Lady Mary's overwhelmed by grief

(Image credit: Patrick Redmond +353872600976)

*Feature-length episode*

Following Matthew’s shocking death last Christmas, new mother Mary is struggling to come to terms with her loss. It doesn't help that Lord Grantham and Violet disagree on how to bring her through it. With death duty putting yet more financial strain on the estate, Robert and Branson are clashing, while Matthew's valet, Molesley, is out of a job.

Downstairs, hearts are set to be broken as Jimmy finally takes an interest in Ivy. Carson gets an unwelcome reminder of his past while Mrs Hughes sees an opportunity to help grief-stricken Isobel. O'Brien's departure sends shockwaves through the house, while Mrs Patmore is alarmed by the arrival of the electric whisk!

Meanwhile, Thomas is up to his old tricks and has the children’s nanny in his sights...

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.