The executive producer of Downton Abbey, Gareth Neame, announced the casting of the popular show's first black character for season 4. Downton Abbey's first recurring black character will be played by Gary Carr, a veteran of British television.

Neame said that Carr's addition to the cast "will bring interesting twists to the drama."

Gary Carr, prior to appearing as the first black character on Downton Abbey, starred in the BBC series Bluestone 42 and Death In Paradise.

Carr's Downton character, Jack Ross, is a jazz singer that, according to Deadline, is "a charming and charismatic" handsome young man. Neame continued, "...we can't wait for viewers to see [Carr] in series four." 

Downton Abbey has faced criticism that it lacks cultural diversity in the past.

David Itzkoff at the New York Times wrote, "Even for a series about white aristocrats and their servants in the early 20^th century, Downton Abbey has been criticized for its lack of diversity, and its creator, Julian Fellowes, has said he has wanted to introduce more black and Asian characters if he could do so in a way that was 'historically believable.'"

Carr will be joined by other new cast members Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Nigel Harman, Joanna David and Dame Harriet Walter. However, these characters will fill archetypes that viewers of the series are already familiar with, including valets, aristocrats, lords and ladies. Carr is the most interesting casting announcement, by far.

Shooting for Downton Abbey season 4 has already begun. The show is scheduled to air later this year.