Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville reveals he’s to blame for Isis the dog being killed off

DOWNTON Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville has ended up in the doghouse – after revealing HE was responsible for having the show’s beloved labrador retriever killed off.

The nation mourned when the Crawley family’s loyal pet, Isis, died in 2014, but the real cause wasn’t cancer, as bosses of the hit ITV period drama claimed at the time.

Hugh, who played Lord Grantham in the long-running show, has admitted he put forward the idea of getting rid of Isis after realising she would now be an unrealistic age.

He said: “We always try to fudge time in Downton because if you analyse it too closely you’d go nuts. That is one of the reasons we got rid of the dog — someone had done some nerdy chart working out how old all the characters would be if we started in 1912.

“They’d worked out by the time we got to series six the dog should be dead. So I said, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun to kill the dog?’ because, let’s face it, most British men at this time are more attached to their dog than their children. It would get the dog lovers at home weeping.”

At the time it was thought Isis got the boot because of her name being the same as the terror organisation — although she was actually named after the Egyptian goddess.

Talking at the Oxford Union, Hugh said: “The audience decided we killed off the dog because of the other Isis. I’ll tell you what, Isis isn’t in the film, but its successor is.”

Dog lovers, form an orderly queue.

READ ON FOR MORE OF ANDY HALLS’ BIZARRE TV COLUMN

Si’s got eye on Leona

FANS could be seeing a lot more of Leona Lewis when Simon Cowell announces his plans for an all-new X Factor.

I can reveal that the media mogul is keen to get the singer on board and is considering roles for her on the show.

It comes after Leona, who won the show in 2006, appeared on the series last year during Simon’s judges’ houses process.

A source said: “Simon definitely wants her in the frame. He was impressed with her input on the series last year and is working out how they can keep her in the picture.”

She’d be a great signing.

Millenials’ Greek tragedy

I CAN’T think of a better way to get over heartbreak than heading off on a luxury holiday.

BBC Three agrees and is making a TV show starring despairing millennials who have broken up with their partner or fallen out with a pal.

Ten of them will jet off to Greece where, hopefully, the sun will help them resolve their issues.

A BBC source said: “Not all heartbreak is romantic, it can come from tension in the family or fallouts with friends. This show is all about bringing people together to get to the heart of the reasons why.

“The series will most likely feature big topics such as identity, sexuality, background and class, mental health and, of course, sex and relationships.

“They’re on the lookout for people from all over the country and from different walks of life to get involved.”

Contestants will be allowed to call home, text exes and message each other, with it all being captured for viewers’ pleasure.

I’m not sure Love Island bosses need to worry just yet.

To sign up email bbc3summer2019@bbc.co.uk

Writers aim to get rich

TELLY’S drama-writing brothers Jack and Harry Williams have already landed Bodyguard’s Sunday night slot for their new thriller Baptiste.

Now they could be about to bag its leading man, Richard Madden.

The siblings – who also created The Missing, Liar and upcoming ITV series The Widow – were bowled over by the actor’s performance in writer Jed Mercurio’s ratings hit last year. So they are devising a drama which might tempt Richard.

Jack said: “If you’re an actor, you have to have charisma and presence – and Richard is a brilliant actor.

“There’s something we’ve been working on that we’ve got him in mind for, though we haven’t approached him yet. Of course, with someone like Richard they’re very, very in demand, but you might as well give it a try and hopefully all the dates will align.”

I hope they do – so long as it doesn’t stop him from starring in Bodyguard 2.