Phyllis Logan has recalled an encounter with a ‘mad’ Downton Abbey fan, who revealed she had had herself tattooed with a key prop from the period drama

Phyllis recalled the fan interaction during a pre-recorded chat on Wednesday’s Loose Women with Coleen Nolan(Image: ITV)

Phyllis Logan has recalled an encounter with a ‘mad’ Downton Abbey fan. The actress, 69, stars as head housekeeper Mrs Hughes on the period drama franchise, and as the whole thing heads towards the end with Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, she recalled meeting one super fan who was very taken with her character.

In the series, which stared out as an ITV drama more than a decade ago, Mrs Hughes is known for as keeper of the keys, and Phyllis remembered her shock when someone came up to her at a convention and revealed she’d had them tattooed on her hip but confirmed that she has actually been able to keep her signature prop from the programme.

During a pre-recorded chat on Wednesday’s Loose Women with panellist Coleen Nolan, she said: “I met somebody at one of these Comic Cons. This mad Downton fan, she was dressed as Laura Dern from Jurassic Park, the next time I saw her she was dressed as a mummy. She said ‘Oh I love Downton Abbey,’ and she lifted up her shirt and she’d had my keys tattooed on her hip. Yes, I know, quite extreme! I have got the real keys though, I was given them!”

Phyllis stars as Mrs Hughes on the period drama series which is about to come to an end with the new film(Image: ITV)

Phyllis also admitted that when she was offered the part in the series, which also stars Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery and previously featured the late Dame Maggie Smith, she knew it would be a success – but wasn’t quite prepared for just how well it would be received around the world.

She said: “I thought this is going to have legs, I’m sure. I had no idea just quite how popular it was going to be. Around the world. I thought it would go down in Britain, but I had to idea that America or China would take it to their hearts.”

When the programme first started, the action took place after the Titanic disaster in 1912, and the series has progressed through the world war and is now set in the 1930s.

This time around, for the concluding film, which will be released on 12 September, the storyline focuses on Lady Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery) and her divorce, which has sparked public controversy At the same time, the household is confronting a monetary emergency, which might further tarnish their standing.

But Phyllis confirmed that she thinks the upcoming film is the final instalment of the whole thing is simply because their characters would not actually be around much longer. She said: “People are saying ‘Are we going to be doing another one?’ Can you imagine? We’d all be dead! I can’t see us going any further than the 1930s!”

But fans were recently given hope that more could be on the cards, as writer Julian Fellowes admitted when quizzed possibility of any spin-offs, that delving deeper into characters’ various facets can only truly be achieved through a television series.

The actress stars as head housekeeper Mrs Hughes in the beloved period drama franchise (Image: TV Grab)

He elaborated: “When you think of somebody like Thomas (Rob James-Collier), his evolution was very moving.”

Thomas Barrow was as a homosexual servant who originally appeared vindictive, yet discovered renewed purpose following his encounter with Guy Dexter (Dominic West), reports the Express.

Asked whether Thomas might be considered for his own programme, Fellowes responded: “I think you could make a case for many of them.”

He continued: “I like to write characters where the audience changes their mind about them and I hope they did with Thomas.”

Nevertheless, he acknowledged having “probably said most of what I’ve got to say”, leaving him uncertain whether such a venture might materialise.

“I don’t know…Every time I say ‘never’ in this business, I find six months later, I’m doing exactly what I said I’d never do,” he concluded.