With word that Doc Martin begins filming in April, combined with the knowledge that Sherlock has begun filming series 3 already, one almost forgets (I said, almost) that Downton Abbey is currently in production on series 4. Early 2013 brought a number of rumors of new additions to the cast, several subtractions to the cast and bits and bobs of a storyline for the 4th series of the goings on at Downton.

***Spoiler Alert*** If you haven’t seen the conclusion of Downton Abbey 3

While Downton star Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith) told the Independent in Ireland that while the beginning of the new series will be sad following Matthew Crawley’s death, viewers are in for an exciting ride in series 4 Carmichael said: “Well, everyone is a bit blue as you can imagine at the beginning of the series. But there’s lots of exciting things that are happening and I think it’s going to be a great series.”

Hearing that series 4 is going to be great is brilliant, but what everyone wants to see are photos and videos from the set to tide them over until the return of the inhabitants of Downton above and below the stairs. Fortunately, everyone has a camera these days so the ability to share set photos is not too difficult a task. First up to the left and right, as you can imagine, come from the beginning of Downton Abbey 4 which finds Lady Mary mourning her husband Matthew, who died six months earlier in a tragic car crash.

Most of the rest of these are from earlier in the month during filming in both Bampton and at St. Pancras International Station Kings Cross, London.
 
Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith) and Charles Edwards (Edith’s Editor Michael Gregson) walk through St. Pancras Station Kings Cross, London

Lady Rose moves in with the Crawleys
 

A future for Isobel and Dr. Clarkson in Downton Abbey 4?
 

A happy Bates now that he’s out of prison for series 4
 

Creator, Julian Fellowes, recently told the New York Times: “One of the main themes is the rebuilding of Mary. Mary has to rebuild her life in a society which is changing.” Fellowes continued: “We would see women’s roles in the ’20s as being very much behind women today. But it was a big advance on what it had been 30 years before. And that’s all explored.”

I’m so ready….You?