‘Downton Abbey’ star joins new BBC comedy pilot about two long-lost sisters

The BBC has announced a new comedy pilot from the makers of Inside No.9 and Bad Education, starring Downton Abbey actress Siobhan Finneran.

The Happy Valley star played scheming lady’s maid Sarah O’Brien in the first three seasons of Downton.

The 51-year-old English actress will be joined by Rebecca Front (War and Peace), Ellie White (The Windsors), Lauren Socha (Misfits) and Amit Shah (W1A) later this year in The Other One.

The 30-minute comedy tells the story of two girls called Catherine Walcott who had no idea the other existed until their father drops dead.

Writer Holly Walsh commented: “I couldn’t feel luckier to have Siobhan, Rebecca, Lauren, Ellie & Amit in our show. Despite filming nights in the pissing rain for most of the shoot, their exceptional talent, funniness and willingness to stand on a remote hillside in a kaftan, made this project an absolute joy.”

The official synopsis reads: “Cathy has a fiancé, a Duke of Edinburgh Award and a pension. Cat has a pay-as-you-go phone. The only things they have in common are their names (a smart move if you’ve got a secret daughter). Both of them have always wanted a sister – just maybe, not each other.”

The Other One was filmed in Manchester and will air on BBC Two in the UK later this year.