'Downton Abbey' season 5 Christmas episode: Allen Leech teases George Clooney's stint and Tom Branson's departure

It seems like somebody will leave Downton Abbey this Christmas. 

Actor Allen Leech teased that his character Tom Branson is in the brink of deciding whether to stay or leave the Grantham family estate because of his employers' unbending right-wing views. 

"Tom is making a decision on whether he is going to stay or not and you'll all know on Christmas Day in the UK," the Irish actor said. 

But fans of the show need not worry, since there is a possibility that Tom would return to the Yorkshire country house anytime since he will not be killed off in the show. 

"I think if he does leave, Tom will be leaving under his own steam and he won't be dead so it doesn't mean he's leaving forever," Leech said. 

The actor also shared that there is a number of potential acting gigs offered to him beyond the hit ITV period drama series, including a West End play as well as "The Imitation Game" film which also features Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightly. 

Meanwhile, Leech also teased about George Clooney's stint in "Downton Abbey's" sketch scene for the Text Santa charity drive of ITV. 

"It was great, and I don't want to spoil it, but it's very, very funny, I've seen it and the interactions that George has with everyone in the cast are hilarious, so I think everyone will enjoy it and it will be a real treat and it was great of him to come in and do something like that for us," Leech told E! News. 

But the female crew and cast members had more fun seeing Clooney in the "Downton Abbey" set. Actress Elizabeth McGovern, who plays the role of Lady Grantham in the series, shared an interesting detail about her encounter with the Oscar-winning actor. 

"It was special for me because there was a scripted kiss, so I was a bit shocked to see his wedding go forward after our professional day together!" McGovern stated. 

Clooney's short stint in "Downton Abbey" will be aired in the U.K. on Christmas Day, but there is no news yet if it will also be shown in the U.S. once the series premieres on Jan. 4.

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