GEORGE Clooney swaps Hollywood for Highclere Castle as he is seen for the first time on the set of Downton Abbey, alongside co-star Hugh Bonneville.

Clooney has filmed a special spin-off sketch of the hit period drama for ITV's annual Text Santa appeal, to be screened later this month.

In the first images to be released from the programme, the pair - who worked together on the film The Monument Men - are seen with a clapperboard in front of a Christmas tree.

His co-stars previously said they were unsure he would be appearing until he turned up on set.