The stars of the British drama series pose together while holding a water bottle each for charity WaterAid after the blunder in the show's photo made headlines.
- Aug 18, 2014
AceShowbiz - "Downton Abbey" cast knows how to turn a blunder into a charitable act. Following the plastic water bottle gaffe that caused a frenzy a few days before, the stars of the hit period drama posed together while holding a water bottle each to support the charity WaterAid.
"After seeing the reaction the picture caused earlier this week, the cast and crew came up with the idea of turning some of this attention towards an issue around water that really matters," a spokesperson for ITV says in a statement. "They hope that by posing for this picture they will be able to raise awareness and amplify the work of international charity WaterAid."
WaterAid chief executive Barbara Frost responds, "It brought a really big smile to my face when the cast of Downton Abbey said that they wanted to support WaterAid's work. How fantastic that the attention created over one water bottle ends up benefiting some of the world's poorest communities through access to safe, clean water today."
The original picture that created a buzz earlier in the week featured Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville) and Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael) with a plastic water bottle left on a grand marble fireplace behind them. Plastic bottles weren't widely used in the U.K. until the early 1960s.
Fans soon noticed this historical error and the photo spread online, although the image had been removed from the show's official Facebook and Instagram pages. ITV says, "While the water bottle is in the uncropped version of a publicity photograph we can assure you that it will not be making an appearance on screen."
"Downton Abbey" is currently in production of its upcoming season 5 which will debut January 4, 2015 at 9 P.M. ET/PT on PBS, months after it airs in the U.K. The show will include new faces such as Anna Chancellor as Dowager Lady Anstruther, Sue Johnston as Lady's Maid to Dowager Countess of Grantham, twins Oliver Barker and Zac Barker as Master George Crawley, as well as Fifi Hart Miss Sybbie Branson.
