Lord Fellowes' Emmy Award-winning Downton Abbey finally returns for a third series on 16 September, and with a new series comes some new faces...
Among the fresh cast members are Hollywood legend Shirley MacLaine and O'Brien's awkward tall nephew Alfred Nugent, Downton's next footman, played by Matt Milne. Check out 86 beautiful photos from the first episode of series 3, including these new stars, in our gallery below.
Not forgetting Downton's much-loved characters, such as Mr Bates, who's pictured holed up in prison for the murder of his wife Vera, and love's young dream Matthew and Mary, who viewers finally saw get together during the Christmas special of Downton back in December.
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Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton's new footman Alfred Nugent
Downton series 3 episode 1
Lady Mary, Lady Sybil and Anna
Downton series 3 episode 1
Earl Of Grantham, Robert
Downton series 3 episode 1
Alfred Nugent
Downton series 3 episode 1
Mrs Hughes
Downton series 3 episode 1
Mrs Hughes and Mr Carson
Downton series 3 episode 1
Dinner downstairs
Downton series 3 episode 1
Mrs Hughes and O'Brien
Downton series 3 episode 1
Alfred Nugent
Downton series 3 episode 1
Mr Carson
Downton series 3 episode 1
Mr Carson
Downton series 3 episode 1
O'Brien
Downton series 3 episode 1
O'Brien
Downton series 3 episode 1
Tom Branson
Downton series 3 episode 1
Anna Bates and Thomas Barrow
Downton series 3 episode 1
Carson and O'Brien
Downton series 3 episode 1
Daisy
Downton series 3 episode 1
Thomas and Daisy
Downton series 3 episode 1
Alfred Nugent
Downton series 3 episode 1
Robert
Downton series 3 episode 1
Robert
Downton series 3 episode 1
Robert and Carson
Downton series 3 episode 1
Robert and Carson
Downton series 3 episode 1
Lady Edith
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Anthony Strallan
Downton series 3 episode 1
Lady Edith and Anthony Strallan
Downton series 3 episode 1
Lady Edith
Downton series 3 episode 1
Anna and Bates
Downton series 3 episode 1
Bates
Downton series 3 episode 1
Anna
Downton series 3 episode 1
Anna
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Shirley MacLaine as Martha Levinson
Downton series 3 episode 1
Shirley MacLaine as Martha Levinson
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
HuffPost UK have interviewed the cast ahead of the ITV period drama's highly-anticipated return. Find out what they had to say, including some spoilers, below...
INTERVIEWS:
Downton Abbey returns to ITV1 9pm - 10:30pm, on 16 September.
Related on HuffPost:
The Huffington Post UK | By Sarah Dean Posted: 04/09/2012 16:06 Updated: 04/09/2012 16:15