Gary Carr cast as ‘Downton Abbey’s’ first black character

Actor Gary Carr has joined the cast of the popular British drama Downton Abbey and will be the show’s first black character.

ITV, which airs the show in the U.K., made the announcement today. Carr will play Jack Ross, a charming jazz singer who is described by the network as a “charismatic young man.”

“We are delighted to introduce another fantastic, dynamic character to Downton Abbey,” Carnival Films’ Managing Director Gareth Neame said. “His addition will bring interesting twists to the drama which we can’t wait for viewers to see in Series four.”

Carr is one of several new additions to the cast for the show’s fourth series. Other new cast members include Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Nigel Harman, Joanna David and Dame Harriet Walter. Shirley MacLaine is returning, as are Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery and Jim Carter.

Carr’s credits include the U.K. series Bluestone 42 and Death in Paradise.

ITV promised that the new season will include eight episodes, starting with a Christmas 2013 episode that will be feature length.

According to The New York Times, PBS, which airs the show in the U.S., hasn’t set a premiere date for Downton Abbey’s fourth season.

image: ITV