Downton Abbey stars asked to clear their diaries for film

Downton Abbey star Phyllis Logan has indicated a long-awaited movie could be filmed in 2018.

The actress, who played housekeeper Mrs Hughes in the ITV series, has said a new script has been completed and filming dates set for the new year.

She told the Mail on Sunday the cast have been consulted about when they are available and added: "There's a potential script coming our way, slightly rewritten."

She added: "Everyone's been asked what's going on between this date and that date.

"So we just hope that all the elements - because there are so many - come together. To have a last hurrah with all the characters, going back to the castle and seeing all the old muckers will be fantastic. I'm certainly up for it."

The last time Downton Abbey was on television was Christmas Day of 2015.

Series creator Julian Fellowes previously told the Press Association that filming a big-screen version of the period drama would begin immediately if it was up to him.

He said he thinks the fact the show created such big stars, including Michelle Dockery and Lily James, will make it harder for the film to come together, because the actors are scattered around the world working on other projects.

Lord Fellowes said: "I'm pro it, I'm not resisting but logistically I think it's quite hard because it's a very big cast and you would want to get all of them, or pretty well all of them, and they are all on Broadway or in Hollywood and so on and we would have to find this magic window."

Additional reporting by the Press Association