Elizabeth McGovern on 'Downton Abbey' comments: 'I was misinterpreted'

Elizabeth McGovern on 'Downton Abbey' comments: 'I was misinterpreted'

Elizabeth McGovern has clarified recent quotes attributed to her about Downton Abbey.

McGovern, who plays Lady Cora Grantham, appeared to claim in an interview with the LA Times that she wasn't as keen on series two of the hit ITV period drama.

However, she has since released a statement saying: "I am horrified that my comments about the second series of Downton Abbey have been taken out of context and misinterpreted. I was in no way criticising the second season or implying that I loved or enjoyed it any less.

"When asked about the second series I said that the tone differed slightly from the first. There would be some people who would naturally prefer the more domestic detail of series one and others who would love the faster pace and heightened drama of the war years.

"That does not translate that series two was any less entertaining than series one - and many millions of people around the world agree with me.

"Julian Fellowes is a brilliant writer and I am proud and privileged to be part of this show. The third season is so rich with character detail, storylines and new faces that I can't wait for people to see it."

Downton Abbey's second run, which dealt with the horrors of WWI, culminated in a spread of influenza that killed Lavinia Swire (Zoe Boyle).

'NCIS' soars to 2 million for Channel 5

'NCIS' soars to 2 million for Channel 5

US cop drama NCIS broke the 2 million mark for Channel 5 on Tuesday night, overnight data shows.

The Mark Harmon import averaged 1.89m (7.3%) in the 9pm hour, beating Channel 4 and BBC Two's respective programming, and commanding 116k (0.6%) on Channel 5 +1.

One-off royal documentary Queen Victoria's Last Love interested 1.45m (5.6%) on Channel 4 (+1: 201k/1%), while BBC Two's Divine Women could only muster 726k (2.8%).

The Apprentice: You're Fired was BBC Two's saving grace, attracting 2.16m (9.6%) at 10pm, while 8pm's Our Food served up 1.64m (7%), overpowering Four Rooms' 1.3m (5.6%) for Channel 4 (+1: 158k/0.6%) and Channel 5's Cowboy Traders (1.24m/5.3%).

The Apprentice itself held strong with 6.57m (25.6%) against ITV1's all-European Champions League semi-final clash, which scored an impressive 6.22m (26.3%) between 7.30pm and 10.30pm.

Elsewhere on BBC One, Panorama took a solid 4.93m (22.9%) at 7.30pm, and Waterloo Road's last episode in Rochdale managed 4.7m in the 8pm hour.

Channel 4's night peaked at 10pm with a Bodyshock special - Turtle Boy - which grabbed the attention of 1.98m (10.1%) as well as 292k (3%) on timeshift.

Overall, ITV1 won primetime with 25.9% (+1: 0.3%) against BBC One's 20.7%. BBC Two claimed third place with 6.3%, ahead of Channel 4's 6% (+1: 0.8%) and Channel 5's 5.1% (+1: 0.2%).

The Only Way Is Essex continued to pull in bumper ratings for ITV2 with 1.11m (5.3%) at 10pm (+1: 170k/0.6%), prior to which Peter Andre: My Life had 923k (3.6%) and 146k (0.6%) on ITV2 +1.

'Great British Bake Off', Nigella Lawson head up Food on BBC Two

'Great British Bake Off', Nigella Lawson head up Food on BBC Two

Mary Berry's Great British Bake Off and Nigella Lawson's Nigellissima will head up a new selection of BBC Two food shows, announced this afternoon by the channel's controller Janice Hadlow.

Other programmes unveiled include new series from the Hairy Bikers, Rick Stein and Ken Hom and Ching-He Huang.

Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins will return to host a third series of the BAFTA-nominated amateur cookery series Great British Bake Off, which will feature cookery writer Berry and acclaimed Master Baker Paul Hollywood judging the cakes, pastries and bread-making skills of 12 home cooks.

Lawson's new series Nigellissima will air in the autumn and will feature her unique take on Italian food.

"When I went to live in Italy when young, I said I'd do anything but clean lavatories; as a chambermaid in Florence, that is what I ended up doing! But I also learned about real Italian food, and by the time I'd left I had found my spiritual and gastronomic home," said Lawson.

"I wanted to make a series of my sort of Italian food, inspired by the ethos and the ingredients but fused with the way we live our lives, here, in the UK. I care about ease and accessibility, but I care most about passion and taste and it is these crucial Italian factors, I want to bring to the table and the television!"

Other shows launching on the channel include Ken Hom and Ching-He Huang's Eat, Drink, Cook China and The Hairy Bikers' How To Love Food And Lose Weight project, which will aim to get the British public leading healthier lives.

Benedict Cumberbatch 'desperate for Sherlock to be US success'

Benedict Cumberbatch 'desperate for Sherlock to be US success'

Benedict Cumberbatch has admitted that he is "desperate" for Sherlock to be a hit in the US.

The actor argued that the BBC detective drama is only a "cult thing" in America, where it airs on PBS.

"I'm desperate for America to really take to this," he told The New York Times. "It has taken it into its heart as a cult thing, but I'd love it to hit the mainstream this time. Because I just think it's of that quality, and it belongs there."

Cumberbatch added that he was envious of the success enjoyed in the US by Downton Abbey, recalling an incident at the Golden Globes in which PBS Masterpiece producer Rebecca Eaton had light-heartedly taunted him with the show's award.

"I just looked at it and went, 'Begone, woman. Bring it back when it says "Sherlock Holmes" or Steven Moffat or myself - someone else who's more deserving than the second series of Downton Abbey'."

However, the actor refused to be drawn on his criticism of the ITV1 period drama.

"I know too many people who are in it," he said. "I thought the first series was good. That's what I'll say."

The second series of Sherlock premieres on Sunday, May 6 on PBS.

'Prisoners' Wives' second series confirmed

'Prisoners' Wives' second series confirmed

BBC One drama Prisoners' Wives has been given a second series, it has been confirmed.

Creator Julie Gearey revealed to the Radio Times that she is already "bursting at the seams" with new stories for the second run.

Series two will be a slightly shorter run of four episodes, which will air in 2013.

Emma Rigby, Polly Walker, Pippa Haywood, Natalie Gavin, Jonas Armstrong and Adam Gillen starred in the South Yorkshire-based drama about four women coping without their partners, who are all in prison.

The first run ended earlier this year with over 5 million viewers for the sixth episode.

Its first series was highly praised by critics, with The Guardian describing the show as a "thrusting character-driven piece with a cast you can't take your eyes off".

'Merlin' exec on series five: 'Merlin will be stronger, more powerful'

'Merlin' exec on series five: 'Merlin will be stronger, more powerful'

Merlin co-creator Julian Murphy has dropped hints about the fifth series.

The young wizard will become "a much... stronger, focused and [more] powerful character" in future episodes, Murphy told SciFiNow.

"I think it's interesting because you saw a glimpse at the end of the last series, particularly when he killed Agravaine," said the writer.

"We're really interested in taking him on that journey with all its dangers and the temptations it will bring, so that will be a big part of the fifth series."

However, Murphy admitted that Merlin (Colin Morgan) is unlikely to find love in the fifth series.

"Although there are legends that relate to certain romances... I think in our consciousness he's a curiously non-romantic figure," he explained.

"In our mind, he's never associated with women, and I guess we stay true to that, but we'd never rule it out, and there are some interesting stories about Merlin being seduced away from the path."

Murphy and Merlin co-creator Johnny Capps previously told Digital Spy that the series could continue beyond the upcoming fifth run.

"We've always planned five series, but it depends on how popular the show is," said the pair. "There's every possibility it could continue."

Russell Tovey sitcom, post-watershed dramedy for ITV

Russell Tovey sitcom, post-watershed dramedy for ITV

ITV has commissioned two new comedy series.

The channel announced that it has ordered six episodes of both primetime sitcom The Job Lot and post-watershed dramedy Great Night Out.

The Job Lot takes place in a job centre and stars Russell Tovey and Miranda's Sarah Hadland. It was commissioned following a successful pilot produced by Rev's Hannah Pescod and directed by Richard Laxton of Him & Her.

Executive producer Kenton Allen said: "The moment I read the script I immediately thought The Job Lot was a comedy idea that captured the spirit of these times and could be the answer to ITV's ambitions to reignite primetime comedy on ITV1.

"We are all delighted with the pilot and can't wait for audiences to get to know the brilliant characters that lurk within Brownall Job Centre."

Great Night Out centres on four male friends in their mid-30s (Waterloo Road's Will Ash, Misfits star Craig Parkinson, Lee Boardman and Stephen Walters) who have a weekly boys' meeting.

The series was written and created by Mark Bussell and Justin Sbresni of The Worst Week of My Life.

The Job Lot is scheduled to air in 2013, while filming of Great Night Out has already begun in London and Stockport.