After World War II, the major estates really did collapse.

He was also Valentine in The Two Gentlemen of Verona Bergetto in 'Tis Pity She's a Whore Kastril and later Surly in The Alchemist. In 2004 he played Sir Christopher Wren in the docudrama Wren – The Man Who Built Britain. His early roles were usually good-natured bumbling characters like Bernie in Notting Hill (1999) and Mr.

He is most well known for starring in the ITV hit television series Downton Abbey and the BBC London Olympics mockumentary comedy series Twenty Twelve. Hugh Bonneville also starred in Mr Stink with Pudsey the Dog the winner of Britain's Got Talent and also as Bernie in Notting Hill.