New paparazzi photos depict Downton Abbey series 4’s cast and crew filming the Christmas Special (series finale) with Paul Giamatti.

We learned about Giamatti’s casting for the Downton Abbey series 4 Christmas Special in June. The famed actor will play Harold, a “maverick, playboy brother of Cora and uncle to Mary and Edith.”

Photos depict Giamatti’s character alongside other actresses Shirley MacLaine (who plays Martha Levinson) and Daisy Lewis, who is playing a new character of interest to Tom.

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We learned about Lewis’ casting two weeks ago. Her role begins on the show as caretaker of Tom and deceased Lady Sybil’s newborn baby.

Downton Abbey series 4 premieres January 4 in the United States on PBS, and this finale isn’t considered a Christmas Special stateside because of the fact that it will in late February or early March. In the U.K., Downton Abbey is expected to commence sometime this late fall or early winter.

We’re curious to see if Giamatti’s role, which only begins on the series finale, will carry into series 5. It would be a shame to see him have a part in just one episode. Perhaps he will be teasing a more major plot line in the next series that will see him get closer to one of Downton’s residents. Giamatti is a pretty big actor, so we have a hard time seeing him have anything more than a three to four episode arc.

Thanks, Daily Mail.