julian fellowes was a big fan of coronation street, which is one of the longest—running soaps in they popular still in britain. and he was a big fan of the west wing and scenes that, or rather, shows that have tremendous pace to them and short scenes often, usually. and that was one of the characteristics of downton, that it had this sort of breakneck pace to it. or rather, if you got bored of one character, there was another one coming along in about 25 seconds. so, it did have that soap element. and certainly, for most of us of the show, you could say that it was about, for example, tension, not violence, romance, not sex. you could sit down with your granny, you know, and with your grandchild and watch it. and that sense of crossing the generations was something that really, i think, took, why the show took off, that it became a family experience, as you say. the other movie, i guess, that i knew you for first and that i think americans did as well, was notting hill. talking of rather bumbling british characters! but i have to say, i love bernie. and for me, he stole the movie. i