And we thought Downton Abbey casting reports could not get more bizarre than last month's P. Diddy–generated rumor that P. Diddy would be joining the Julian Fellowes period drama. Today, though, the Rolling Stones trump P. Diddy's item with a report about the aging rock band that would seem completely ridiculous—had it not, in part, been confirmed by one cast member of the series.

"The Mirror reports—pause to grab the nearest Rolling Stones­–issue mug of salt—that Downton Abbey co-star Hugh Bonneville, who plays Lord Grantham and is apparently a friend of the group’s, is trying to recruit the band members for a cameo. “An insider” stage-whispered to the tabloid: "Obviously they wouldn't play themselves, but they could be a rag-tag bunch of travelling entertainers or even a circus act. It would be such a coup, and fun for the Stones. They really are huge fans of the show.”

Although this sounds like exquisite fan fiction that we, frankly, are disappointed we did not think of first, Downton Abbey co-star Laura Carmichael did substantiate a thread of the report last month. Speaking with The Sun—refill your mug with salt—Carmichael revealed that Hugh Bonneville, who plays Lord Grantham, is indeed friends with Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood.
She said: “Hugh has been hanging out with Ronnie and they have been having a great time. They met doing charity work and Ronnie told Hugh how much they loved Downton.
The story gets so much better though.

“Apparently they were stopping rehearsals on Sunday nights in time to get back to watch it.”
And better still.

Laura, 26 — Lady Edith in the hit ITV show — revealed how Mick Jagger, 69, even managed to ruin one of the storylines for Ronnie, 65. She said: “When Sybil passed away, Mick said to Ronnie, ‘Sad to hear about the girl.’ Ronnie replied, ‘I haven’t seen it yet — I recorded it.’ ”
Begin re-drafting your Rolling Stones concert posters accordingly to plead for a Downton Abbey cameo. And in the meantime, hold out hope that Lady Edith will get the Ryan Gosling–caliber love interest Carmichael has been desperately hoping for.

[www.vanityfair.com]