There May Be Trouble Ahead: Marriage Breakdown In “Downtown Abbey”?

It looks like there may well be trouble in paradise for one couple in the new season of Downton Abbey, which hit our screens on Sunday night. Actor Hugh Bonneville has hinted that his on-screen character Robert Crawley’s marriage to wife, Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) may well be in danger in the fifth season. The union is reportedly headed for trouble with the introduction of new character, art historian Simon Bricker (Richard E Grant). Rumour has it that the dashing historian is set to cause havoc between Lord and Lady Grantham. “When a good-looking man like Richard E Grant turns up claiming to be an art historian, you need to lock up your etchings!” said Bonneville at the launch of series five. Ironically, the season got underway with the celebration of Robert and Cora’s wedding anniversary. “There’s been a tease of it in episode one that Robert and Cora have been married 34 years and there’s a slight sense of stasis, taking each other for granted,” added Bonneville. “Robert is set in his ways and stuck in a rut, so when the twinkly-eyed art historian comes, it’s not the paintings he’s interested in.” Uh-oh - that doesn't sound like there's an easy road ahead. The couple have experienced many highs and lows over the last four seasons. “All the characters are coping with a changing world in different ways,” revealed Elizabeth McGovern who plays Robert’s wife Cora. “Because of Cora’s nature, she finds change a little bit more easy to embrace than Robert does, which places a wedge between them. “They’re so different as people and I think that tests their marriage,” she said, adding, “but they’ve also got a great love and long history together. “There are aspects to her personality that haven’t really been explored and Richard E Grant’s character is an art historian and that seems to be something that Cora has really got a personal passion for.” In other words – there may be trouble ahead! Downton Abbey screens at 9pm on Sundays on ITV, and on Wednesdays on TV3.