Downton Abbey star Allen Leech says modern society is lacking the manners of the period drama’s characters and regrets that people on the Tube “barely make eye contact”.

The 33-year-old Irish actor, who has lived in London for 11 years, believes that part of the reason the Julian Fellowes series is so successful is because people yearn for a return to traditional etiquette.

He told the Standard: “I think there is a politeness that has been lost. To be honest, when I look at society today, you’re more surprised when a door is held open for a lady than when it isn’t. I’m sorry to see that get lost.

“Common courtesy for people I think has gone, but people have less time. People always put it down to that. People are too busy these days to be polite to each other.

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