‘Downton’ writer Julian Fellowes opens up about going deaf

Julian Fellowes has revealed that he is losing his hearing.

Speaking at a China Exchange event in London earlier this month, the 67-year-old Downton Abbey creator admitted he is “extremely deaf” and communicates with his wife by lip-reading, following “a lifetime of bad behaviour.”

His wife, Emma Joy Kitchener explained: “We do lip read now as it is easier for him. Without any interruptions he is OK. His hearing has got worse as he has got older. It is just noise.”

She added: “It is just age. It does not bother him at all but when someone asks him a question he does want to answer it. He has not got a hearing aid. There is nothing they can do.”

It was confirmed last month that the long-rumoured Downton Abbey movie is officially going ahead.

However, Fellowes has explained that he may have to re-cast the show’s characters and set the film 30 years before the TV series as a prequel if too many of the original cast are unavailable to return.

Filming is expected to begin on the movie early next year.