Downton Abbey's Rob James-Collier is panicking his character will be written out of the series.
The actor plays Thomas Barrow in the ITV period drama and loves the role, but is constantly worried he'll be axed because of his character's twisted behaviour.
Rob James-Collier / Credit: ITVHe said: "I check for death first in every script - the first thing I want to know is, 'Am I alive at the end?'"
The show's fifth series kicks off this coming weekend and is to see the blackmailing under-butler increasure the pressure on new lady's maid Phyllis Baxter (Raquel Cassidy).
Viewers have been guessing since the 2013 Christmas special just what his hold over Phyllis is and whether she'll be able to give up the information he needs to take down arch-rival John Bates (Brendan Coyle).
Rob believes that Thomas keeping his sexuality a secret is key to his scheming.
"It's finally dawned on Thomas he isn't going to be allowed to love and he may give up in that department.
"I just want to play whatever leads to drama and with Thomas that is rooted in his sexuality.
"At the time it was illegal and against God to be gay, so he's got this tremendous cross to bear.
"I want to see how he deals with that year on year and how different characters coming in evolve that."
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