According to BBC News, George Clooney will be appearing on Downton Abbey as part of a specially filled sketch for the ITV charity show Text Santa. Clooney will play an American character that is a guest at a wedding in the country estate, and the sketch is set to air around Christmas time.

Clooney is good friends with actor Hugh Bonneville, who plays the Earl of Grantham. The two men met when Bonneville appeared in Clooney's film, "The Monument Men." A while ago, Clooney said that he didn't think he would be right to appear in the show, stating, "I am too lowly for a part, I don't think they want me." He joked, "I can't do the accent either. It's all very Dick van Dyke."

However, luckily for us Clooney has already filmed the scenes. Spokespeople for the drama have not given away many details about the sketch, but Clooney will be appearing alongside Hugh Bonneville and Michelle Dockery. Sources said, "All the plans have been shrouded in secrecy because George was determined for his role not to leak out."

According to The Guardian, sources went on to say, "All the other cast members and crew were also sworn to secrecy. It's amazing it has taken four months for someone to find out. This is the biggest moment in Downton history and shows it's now the biggest drama in the world," highlighting their pride in how far the show has progressed in popularity.

Clooney has always been a fan of the show - he and former co-star Matt Damon admitted that they enjoyed Downton Abbey at its UK premier in February. In May, it was reported that Clooney and fiancée Amal Alamuddin visited Highclere Castle in Hampshire, which is where Downton Abbey is filmed. People speculated that the couple was viewing the area as a possible wedding venue, but it has been revealed that Clooney was actually visiting in order to film the sketch for the show.