George Clooney to appear in Downton Abbey for special Text Santa sketch

George Clooney swaps Hollywood for Highclere Castle as he is seen for the first time on the set of Downton Abbey, alongside co-star Hugh Bonneville.

George has filmed a special spin-off sketch for the hit period drama for ITV’s annual Text Santa appeal, to be screened later this month.

In the first images to be released from Downton, the pair – who previously worked together on the film The Monument Men – are seen with a clapperboard in front of a Christmas tree.

A picture of George Clooney and Hugh Bonneville on the set of Downton Abbey

George Clooney features in a Downton Abbey sketch (Nick Briggs/ITV/Press Association Images)

George’s co-stars have previously said they were unsure he would be appearing until he turned up on set for the drama, which is filmed at the Highclere estate in Hampshire.

Actress Laura Carmichael has also spoken about how the Gravity actor is seen planting a kiss on the Dowager Countess, played by Dame Maggie Smith, during his appearance, which prompts her to swoon.

Laura said: “George plants a kiss and Maggie ends up on the floor, it’s wonderful. He was hilarious.”

Hollywood star George married British human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin in a private ceremony in Venice in September.