Downton Abbey

Following Matthew's untimely death, new mother Mary is struggling to come to terms with her loss. Robert and Violet disagree on how to bring her through it. Downstairs, hearts are set to be broken as Jimmy finally takes an interest in Ivy. Carson has an unwelcome reminder of his past while Mrs Hughes sees an opportunity to help grief stricken Isobel. Thomas is up to his old tricks and has the children's Nanny in his sights.

Emerging from her grief, Mary starts to take an interest in the running of the estate, but is met with resistance from Robert. As Molesley's fortunes worsen, Bates hatches a plan to help him. Out for a bit of fun, Rose gets into a sticky situation at a tea dance in York. Mrs Hughes urges Carson to let an old wound heal.

An extravagant house party at the Abbey gives the Crawleys a chance to reconnect with old friends. Some guests, however, prove more welcome than others and along with the celebrations come skulduggery and heartache.

Amid the fallout of the eventful house party Mary faces a pressing question about her future, Carson reveals surprisingly intimate details of his former life, and a trip to the bright lights of London sees Rose put the reputation of the Crawleys in jeopardy.

Change is in the air as an exciting opportunity for Alfred creates tension between Ivy and Daisy. Isobel appeals to Violet's sense of charity, but it doesn't come without a fight, and Branson considers a whole new future for himself and baby Sybbie.

A birthday party is planned for Robert, but Rose's surprise contribution to the event ruffles feathers above and below stairs. A new farming venture on the Downton estate comes with dramatic repercussions for Mary, and Edith receives more unwelcome news.

Cora's playboy brother Harold is in a fix and Robert must travel to America to help bail him out, whilst a new farming venture at Downton sees Blake and Mary forced to put aside their differences. When Violet is taken ill she finds help comes from an unlikely corner. With romantic tensions causing disharmony downstairs, things don't quite go to plan when Mrs Hughes, Mrs Patmore and Carson conspire to keep the peace.

Rosamund hatches a plan to help Edith out of her predicament, but will Violet see straight through it? Isobel is on the receiving end of some unexpected attention, while Mary asks Gillingham for a favour. Rose has her nose put out of joint when plans don't go her way, and Alfred realises too late that he may have made a mistake. Just when Bates and Anna seem to be coming through the worst of their troubles, some unexpected news gives her fresh cause for concern.

It's summer and as part of Rose's 'coming out' she is to be presented at Buckingham Palace. The family are in London, preparing Grantham House for the busy social program. Not one to miss such a grand occasion, Martha Levinson arrives from New York with Cora's recently disgraced brother Harold. Both outspoken and larger-than-life, they make quite an impression amongst certain members of London's high society. When the Crawleys are implicated in a scandal that threatens to engulf the monarchy, Robert will go to great lengths to protect the royal family, and his own.