Apparently You Can't Wear "Modern Underwear" on Downton Abbey

After a water bottle made its way into a promo photo, there are reportedly new regulations on the hit period drama

By Chris Harnick Aug 22, 2014 5:35 PMTags
Downton Abbey, Season 5PBS

Attention all stars: You cannot wear your modern underwear on Downton Abbey. Well, that's according to an anonymous source by way of The Telegraph.

"Modern watches and jewelry are out and so even is modern underwear as the danger is apparently too great it could be seen if we bend over," a source told Telegraph. "They have relented in the case of prescription glasses and asthma guns, but that's about it."

All this after a water bottle snuck into a season-five promo photo of Hugh Bonneville as Lord Grantham and Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith in full Downton Abbey garb.

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The photo went viral and the cast responded in the best way: They posed for a photo holding water bottles (some making naughty faces) promoting the charity WaterAid.

"After seeing the reaction the picture caused earlier this week, the cast and crew came up with the idea of turning some of this attention towards an issue around water that really matters," a spokesperson for ITV, the show's U.K. home, said in a statement by way of WaterAid. "They hope that by posing for this picture they will be able to raise awareness and amplify the work of international charity—WaterAid."

Request for comment from Masterpiece about the status of the underwear ban was not immediately returned.