Downton Abbey Season 5 Casting: Richard E Grant and Anna Chancellor will guest star in Downton Abbey's season 5.

Carnival Films and Masterpiece on PBS have announced new additions to season five of Downton Abbey. Withnail and I star Richard E. Grant joins Anna Chancellor and Rade Sherbedgia for the new season.

Acclaimed actress Anna Chancellor, who appeared in "The Hour," and "Four Weddings and a Funeral") will playing Lady Anstruther

Rade Sherbedgia, who tried to rent his daughter to Tom Cruise in Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut," will will also join the cast as Kuragin, a Russian refugee who fled the revolution. Dame Harriet Walter and Peter Egan will return in series five

Richard E. Grant, who starred in "Gosford Park" alongside Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon and Charles Dance and "Doctor Who" was cast as Simon Bricker, a guest at Downton Abbey who was invited by the Granthams. Grant currently stars in Lena Dunham's hit HBO dramedy "Girls."

In a statement Friday, "Downton Abbey" executive producer and managing director of Carnival Films, Gareth Neame, said "We are delighted to welcome these talented actors to the world of 'Downton. The characters they play are set to bring yet more excitement and intrigue to the show."

Rebecca Eaton, executive producer of PBS' Masterpiece programming banner, said "We look forward to introducing these new characters to our Masterpiece audience. They will make a wonderful addition to the beloved 'Downton Abbey' ensemble."

Returning for "Downton Abbey" season five will be Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Jim Carter, Penelope Wilton, Phyllis Logan, Samantha Bond, Laura Carmichael, Lily James, Allen Leech, Brendan Coyle, Joanne Froggatt, Lesley Nicol, Sophie McShera, Rob James-Collier, Ed Speleers, Kevin Doyle, Raquel Cassidy, David Robb, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Daisy Lewis, Douglas Reith, Jeremy Swift and Andrew Scarborough.

"Downton Abbey" hit a new record high in season four in America. The season premiere averaged 15 million viewers, up 39% from last season's opening.

The fourth season of "Downton Abbey" ends on Feb. 23.  Downton Abbey season five will premiere in the fall in England and winter 2015 in America.