The story opens with the news of the sinking of the . This tragedy is personal for the Crawleys: Lord Grantham's cousin and heir presumptive, James Crawley , and his son Patrick (who was engaged to the eldest daughter, Mary), both perish in the disaster.
Below stairs, the household is stirred by the arrival of John Bates , the Earl's new valet and former Boer War comrade. Bates walks with a limp due to a war injury, leading several staff members—most notably the footman Thomas Barrow and lady's maid Sarah O'Brien—to scheme against him to protect their own advancement. Key Cast & Characters The story opens with the news of the sinking of the
The first episode of (Season 1, Episode 1) originally aired on September 26, 2010 , on ITV in the UK. Set in April 1912 , the series begins with a world-changing event that throws the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants into turmoil. Plot Overview Bates walks with a limp due to a
The ensemble cast is led by high-profile actors and introduced many breakout stars: Full cast & crew - Downton Abbey - IMDb Plot Overview The ensemble cast is led by