I've watched all four episodes over the last couple of days and have to say I'm throughly enjoying it. I've not read the book and although my daughters tell me I've seen the film, I don't remember it
so I have no expectations.
I agree that Martin Clunes can't believe his luck in nabbing such a juicy role, he's having a high old time, as is Frances De La Tour!
Did you know that Crawley's house in VF, Queen's Crawley, was filmed at a house in Sussex that Bamber Gascoigne, of University Challenge fame, inherited at the grand old age of 80? It's called West Horsley House, I think.