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Japan Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
'Downton Abbey' fans pay homage to 'beautiful' props before finale
A clapper board used in the production of the film 'Downton Abbey: A New Era' By Caroline TAÏX As "Downton Abbey" draws to a close in September, some fans took solace by getting close to memorable props and costumes from the much-loved British saga as they went on sale Monday. Everyone has their favorite piece, including Charlie Thomas of London's Bonhams auction house which is holding the sale. He had no hesitation in highlighting the "bell wall", the servant's call system which appears from the first series to the last, as his favourite item. "Just to prove it's a working bell, look at that -- I expect someone's going to deliver tea in a minute," he joked while testing out the item, which is valued between £6,000 and £8,000. Thomas, who is in charge of the auction, suspects that it will smash its pre-sale valuation. The online sale began on Monday and will end on September 16, with the public invited to an exhibition of all the items before they go under the hammer. "We've already had a huge amount of interest coming from across the globe, especially from America, from Europe, a lot from northern Europe, from Asia," he added. "People have sort of fallen in love with these characters". The television series, created by Julian Fellowes, first aired in the UK in 2010 before conquering the world. It tells the story of the wealthy aristocratic Crawley family and their servants over a 30-year period, spanning six seasons and 52 episodes. More than 120 million viewers worldwide have seen the show, according to Bonhams. Two films were released in 2019 and 2022 and a third, "The Grand Finale", is due out on September 12. It will focus on divorce and the Crawley's survival in a constantly changing world. Visitors to the exhibition on Monday viewed the pieces with a reverential eye, with one woman taking a long look at the cane used by Violet Crawley, played by Maggie Smith, who died in September 2024. "It's a beautiful item," she told AFP, without giving her name. "I would like to buy the cane for my mother-in-law who is turning 70, but I am not sure how she'll take it," she added, with a smile. Other highlights include Lord and Lady Grantham's 1925 Sunbeam saloon car, which still runs (valued between £25,000 and £35,000), the dress worn by Lady Mary at her wedding to Matthew Crawley (valued between £3,000 and £5,000), and a pair of harem pants belonging to Lady Sybil, valued similarly. "My favorite piece(s) right now are just all the dresses. I don't think I could even pick one, they're all just so beautiful," said Hailey Bradley, a 23-year-old American living in London. "It's so glamorous," added Bradley, who described herself as "a big fan." Lucia Campara, an Italian woman from Milan, came with her husband and their 11-year-old daughter, Giulia. She organized the family holiday with the goal of visiting important places in Jane Austen's life, and discovering the worlds of "Harry Potter" and "Downton Abbey." "It's a unique occasion to see all those objects that will soon disappear," she explained. But Campara does not plan to bid, saying: "The best pieces will cost too much and anyway, it is not something you would use in your daily life." Jenny Foster, an 85-year-old British woman, was particularly interested in 1920s dresses, as she expressed her disappointment that the saga was coming to an end. "In fact, I shall probably watch it all again anyway now, because I've forgotten some of it now," she said. The proceeds from the sale will be donated to UK children's charity "Together for Short Lives". © 2025 AFP
Japan Today
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Tens of thousands join pro-Palestinian marches across Europe
There have been monthly protests in the British capital since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas By Caroline TAÏX Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched in European cities Saturday calling for an end to the war in Gaza, amid concerns the Iran-Israel conflict could spark wider regional devastation. In London, AFP journalists saw tens of thousands of protesters, who waved Palestinian flags as they marched through the British capital clad in keffiyeh scarves. In Berlin, more than 10,000 people gathered in the centre of the city in support of Gaza, according to police figures. And in the Swiss capital Bern, march organizers estimated that 20,000 people rallied in front of the national parliament, urging the government to back a ceasefire. There have been monthly protests in the British capital since the start of the 20-month-long war between Israel and Hamas, which has ravaged Gaza. This Saturday, protesters there carried signs including "Stop arming Israel" and "No war on Iran" as they marched in the sweltering heat. "It's important to remember that people are suffering in Gaza. I fear all the focus will be on Iran now," said 34-year-old Harry Baker. "I don't have great love for the Iranian regime, but we are now in a dangerous situation." This was his third pro-Palestinian protest, he added. Saturday's marches comes amid heightened global tensions as the United States mulls joining Israel's strikes against Iran. Tehran said Saturday that more than 400 people had been killed in Iran since Israel launched strikes last week claiming its arch-foe was close to acquiring a nuclear weapon, which Iran denies. Some 25 people have been killed in Israel, according to official figures. One marcher in London, a 31-year-old Iranian student who did not want to share her name, told AFP she had family in Iran and was "scared". "I'm worried about my country. I know the regime is not good but it's still my country. I'm scared," she said. Gaza is suffering from famine-like conditions according to UN agencies in the region following an Israeli aid blockade. Gaza's civil defense agency has reported that hundreds have been killed by Israeli forces while trying to reach the US- and Israeli-backed aid distribution sites. "People need to keep their eyes on Gaza. That's where the genocide is happening," said 60-year-old protester Nicky Marcus. In Berlin, demonstrators gathered mid-afternoon close to the parliament, some chanting "Germany finances, Israel bombs". "You can't sit on the sofa and be silent. Now is the time when we all need to speak up," said protester Gundula, who did not want to give her second name. For Marwan Radwan, the point of the protest was to bring attention to the "genocide currently taking place" and the "dirty work" being done by the German government. In Bern, demonstrators carried banners calling on the federal government to intervene in the war in Gaza, expressing solidarity with Palestinians. The rally there was called by organizations including Amnesty International, the Social Democratic Party, the Greens and the Swiss Trade Union Federation. Slogans included "Stop the occupation", "Stop the starvation, stop the violence", and "Right to self-determination". Some marchers chanted: "We are all the children of Gaza". The overall death toll in Gaza since the war broke out has reached at least 55,637 people, according to the health ministry. Israel has denied it is carrying out a genocide and says it aims to wipe out Hamas after the Islamist group's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people. © 2025 AFP
