Highclere: Behind the Scenes

The castle manager John and his team are awake before sunrise to welcome the crew of the Lorraine breakfast show, who are broadcasting live from the castle's famous grand saloon to mark the release of the second Downton Abbey movie. Unfortunately, the show's visit coincides with the busiest day of the year for coach parties and it's a race against the clock to get the crew out before the first bus load arrives.

The team prepares to host their first charity gala in three years in the castle's iconic library. The event involves a clay pigeon shooting competition, followed by a three-course lunch and a big-ticket auction, but staff shortages put them under pressure to deliver the top-notch service that will encourage the guests to dig deep.

The house holds a celebration of the centenary of the exhibition that discovered the tomb of Tutankhamen, led by the great-grandfather of the current Lord Carnarvon. Lady Carnarvon is writing a book about her husband's famous ancestor, while housekeepers Sheena and Jason are cleaning the Egyptian museum in the basement. Once the domain of the maids and footmen, it now houses replicas from the tomb of Tutankhamen and is a treasure trove that requires them to use special cleaning techniques.

Lord and Lady Carnarvon along with their staff turn the castle into a winter wonderland with their biggest-ever tree in the grand saloon and a festive cocktail masterclass hosted by butler Louis. Lady Carnarvon carves out some family time away from the public as she gathers loved ones around the tree for a festive get together.