IT WAS a focal point of a hugely popular televisions series, and now, one of the grandest properties in north Hampshire is set to take centre stage again when it features in a movie.

The long-awaited Downton Abbey the film is set to hit cinema screens on September 13, following the story of the Crawley family and their servants.

The ITV1 drama which was watched by more than 10 million people each week ran for six series before being made into a movie, with much of the filming taking place at Highclere Castle, home to the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon.

The cast and film crew took over the stately home in the autumn last year to make the movie, written by Julian Fellowes and produced by Carnival Films and NBCUniversal.

The Earl and Countess welcomed back their old friends Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan to the castle during filming, with Lady Carnarvon saying: “We were delighted to welcome Downton back to Highclere again. Julian and the wonderful cast and crew of Downton have been fantastic to work with and we look forward to seeing all the shots come together on the big screen.”

In the lead-up to the film release, Lady Carnarvon has been posting behind-the-scenes secrets on her blog, including discovering a Downton prop in a desk drawer, in the form of a letter addressed to The Earl of Grantham.

She also revealed that actress Lesley Nicol, who plays Downton’s cook Mrs Patmore, doesn’t share quite the same culinary skills as her on-screen character.

Posting on her blog, Lady Carnarvon said: “Real and fictional worlds collide in many ways and I love that Lesley happily admits, with much laughter, that in reality she cannot boil an egg but that, of course, is the art of acting: the ability to transform into the much loved bustling cook at Downton Abbey, loved on set and around the world.”

Lady Carnarvon explained that most of the scenes in the kitchen, for both the television series and film, were not filmed at Highclere, but at Ealing Studios.

“We had concluded that using our own kitchens for filming would not work,” she wrote, adding: “They are part of a very busy working environment and the old Caron ranges have been replaced by state-of-the-art ovens, stoves, bratt pans and walk-in freezers. Instead, the downstairs at the studios was recreated by chippies and set designers who are incredibly clever and quick.”

Highclere Castle was the location for a Downton Abbey live open air concert earlier in the summer, performed by The Chamber Orchestra of London, and hosted by actor Jim Cater in character as the beloved Mr Carson.

Highclere Castle is currently open to the public for tours, up until September 3. Although all pre-booked tickets are sold out, there are a limited number of walk-up tickets available each day.

For more information visit highclerecastle.co.uk.