Lord Carnarvon's joy at Downton Abbey's Golden Globes award

Highclere Castle owners say award for ITV period drama filmed at the premises will attract more US visitors

THE POPULAR television series Downton Abey filmed mostly at Highclere Castle scooped a major Hollywood award last night (Sunday).

The ITV period drama won the award for best television mini series at the Golden Globe awards ceremony.

Owner of the Highclere Castle estate, the eighth Earl of Carnarvon, who is currently abroad, told Newburytoday.co.uk: "All very good news for the series and yes, we are getting more interest from fans in the US which may well bring them to visit Highclere in the summer.”

More than 11 million viewers tuned in to see the final episode of the second series of Downton Abbey last year, on Sunday, November 6, following which ITV announced a third series to be set in the ‘roaring twenties'.

The new series will cover an 18-month period between 1920 and 1921 and, like the first two series, will be penned by Oscar and Emmy award winning scriptwriter, Julian Fellowes.

Mr Fellowes stepped up to receive the Golden Globe award last night, flanked by stars of the series Elizabeth McGovern and Hugh Bonneville.