Rob James-Collier: 'I'm wearing a wig in Downton!'

Ex-Coronation Street star Rob James-Collier has revealed he's wearing a very expensive wig during the current series of Downton Abbey.

The 37-year-old star normally sports luxuriant locks as scheming under butler Thomas Barrow, but just before shooting began on the new series he landed a role as a drugs dealer in upcoming British thriller Wayland's Song, which required him to have a skinhead cut.

He tells TV Times: "I begged Downton to let me shave my hair and they agreed – I bet they wish they hadn't after they'd seen the price of the wig - £4,000. They even put a few grey hairs into it, which was a bit harsh!"

Rob says the wig was so convincing that guest stars didn't notice at first.

"I'd be chatting to them for a couple of hours and then someone would adjust my hair and the star would go, 'Oh my God, it's a wig!'"

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David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.

Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough.

David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.

Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!