LIKE a hot water bottle on a cold night, or a dollop of buttery mashed potato, Downton Abbey has long been a great comfort to us Brits.
Since first swept into our lives in 2010, we have followed the Crawley family and their faithful staff through the sinking of the Titanic, World War One and the Spanish influenza.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale has a phenomenal cast that carries the film
Elizabeth McGovern and Hugh Bonneville in a scene from the film
And so now, at last, it is time to say goodbye, with the last of three from the beloved franchise.
We meet the gang in all their finery during the summer of 1930, where the newly-divorced Mary Crawley () has become a disgrace in society.
We see her being frogmarched out of a party as her legal separation is deemed to bring shame on her family.
Not that her ever-supporting parents, Cora () and Robert () agree, of course.
Things then go from slightly-bad to slightly-worse when the family run into financial trouble, all thanks to Cora’s brother Harold (a dazed looking Paul Giamatti) and his slimy pal Gus (Alessandro Nivola), who turn up at Downton to share the news of their bad business deals with the family money.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Mr Carson (Jim Carter) has retired, but cannot stop himself polishing cutlery and generally interfering in the running of the staff.
And Joseph (Kevin Doyle) is working on writing a film script with, what I assume, is meant to be passion.
Doyle dials it up far too much though, appearing manic — as though he will set fire to everything if his work is not discovered.
It’s all very in The Shining.
There is also a side story about Isobel (Penelope Wilton) being on the committee for the village fair — a role once taken by Violet (the late ).
Fans get plenty of teary-eyed moments remembering our great Dame, with the sweeping cameras entering the Downton lobby showing a huge painting of her.
So, as you have probably guessed, it is all as gentle as a butterfly’s wing.
There is little to no jeopardy, the staff seem so delighted to be servants they would take a pay cut immediately, the strict 1930s class lines get very blurred and everyone talks to each other in a terribly jolly nice way indeed.
One of the best performances is from as the excitable and theatrical Guy Dexter.
But the standout is definitely Dockery, who is typically cool and emotionless in the face of adversity.
While it all feels a little dusty and over-sweetened, the sleek glamour of the fine outfits, rich scenery, top cast and that beloved theme tune sees it through.
One for the fans — who will find it as comforting as a serving of their mum’s Sunday roast.
At last, it is time to say goodbye to Downton Abbey 
