'Downton Abbey' star criticises 'Spooks' clash

Downton Abbey star Laura Carmichael has branded the BBC "mad" for scheduling Spooks against the ITV1 hit.



The actress, who plays Lady Edith Crawley in the period drama, admitted that she is a fan of the long-running spy show, which was switched from Mondays to Sundays for the latest series.

The clash saw Downton Abbey return for its second series with nearly 9m viewers last Sunday, while Spooks trailed with just 4.62m on BBC One.

Carmichael told The Sun: "I've always loved Spooks - I think they're mad to put the shows on at the same time."

Speaking of Downton's success, she added: "I'm lucky to be part of it. I think it's great to have a period drama with original storylines as opposed to a book that everyone knows. That has intrigued people."

The show won four Primetime Emmy Awards at this year's ceremony and the cast is currently filming a Christmas special.

A BBC spokesperson recently played down the clash, saying: "Downton and Spooks are very different shows and offer a real alternative for audiences.

"This is the last ever series of Spooks and we wanted to celebrate this and make it a special event for viewers in the Sunday 9pm slot."