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“IF I could stop history in its tracks maybe I would.

“But I can’t, Carson.

“Nor you nor I can hold back time.”

Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) in the opening episode of the sixth and final series of Downton Abbey, which begins early in 1925.

Setting the scene for what is to come.

I attended the London premiere of Downton Abbey 6.1 yesterday.

Followed by two press conferences and then the usual afternoon of embargoed round table interviews with the cast.

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THE big house is in pitch black gloomy darkness.

Aside from one solitary light in a top floor window.

Downton Abbey series four, episode one.

It is 1922 and six months on from the death of Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens).

His baby son George is crying in the nursery.

Somewhere else in the house Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) lies awake in bed.

Night turns to day and an early morning mist cloaks the trees on the Downton estate.

As a specially composed variation of Downton Abbey’s opening titles music heralds the new 2013 series.

Or the 2014 season – from January 5 – if you’re watching in America.

THE Christmas tree is being decorated as the house prepares for the festive season.

Before the Granthams hand out presents to their servants for Christmas Day 1919.

Welcome to the Downton Abbey Christmas special, screened for the media at London’s Mayfair Hotel this afternoon (Tuesday Dec 13).

Followed by two question and answer sessions with the cast.