The final episode of "Downton Abbey's" third season left viewers hopelessly heartbroken at the untimely death of Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) in a tragic auto accident. The finale was rendered even more tragic by Mary (Michelle Dockery) giving birth to their first child while Matthew was taking his last breath -- a devastating representation of the cruel cycle of life. The traumatic finale came after the premature death of the youngest Grantham daughter, Sybil (Jessica Brown Findlay), who died of eclampsia, or "toxemia of pregnancy," a condition that can lead to death during or after childbirth. After such sad plot lines, there seems to be no place to go but up for the fourth season.
According to Enstars, the BBC hit will feature two new characters, Baxter, played by Raquel Cassidy, and Mr. Green, played by Nigel Harman. The actors made their first public appearance as their "Downton" characters for Scope's "Britain Cares" campaign, which raises money for the disabled.
In addition to Cassidy and Harman, there will be a number of new faces this season, including Paul Giamatti as Harold Levinson, Tom Cullen as Lord Gillingham and Gary Carr as Jack Ross.
There may finally be some happiness in store this season for Tom (Allen Leech) in the form of a new love interest. Tom Branson, who was left widowed by his late wife Sybil, will be hiring a new nanny (Daisy Lewis) to take care of his daughter Sybil, who was named after her departed mother. Although their relationship will initially be strictly professional, a romance will reportedly begin to bloom.
According to Hollywood Life, a source told the UK's "Daily Mirror" that a romance will develop between the two characters. "Daisy will become one of Downton's most prominent characters. She wowed producers in her audition and they are delighted to have secured such a brilliant young actress. Her romance with Tom will be one of the main story lines of the series."
The series will premiere its fourth season this fall in the U.K., but will not premiere in the U.S. until Jan. 5 on PBS.
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