Antonia Bernath

Neville Chamberlain, Minister of Health, dines at Downton Abbey as part of Violet’s latest scheme to quash plans for the takeover of Downton Hospital, but the evening proves to be distressing for all. Mrs Patmore, Daisy and Andy help Mr Mason to move into Yew Tree Farm and Andy finds an unexpected confidant in Thomas. Mary and Tom go to watch Henry Talbot test drive a new car, but Mary isn’t convinced she’s met her match. Edith has a date with Bertie Pelham in London, while Denker is in trouble with Violet and Spratt is forced to help her. Mrs Hughes is finding it difficult to please Mr Carson and Mary senses she’s been kept in the dark about a family secret.

Opinions are divided above and below stairs when Tom and Mary open Downton Abbey to the public for a day, in aid of the hospital. Mr Dawes, the headmaster, has a proposition for Mr Molesley, and Baxter is thrown into turmoil when she receives an unexpected letter. Plans for the hospital takeover reach a divisive resolution, with battle lines drawn between Cora and Violet. Carson has an axe to grind with Thomas, but all is not as it appears. Mary surprises Henry with a visit to London, while Bertie comes to Downton to see Edith. Can the sisters overcome the shadows of their pasts and find happiness?

A change of circumstance puts Bertie Pelham in the limelight, and Edith must decide whether to conceal her past at all costs, or confront the truth and risk losing everything. As both sisters seek their perfect match, hostilities escalate and it’s up to Mary to decide if she can ever make peace with Edith – or herself? Spratt proves to be a man of hidden talents and Mr Molesley embarks on a career in teaching, though his first lesson doesn’t quite go to plan. Mrs Patmore’s bed and breakfast garners unwanted attention – will the Crawleys come to her aid?

Henry Talbot invites the Crawleys to watch him motor racing at Brooklands, and proceedings leave Mary reeling. Violet makes a plan which surprises the family but delights Denker, and gets to the bottom of Amelia Cruikshank’s curious show of friendship towards Isobel. Mr Molesley and Daisy must rise to the challenge on examination day, while Mrs Patmore and Mrs Hughes teach Mr Carson a lesson. Andy’s secret is brought to light, and Thomas feels increasingly isolated.

While the Cold War intensifies and the Cuban Missile Crisis comes to a head, the Mercury 7 families begin glamorous new lives in Houston. But Houston also marks the start of the Gemini Project, and with it, the arrival of the Gemini wives, which changes the dynamic among all the women. Marge and Deke embrace new roles after learning about Deke's permanent status, and Trudy and Gordo's personal "cold war" begins to thaw.