Former Downton Abbey star Dan Stevens apologises for the way he left the hit series
HIS ABRUPT DEMISE was one of the television highlights of 2012 but six months on from his screen death the actor who played Matthew Crawley in Downton Abbey has apologised for the nature of his exit.
“I’m sorry about that. I think what emerged is that it’s an unwritten rule that you’re not supposed to die on British television on Christmas Day and that, specifically, was not my doing,” Dan Stevens, 30, reveals to Radio Times.
Coming just weeks after the shocking death in childbirth of Lady Sybil swathes of emotionally besieged Downton fans protested at the manner of the new father’s Christmas death in a car crash after visiting Lady Mary and their newborn baby in hospital, in a storyline devised by Downton creator Julian Fellowes.
It was in stark contrast to the previous year’s upbeat festive special when Mary and Matthew became engaged, although programme makers declared the accident was the character’s “only credible exit”.
And Dan adds that while tough at the time he feels the irreversible nature of his exit made sense.
“Everybody including my wife was incredibly supportive of the decision and it wasn’t made lightly or easily but it really felt the right thing to do,” he says.
“Leaving was a big career decision – a big life decision.”