Stevens: Right time for wedding
12:13am Saturday 15th September 2012 in National Entertainment News © Press Association 2013
Dan Stevens' character marries in the new series of Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey star Dan Stevens says viewers wouldn't have tolerated his "will they/won't they" romance storyline with Lady Mary being stretched any further.
In the third series of the ITV1 drama, Dan's alter-ego Matthew Crawley will finally tie the knot with Lady Mary, played by Michelle Dockery.
"We would have been hard pushed to stretch the storyline any longer," Dan said.
"I think we would have been testing the patience of the nation, dare I say the globe, if we had carried on with that.
"But there's still the issue of will they or won't they be happy? Will they or won't they have children, and so on..."
Shirley MacLaine stars in the new series of the drama and her first meeting with Dame Maggie Smith was a momentous event, revealed Hugh Bonneville.
"It was extraordinary. Shirley lifted Maggie off the ground and said, 'My God! My God! Maggie!'," he said.
:: Downton Abbey begins on ITV1 on Sunday, September 16.
