Allen Leech has got engaged.

Allen Leech

Allen Leech

The 'Downton Abbey' hunk - who was known for playing Tom Branson in the period drama - has announced that he and his girlfriend Jessica Blair Herman are set to tie the knot in the near future after he popped the question a little "while" ago.

Taking to his Instagram account yesterday (14.02.18), the 36-year-old actor uploaded a photograph of him and Jessica cuddling up to one another.

He accompanied it with the caption: "Happy Valentine's Day @jessicablairherman First one as a fiancé! Thank you for saying yes and for making me the happiest. (And no I didn't do it today. It's been a while.) xx (sic)"

Jessica then shared her own affectionate message online, writing: "The day you proposed was one of the best days but every day with you is my favorite. I love you! Happy Valentine's Day @therealleech! (sic)," followed by a heart emoji.

The couple began dating in 2016 after he split from presenter Charlie Webster.

Charlie said at the time: "We had an amazing time.

"There is no bad feeling at all. We are both very career minded. 'Downton Abbey' has just finished and he is going to go on to a huge career. And my career is really exciting. It was the wrong time for either of us to be in a long-term relationship."

Charlie previously admitted she had no idea who Allen was when they first met.

She said last year: "There is a running joke between us and the 'Downton' cast because I had no idea who he was when I met him. We were at a charity event for Centre Point in May. We were playing table football and I was thinking 'he's really lovely and very handsome and really funny, he's got a good smile'.

"We were being really competitive and I beat him. We just giggled so much and had such a good laugh. Then there was a quiz and we were having a lot of banter. I think that's why we clicked because we are really similar."