Lady Sybil and the chauffeur: Downton stars now set up together in off-screen romance

By Leon Watson

Last updated at 6:19 PM on 6th November 2011

It's a case of life imitating art - as a real-life romance has blossomed between the Downton Abbey actors who play Lady Sybil and her driver Tom Branson.

Allen Leech, who plays the aristocrat's chauffeur in the ITV hit, has reportedly been an item with co-star Jessica Brown Findlay 'for some time'.

Racing columnist Jo Foster told the Sunday Telegraph: 'After a few too many glasses of burgundy, Simon [Leech's brother] let it slip that the pair had begun an off-screen love affair some time ago.

'It came from the horse's mouth.'

On and off screen? Lady Sybil, played by Jessica Brown Findlay, and chauffeur Branson, played by Allen Leech, are said to be together in real life

Leech, 30, has made it clear he is single, while Brown Findlay, 22, was thought to have a boyfriend, artist Thomas Campbell.

Her publicists have also played down the rumour, saying there is 'no truth' in the affair.

Speaking about the on-screen romance last week, Leech said: 'He has always been madly in love with Sybil and he is a character who doesn’t give up easily.'

News of the reported romance comes in the same week that ITV confirmed the hit drama will return to our screens for a third series.

Watched by 11.5million viewers on average, it will be back next September to cover 18 months in the lives of the Crawley family and their servants during the 'Roaring Twenties'.

The action – set in the First World War and the Spanish flu pandemic of 1919 this series – will jump forward to 1920 and 1921, when national events included the first UK birth control clinic and the creation of Northern Ireland.

Real life romance: Jessica Brown Findlay is reportedly 'an item' with co-star Allen Leech

Down to work: Carol managed to help out on set by teaching Allen his lines

Down to work: Carol Vorderman (right) paid the set a visit earlier this year and managed to help out on set by teaching Allen Leech (left) his lines

Despite the most recent series having had a more negative response than the debut run, amid criticism about the complicated plot and the number of adverts, the programme has proved to still be a massive ratings hit.

The announcement came after Oscar-winning creator Julian Fellowes had earlier in the week sparked fears over whether the show would come back.

Earlier this week he said: ‘I am extremely grateful to ITV for this. I have grown very fond of my Downton family and I certainly do not want to say goodbye to them quite yet.’

Filming will begin in the new year and stars including Dame Maggie Smith and Hugh Bonneville are set to appear.

ITV’s director of drama commissioning, Laura Mackie, said: ‘We’re absolutely delighted to be bringing Downton Abbey back for a third series, as we follow the inhabitants…into the Roaring Twenties.

‘It’s rare to find a drama that the audience connects with so strongly and we’re extremely proud to have commissioned a series that has become such a phenomenon.’

ITV claims ratings for this run have increased by 21 per cent and it is the most popular drama series on UK television for more than ten years.

Chauffeur Branson, played by Allen Leech, can be seen driving Lady Sybil (Jessica Brown-Findlay) in this image from the second series of Downton Abbey