Hugh Bonneville has said of a possible Downton Abbey film “show me the money”.

The star of the hit ITV period drama, which will draw to a close later this year, hinted that he would consider appearing in a big screen version.

He said: “I don’t know, I mean show me the money. Show me the script, more importantly.

“I don’t know but where there’s a will there’s a way and I know that Julian (Fellowes, creator) has enough ink left in his pen.”

Hugh Bonneville
Hugh Bonneville in Downton Abbey (ITV)

Hugh, speaking at the Bafta Television Awards, where he was nominated for best male comedy performance for his role in W1A, said of Downton finishing: “Mixed feelings obviously because it’s become such a part of all our lives, both in front of the camera and behind.

“But I’m really pleased Julian has known when to finish it, to quit while you’re ahead, while it still seems a lovely thing, and hopefully it will be around on people’s shelves for years to come, but it’s the right time to finish.”

Julian is set to begin work on a New York-set period drama, The Gilded Age, but Hugh said he was unlikely to pop up as one of the cast.

He said: “If there was some time warp where I went back to my younger self, but I think that would be a bit too spooky.”