then on it just kind of grew and grew. Suddenly, I was in New York being recognised by people and there have been some real pinch yourself moments as the years have gone on.”

We’d grab a selfie with you in the street, Michelle.

DOWNTON ABBEY SERIES 6 is available on Blu-RayTM and DVD in November, courtesy of Universal Pictures (UK)