67-year-old rocker Rod Stewart is downright obsessed with Downton Abbey and is now watching the popular period drama for the second time after introducing it to wife Penny Lancaster.  The pair have been quoted in the press as being in love its 'intelligent storytelling'. Steady on, Rod.

Stewart said: 'I've always enjoyed Downton Abbey but my wife didn't know much about it, so we recently went back to the beginning and watched it all again. It's really intelligent storytelling. Our favourite character is Lady Mary.'

However, if someone else in Rod's house wanted to watch a different programme while 'Downton Abbey' is on, that isn't a problem.

He added: 'We have a democratic house, so everyone watches what we want. We have more than one TV.'

Rod isn't the only famous fan of the British drama series.

It was recently claimed US First Lady Michelle Obama's office had got in touch with British network ITV to ask if they could send over the DVD of the third series as it is not due to air in the US until January.

A source said: 'We know it's very popular in America as it's so quintessentially British. We'd heard the Obamas liked to watch it but we were very surprised when someone from the First Lady's office got in touch asking for the series.'