Doc Martin Willing to Make a House Call at Downton Abbey?

doc-martin.jpg
Since what feels like good seventy percent of actors working today have admitted that they’re secretly dying to get the chance to appear on megahit costume drama Downton Abbey, perhaps this moment was inevitable.

Doc Martin star Martin Clunes apparently recently told the Sun that he’d love to be part of Julian Fellowes’ Edwardian epic and revealed that he’s pestered Fellowes about writing him a role, though obviously his powers of persuasion have yet to be effective.

“Julian is my neighbour. He lives just around the corner and I keep lobbying him but he won’t,” Clunes said. “He knows where I am and what my measurements are, so it wouldn’t be difficult.”

Clunes’ most recent TV role has been as a troubled mayor on ITV’s three-part drama The Town alongside Sherlock’s Andrew Scott. (A project I wish someone would find a way to import to the States!) Filming on the next series of Doc Martin gets underway this spring, so it’s unlikely he’d have time to fit something like Downton Abbey in his schedule anyway – but it’s the sort of wishful thinking/stunt casting that is always fun for fans to speculate about.

In that vein – if you could cast Clunes (or any other popular Brit you prefer) in Downton, where would you put them? If we’re talking about a role for Clunes, specifically, it might be nice to see Mrs. Padmore or Mrs. Hughes finally get themselves a romance in Series 4.  As most of you all are probably already tired of hearing deeply aware, I’m avowedly partisan toward Sherlock’s Benedict Cumberbatch, but given his somewhat crowded professional schedule and the media kerfuffle surrounding his comments about Downton Series 2 earlier this year, I doubt I’ll be experiencing that sort of wish fulfillment any time soon (even if he would be the best posh neighbor ever).

Who would be your dream addition to the Downton Abbey cast? And what sort of character would you cast them as?


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. 

More to Love from Telly Visions