Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale cast member Lesley Nicol has said that two co-stars jumped into a swimming pool whilst “ratted” during production of the franchise. She said that it happened after the cast finished filming at a house but didn’t say if it was whilst they worked on the latest film.

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Lesley, 72, reprises her role as cook Beryl Patmore in the historical drama, which is due to be released next week. It’s the third film in the Downton Abbey franchise, which began with the ITV show that ran for six seasons from 2010 to 2015.

Promoting the latest film, Lesley spoke to Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond on This Morning earlier today. The late Maggie Smith was brought up during the interview whilst Lesley discussing working on the TV show.

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Lesley Nicol spoke about starring in the Downton Abbey franchise whilst on This Morning today(Image: ITV)

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Speaking about Maggie, Alison asked: “But she liked a tipple didn’t she? Liked a rosé.” Lesley asked: “Did she?” Alison added: “Well, I heard that you polished off quite a few bottles with her one night.” Lesley said: “Oh, the cast?”

She went on to tell the hosts that two colleagues ended up jumping into a pool at a house that was being used as a location, Lesley, who has been in the franchise since it began, didn’t say whether it was during production of the TV show or one of the subsequent films though.

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Lesley said: “Yes, there was … no, it was somebody’s house on location. They had a few bottles of rosé, stupidly. They said ‘would you like some?’ and we’d all finished filming and went ‘yeah’. Well later y’know two of the actresses, who will rename nameless, but they were posh, jumped in the pool. In the costumes. Ratted.”

Her comments prompted laughter from Dermot and Alison asked: “They got in trouble? I bet they got in trouble, though.” Lesley said in response to the presenter: “Yes, they got into trouble.” She added: “I just stood and laughed.”

She spoke to hosts Dermot O’Leary (left) and Alison Hammond (centre) ahead of the film Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale being released(Image: ITV)

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Lesley also addressed the new film being described as the “finale” after host Dermot suggested the cast must have thought it was the end on previous occasion. She agreed, saying that there has been “a few goodbyes” before.

She said: “The first time we had a proper awful, sad goodbye and it was genuine was at the end of the television series in 2015. We did the last scene. We sang Auld Lang Syne. We were all dribbling and snotting all over the place, including the crew, which is very touching. We gave each other presents.”

Lesley added that they then discovered that they would be returning to make the first film, before saying that they subsequently found out about “another” film and then “another one”. She told Dermot: “So you’re right, there’s been a few goodbyes so we’ve sort of had to get used to it, really. But this is it!”

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Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is scheduled to be released next Friday. The film, which had its premiere in Leicester Square earlier this week, follows on from Downton Abbey (2019) and second film Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022).

The new sequel is said to focus on the Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s. It’s teased that they must “embrace change” and “welcome a new chapter” as they navigate how to lead Downton Abbey into the future.