Downton Abbey Star: No, We’re Not Killing Off ‘Isis’ Dog over Terror Name Link

In the current season of Downton Abbey, a dog named Isis has been stricken with cancer, fueling a rumor that the show might be killing the dog off because of the name it shares with the terrorist group. But one of the show’s stars insisted this week that’s not true.

Hugh Bonneville, who plays Lord Grantham on the show, took to his personal website to shoot down the rumor entirely (though he didn’t necessarily say the dog wouldn’t be killed off regardless).

Here’s Bonneville’s full statement:

To clarify recent speculation, the labrador that appeared in Series One (1912-14) was a dog called Pharaoh. From Series Two (1916-1920) onwards, the labrador has been a bitch named – in keeping with the Egyptian theme – Isis. Anyone who genuinely believes the Series 5 storyline (1924) involving the animal was a reaction to recent world news is a complete berk.

And while Downton Abbey may not have responded to such pressures, the popular FX show Archer is dropping the spy agency ISIS because of the unfortunate connection.

[h/t The Daily Beast]
[image via PBS]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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