The internet got very excited at the news some time ago that George Clooney would be making a guest appearance in a special Downton Abbey sketch.

And one of the stars of the hugely popular ITV show - Hugh Bonneville - has revealed that the cast were just as thrilled as the fans.

He told Huffington Post UK: "I was asked if I could help.

"It was a long, long, long shot, but he had an afternoon free when he was in London, so he came to play.

"It made our year. It was brilliant."

And he added that the appearance, which will be part of ITV's Text Santa charity campaign in December, was originally intended to stay under wraps much longer.

"We were hoping to keep it that way until right up to transmission, but such is the quality of the rumour mill these days," he said.