This "Downton Abbey" Christmas Charity Short for the Text Santa Campaign Is Delightfully British
Emily Schmidt
Updated on March 29, 2026
The Downton Abbey characters are looking for an actor to play Father Christmas at their estate this year, and they're auditioning modern British celebrities like Gordon Ramsay, Warwick Davis, and Michelle Keegan. ("Who's booking these guests? Last year we had George Clooney," Lord Grantham complains.) It's all for a 10-minute sketch to raise money for the British channel ITV's Text Santa charity campaign, which benefits charities like Make-a-Wish U.K, and Save the Children.
Why can't they see that Carson really wants this gig?