Allen wants 1D for Downton cameo

Allen Leech has joked that One Direction's Niall Horan should play his screen son on Downton Abbey.

The Irish actor, who plays Tom Branson in the ITV period drama, reckons that the boy band singer should make a cameo in the upcoming fourth season because they look quite similar.

"You mean, my son? My son Niall Horan. Absolutely, and then we actually do a musical episode and we get the whole of One Direction in," he quipped to MTV News.

"I pitched it to Julian (Fellowes, creator and writer). Weirdly enough he hasn't gotten back to my email."

Allen continued: "Niall actually is my son, and I gave him away. I had a choice: I gave him to a circus or a boy band, and I gave him to a boy band. I think he's doing very well. He sends the odd letter. From the minute he was born, he had great moves and great hair. 'This child has potential, now go forward and sing and multiply.'"

The 31-year-old, who picked up the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in LA, also joked that he has missed his calling of being in a boy band.

"I should have. I could set one up now called Mid Life," he said.