Downton Abbey spoiler! Tom Ellis will join show as Lady Mary's love interest

Recently widowed Lady Mary will be courted by a new man played by Tom Ellis

It's time to put that hanky down and dry those tears Downton Abbey fans, for recently widowed Lady Mary is going to have a smile brought back to her face thanks to a new love interest. Enter heartthrob Tom Ellis. The actor will court Lady Mary, played by Michelle Dockery, who is struggling to come to terms with being a single mother after her husband Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) passed away at the end of the third series.

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The 34-year-old Miranda actor, who is married to Tamzin Outhwaite, had to audition for a role but according to The Mirror it was his legion of female fans and natural acting ability that won him the part.

Last month show executive Gareth Neame teased E! Online with plans for the fourth series of Downton Abbey, promising that Matthew's death would actually provide a ‘great opportunity’.

As he spoke about how the character will try to rebuild her life with her newborn son, Gareth said: 'This is a lesson in something that seems like a really big loss in the moment, but will actually turn into a great opportunity... which it will also be for the show, to take a turn in a whole different direction.'

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