HURRAY! Downton Abbey’s back next weekend and we fans of the posh  saga can hardly wait to learn the latest goings on upstairs and downstairs.

Early previews, though, are slightly disturbing for purists: the Countess tempted to stray, Lady Mary playing the field and even – gulp – Carson the butler venturing into romance.

It can’t be easy making each new series as riveting as the last (let’s face it, there are only so many people you can unexpectedly bump off without completely wrecking the dynamics) but I do hope that writer Julian  Fellowes keeps true to the spirit of Downton if not the letter.

The series has come to represent historically accurate escapism in this far less romantic age, and we do like our aristrocracy to keep their stiff upper lips and tightly buttoned-up approach to anything emotional.

Pandering to the ratings may be tempting but Downton is pretty perfect as it is without large doses of EastEnders being chucked in.