Hugh Bonneville: Princess Kate says Lord Crawley's her favourite Downton character! (VIDEO)

(Image credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

When Hugh Bonneville met the Duchess of Cambridge on the set of his hit ITV drama Downton Abbey, he received some heartwarming praise: "Princess Kate told me Lord Crawley was her favourite Downton Abbey character!"

Hugh told What's On TV at the 41st Broadcasting Press Guild Television and Radio Awards: "However, I suspect she may have said that to quite a few of the Downton cast on set.'

Hugh also went on to tell us about a possible American spin-off of Downton involving the family of Lord Crawley's wife Cora, what it's really like to work alongside acting legends Dame Maggie Smith and Shirley MacLaine, and how he's glad Lord Crawley is finally 'moving with the times' in the new series, which he's currently filming.

Watch our exclusive chat with Hugh Bonneville about Downton and winning an award for his satirical comedy W1A, above...

Nicholas Cannon
TV Content Director on TV Times, What's On TV and TV & Satellite Week

I'm a huge fan of television so I really have found the perfect job, as I've been writing about TV shows, films and interviewing major television, film and sports stars for over 25 years. I'm currently TV Content Director on What's On TV, TV Times, TV and Satellite Week magazines plus Whattowatch.com. I previously worked on Woman and Woman's Own in the 1990s. Outside of work I swim every morning, support Charlton Athletic football club and get nostalgic about TV shows Cagney & Lacey, I Claudius, Dallas and Tenko. I'm totally on top of everything good coming up too.