Young actors' 'excitement' at Downton film roles

Scenes for the final Downton film have been shot at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate

Young actors from Yorkshire have spoken of their excitement at being part of the final Downton Abbey film, scenes for which use the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate as its backdrop.

Eight students from Yorkshire Stagecoach Performing Arts in Garforth, Selby, Wetherby and Pontefract, feature in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, appearing in scenes depicting the fictional Yorkshire County Show in 1930.

One of the actors, Elizabeth, 12, from Tadcaster, said: "It was very exciting being on set, it was like being in a different world.

"I liked the costume and seeing everyone else's costumes, all very old-fashioned and hair and makeup were amazing."

The film, starring Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern, hit cinemas across the UK on Friday and follows the Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s.

It is the third movie instalment of the historical drama, and the first since one of its stars, Dame Maggie Smith, died last year at the age of 89.

Jim Carter (right), who plays Mr Carson, is from Harrogate and says he even learned to ride a bike at the showground

Eryn, 10, from Oulton, another young actor who was in front of the cameras for the filming in Harrogate, said: "I loved filming Downton, it was so exciting."

"I loved the dress fittings, the hair and makeup - and most of all the shoot," she said.

"I really loved telling my friends about it and I know now this is what I want to do when I grow up."

Eryn's mum, Kelly, said she was equally excited: "Seeing Eryn arrive at her first dress fitting, get her first licence and arrive at her first shoot filled me with pride."

Abby Austin, from Stagecoach Garforth and Selby, said it was "such an honour" for the young actors to take part.

"They enjoyed getting fitted for costumes which were old-fashioned and transported them to another era," she said.

"The film sets were idyllic and they had lots of fun outside in the sunshine.

"It was also really inspirational being on set with fellow child actor, Oliver, who plays Master George Crawley."

Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern are both back for the last instalment of the Downton Abbey saga

Meanwhile, Jim Carter, who plays Mr Carson the butler, said using the showground as a backdrop for filming was like coming home.

Mr Carter, 77, told the BBC he was originally from Harrogate and even learned to ride his bike at the showground.

The site was "about 300 yards from where I was born", he explained.

A spokesperson for the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, which owns the Great Yorkshire Showground, said it was a "real privilege" for the organisation to play host to "such a prestigious production".

The collecting ring used by riders warming up to compete at the real life show features in part of the film, as well as other locations.

Allister Nixon, the society's CEO, said: "Our events team from the Great Yorkshire Events Centre had multiple meetings with producers to ensure we found the right location for them.

"That included access to power and co-ordinating hire of structures and signage, as well as areas to store props and equipment, catering and dressing room trailers."

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