‘Downton Abbey’ star Hugh Bonneville has written a memoir about his life

Hugh Bonneville has announced details of his upcoming memoir and an accompanying book tour.

Best known for his role as Lord Grantham in Downton Abbey, the 58-year-old English actor was born in London in 1963.

Bonneville made his movie debut in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in 1994, and has gone on to appear in The Vicar of Dibley, W1A, The Hollow Crown, To Olivia, Doctor Who, Viceroy’s House, Mansfield Park, Notting Hill, Tomorrow Never Dies, and the much-loved Paddington movies.

Watch the trailer for Viceroy’s House here:

Playing Under the Piano: From Downton to Darkest Peru will be published in the US and Canada on Tuesday 8th November, following its release on Thursday 13th October in the UK and the rest of the world.

It’s described as “a moving, laugh-out-loud memoir from one of today’s best-loved British actors.”

You can now pre-order the book on Amazon here!

The official synopsis reads: “From getting his big break as Third Shepherd in the school nativity play, to mistaking a Hollywood star for an estate agent, Hugh creates a brilliantly vivid picture of a career on stage and screen.

“What is it like working with Judi Dench and Julia Roberts, or playing Robert de Niro’s right leg, or not being Gary Oldman, twice?

“A wickedly funny storyteller, Hugh also writes with poignancy about his father’s dementia and of his mother, whose life in the secret service only emerged after her death.

“Whether telling stories of working with divas, Dames or a bear with a penchant for marmalade, this is a richly entertaining account of his life as an actor.”

Bonneville will also be “skipping around the country” (his words!) on a UK tour this autumn to promote the book.

Here are all the links to book tickets for the shows announced so far:

15 October, 7.30pm | Cadogan Hall, LONDON
Book Tickets (via Fane) | Book Tickets (via Cadogan Hall)

15 October, 7.30pm | ONLINE Live Stream from Cadogan Hall & On Demand
Book Tickets

16 October, 1pm | Venue TBA

20 October, 7.30pm | Venue TBA

21 October, 8pm | Octagon Auditorium, YEOVIL
Book Tickets (via Octagon Theatre) | Book Tickets (via Yeovil Lit Fest)

23 October, 5pm | Venue TBA

24 October, 7.30pm | Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, GUILDFORD
Book Tickets

26 October, 7.30pm | Stag Theatre, SEVENOAKS
Book Tickets

30 October, 7.30pm | Venue TBA

31 October, 8pm | Younger Hall, ST ANDREWS
Book Tickets

1 November, 7.30pm | Tom Fleming Centre, EDINBURGH
Book Tickets

6 November, 6pm | Venue TBA

13 November, 5pm | Baillie Gifford Ballroom, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
Tickets on sale 6th September

19 November, 6pm | Cambridge Union, CAMBRIDGE
Tickets on sale 5th September

24 November, 7.30pm | MCT at Alleyn’s School, DULWICH
Book Tickets

Hugh Bonneville recently reprised his role as Lord Grantham in the second Downton Abbey movie.

Watch the trailer here:

Next up, he’s got Netflix’s new thriller I Came By, followed by the third Paddington adventure.

Paddington in Peru is currently filming in England ahead of its release in cinemas next year.

Playing Under the Piano: From Downton to Darkest Peru is available to pre-order on Amazon.