Hugh Bonneville 'panics' ITV interviewer by interrupting question with Gaza speech live on air

Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville left a reporter for ITV News in shock last night when he interrupted a question to speak about Gaza. The 61-year-old actor is returning to his role as Lord Grantham for the third and final Downton Abbey film.

He walked the red carpet at yesterday's London premiere alongside his co-stars Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt and Dominic West. However, an interview he gave to ITV News went in a direction the journalist perhaps wasn't expecting.

On the red carpet, ITV News reporter Helen Keenan asked Hugh about the Downton Abbey sequel, to which he responded: "Hello, good evening. Before I talk about the fluff and loveliness of our wonderful film, what's about to happen in Gaza City is absolutely indefensible.

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"The international community must do more to bring it to an end." He then quickly launched back into a chat about the film, saying: "Downton Abbey is a lovely film and we're going to celebrate 15 glorious years of it tonight."

Helen looked panicked as he began to speak on the topic, with viewers taking to social media to comment on the interview. "Hugh Bonneville took advantage of a live TV interview at the premiere for #DowntonAbbeyTheGrandFinale to make a statement about Gaza," one viewer said. "Watch the face of ITV News reporter Helen Keenan drop as he *goes there*."

Another wrote: "He was magnificent. And her face absolute picture." A third said: "Look at the face of the interviewer. lol. This is well done."

It comes after Israel declared Gaza City to be a combat zone last week, with military moving forward with plans to overtake the area.

The country's military admitted that it is 'operating with great force' in Gaza City. Attacks on the outskirts of the central Gaza quarter had begun on 29 August, with tank fire and airstrikes escalating.

As for Downton Abbey, stars Dominic West and Robert James-Collier teased that there could be a spin-off that sees them with their "tops off". Dominic is reprising his role as Guy Dexter in the film, while Rob plays Thomas Barrow once again.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Rob revealed what happens to their characters. He said: "We head off to warmer climes, I think we're allowed to say that. So you might see me, Barrow, and Guy Dexter on the beach, tops off!"

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