RIP, Lord Grantham. And hello, Lord Hawthorne!
Hugh Bonneville practically dances on Downton Abbey‘s grave in the new series of Netflix‘s The Gentlemen, playing a super camp toff (with a carefully styled bouffant-do), is hot on the scent of a handsome young man.
Bonneville was serious – some might even say dull – like the thoroughly decent Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, in Downton.
But you can see him having the time of his life in The Gentlemen, series two of which can be streamed from next Thursday.
Described in the show by drug lord Bobby Glass (Ray Winstone) as a ‘posh c***’, Bonneville plays Lord ‘Dickie’ Hawthorne, who we first meet on a shooting day at the stately home of Eddie Horniman, the Duke of Halstead, played by Theo James.
Eddie wants to gain access to the House of Lords so he can influence marijuana legislation. And – no spoilers! – Dickie could play a big role in these efforts.
Hugh Bonneville plays Lord Hawthorne in the second series of The Gentlemen, out on Netflix next week
Bonneville was serious – some might even say boring – like the thoroughly decent Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, in Downton (pictured)
The colorful Lord Hawthorne stars as Jack (Harry Goodwins), the younger brother of Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario). He drinks, he curses, he guzzles oysters – and he dances like Louie Spence in Ibiza.
At one point, over a cocktail, Lord Hawthorne says to Eddie, “I know I look like a useless old fruit, but I know when I’m being worked, rubbed and greased.”
Get the smelling salts, Mrs. Hughes! The Gentlemen have been in the news this week after it was suggested that Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, could appear in series three.
Netflix alluded to the hoo-ha in a press release for series two, which ended with the words: “ABOUT THE GENTLEMEN S3…Your guess is as good as mine.”
Meanwhile, Meghan Markle’s return has reportedly been ‘cancelled’ amid criticism over plans to cast her in the third season of the Guy Ritchie-directed series.
It was claimed that former British royal Meghan had been cast in a role in the show’s third episode.
But just as quickly as the news broke, it was claimed the offer had been withdrawn after the reaction in Britain became too “intense”, according to royal author Tina Brown.
Ms Brown said: “I have heard that Meghan Markle’s casting has been withdrawn. The setback was so severe that it became untenable to continue.”
Meanwhile, Meghan Markle’s return has reportedly been ‘cancelled’ amid criticism over plans to cast her in the third season of the Guy Ritchie-directed series
In her Fresh Hell Substack newsletter, the author wrote, “This doesn’t bode well for Meghan’s acting comeback.”
Just four years ago, Meghan insisted she had no plans to return to acting. In 2022, she told Variety magazine, “I’m done. Never say never, but it is my intention to definitely not do that.’
Now, however, her return to screen is being touted by sources ‘close to the Duchess’ as one of the reasons why she and Prince Harry are returning to Britain.
But commentators have suggested that any acting role for Meghan and a subsequent return to the spotlight could be problematic for both the Sussexes and the royal family at large.
Baroness Wheatcroft said on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘The first thing an actress wants is publicity and Meghan can be a good actress. She will certainly be offered roles, but she must be very careful when the inevitable interviews arise so as not to embarrass the royals.’
Before marrying Harry, Meghan had seven successful seasons as Rachel Zane on the legal drama Suits. She reportedly earned around $40,000 per episode by the time her final episode aired in April 2018 – just a month before she walked down the aisle at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
Meghan has a small cameo in the upcoming film Close Personal Friends, starring Brie Larson and Lily Collins. But a source connected to the project described the appearance to The Mail on Sunday as little more than fleeting. A role in Ritchie’s The Gentlemen would have marked a much more significant return to acting.
Netflix declined to comment, while a spokesperson for the Duchess declined to confirm or deny that the offer had been withdrawn.
