"The sun is rising behind Downton Abbey, a great and splendid house in a great and splendid park. So secure does it appear, that it seems as if the way of life it represents will last for another thousand years. It won't."
From the pen of award-winning writer Julian Fellowes comes the second series of ITV1's costume drama, Downton Abbey, starring Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern.
The lives of the Crawley family and the servants who work for them has been changed forever, since the Great War was declared at the end of the last series.
Promoted to Lord Lieutenant of Yorkshire, Robert has new responsibilities and so does Downton. Although the veritable Mr Carson (Jim Carter) will no doubt be doing his utmost to ensure that standards have not slipped, even in the face of war...
Many of the first series favourites will be joined by a host of new faces, including; Zoe Boyle, who will play Miss Lavinia Swire, Iain Glen as Sir Richard Carlisle, Maria Doyle Kennedy as Vera Bates (wife of John Bates), Amy Nuttall as new Housemaid Ethel and Cal Macaninch joins as Lang, a new Valet.
How will these new characters and the constant threat of the war upset the delicate balance of life at Downton?
The Downton Abbey soundtrack will be available from Monday 19th September. Watch Mary-Jess recording her vocals for the soundtrack here.