Fate of Downton Abbey dog unrelated to terrorism
Minor Spoiler: Anyone believing the fate Downton Abbey's dog is in response to Islamic State is "a complete berk," says Hugh Bonneville.
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Minor Spoiler: Hugh Bonneville, who plays Lord Grantham in Downton Abbey, says anyone who believes Isis the dog is being killed off because of the terrorist group with the same name is a “complete berk”.
In episodes airing in the UK Lord Grantham recently discovered the labrador, named Isis, has cancer. Some media reports suggested the pooch is being killed off to avoid any association with the terrorist group known as Islamic State and Isil.
But Bonneville has posted a message on his website:
“To clarify recent speculation, the labrador that appeared in series one (1912-14) was a dog called Pharaoh.
“From series two (1916-1920) onwards, the labrador has been a bitch named – in keeping with the Egyptian theme – Isis.
“Anyone who genuinely believes the series five storyline (1924) involving the animal was a reaction to recent world news is a complete berk.”
An ITV spokesman earlier said the dog’s name was an “unfortunate coincidence” and that it pre-dated the emergence of the terror group.
Source: The Telegraph
4 Responses
@ Secret Squirrel….the dog is gonna get it I am afraid, I just hope they switch they cameras off when it happens. Its death is linked to current world events and I am a complete berk
Some people really are idiots – the last thing they would have done to distance the show with current global events is draw attention to the dog!
It’s only really in this last season that we’ve even heard it referred to by name, it has always just been a part of the set dressing rather than a character in itself.
@catherine – I think Downton Abbey is a fictional drama not a reality show. I’m reasonably sure that the dog won’t actually be killed.
Ever since the first episode I have feared the dog will be killed. I hate seeing animals die. matthew i coped with but will be sad when the dog dies.