A FAMOUS north Hampshire castle is set to feature in a Channel 4 television programme this week.
A film crew visited Highclere Castle in October to film Christmas At Highclere Castle, which will be shown this Wednesday at 9pm.
The crew were given behind-the-scenes access to Highclere as staff decked the halls and transformed the castle ready for the festive season.
Lady Fiona Carnarvon, who lives at Highclere Castle, spoke to the Gazette about what it was like to welcome a film crew back inside her home.
The castle was the setting of the award-winning television series and film, Downton Abbey, making it one of the most recognisable homes in the world.
She admitted: “I’m a little nervous about watching it. I’ve seen a rough cut. I’ll be watching it from behind a gin and tonic on Wednesday.”
The Countess of Carnarvon, who is the wife of the eighth Earl, said the crew spent hours filming, with a tiny proportion actually making it to the final edit.
The documentary makers discovered what life is like at the real Downton, meeting the small team tasked with creating seasonal cheer at the castle, and getting to know the driving force behind the operation, Lady Carnarvon.
“They watched us as a team and how everything comes together,” she explained.
However, with the Covid-19 pandemic, Highclere’s Christmas celebrations have been far from normal this year.
Last year, the family welcomed more than 1,000 visitors a day to their home during the festive season, whereas this year less than 100 have been able to attend.
“We have given a few Christmas tours and held evening receptions,” said Lady Carnarvon, who also normally invites family and friends over for an extended stay at Christmas.
“I’m not having anyone here this year,” she said, adding: “It’s been a very challenging year with Covid and I don’t want to add to any hospital admissions. So, I’ll be the chef and it will just be us as a family.”
She said she hopes that their sense of humour has been portrayed in the Channel 4 documentary, saying: “Having a sense of humour is what we have needed to keep going and I think that comes across. It’s been a sad year but being able to laugh has kept us going.”
A second episode will go behind the scenes at Warwick Castle.
Becky Cadman, commissioning editor of the programmes, said: “Highclere Castle and Warwick Castle are a pair of stunning locations where Christmas celebrations are truly spectacular. Our exclusive access to these historic sites will offer a fascinating insight into both the traditions and more modern approaches of each, as well as revealing how they’ve adapted for a very different Christmas this year.”
Charlie Clay, executive producer, ITN Productions, added: “This has been a remarkable opportunity to film behind the scenes at two of Britain’s greatest castles as they magically transform themselves for their most important time of the year. The bulldog spirit displayed in the festive run up to Christmas 2020 at both Highclere and Warwick provides an extraordinary insight into extraordinary times.”
Lady Carnarvon has also recorded a podcast about the filming which is published online.
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