The Earl of Grantham wants to share a cuppa with you, a local celebrity turns her hand to writing, Jennifer Aniston’s got a case of the babies in a new commercial, Emmy nominees reveal their favourite shows, and in our recurring feature on weird TV we look inside the world of the Amish.

'Downton Abbey' fans have a chance to enjoy some tea and sympathy with actor Hugh Bonneville.

Bonneville, who plays the Earl of Grantham, is offering up his company over high tea for one lucky bidder, with all proceeds going to the Starship Spring Clean appeal.

The highly anticipated third season of 'Downton Abbey' starring Shirley McLaine debuted this week in the UK.

Bidding closes Thursday 20 September at 3.30pm, so go shake out your Edwardian piggy bank now!

It’s talent quest musical chairs as Shakira and Usher are rumoured to be taking the pre-warmed seats of Christina Aguilera and Cee-Lo on 'The Voice'.

Following on from Keith Urban’s defection from 'The Voice Australia' to 'American Idol', rumours are rife that Christina has been eager to depart for some time, and that Cee-Lo wants to concentrate on new projects.

However, remaining judges Adam Levine and Blake Shelton aren’t willing to end their sizzling bro-mance just yet.

Barn raising and storming with the Amish

American cable channel TLC’s new reality series 'Breaking Amish' follows five young Amish people embarking on Rumspringa, a rite of passage where they experience life in the modern world before returning to their convenience-free culture.

The Amish community adheres to strict religious principles and live a self-sufficient lifestyle devoid of common creature comforts like electricity, motor vehicles and TV. If you’ve seen the Harrison Ford movie 'Witness', you’ll know they’re also not keen on sexy clothing embellishments such as buttons, so imagine their shock at wearing evil jeans for the first time.

In this clip, these religious renegades swap their hessian frocks for booze and bikinis and sample the irresistible witchcraft of light switches.

Mandy Patinkin, ('The Princess Bride') co-star of TV3’s 'Homeland' returning soon for a second season, says he regrets his time on police procedural drama 'Criminal Minds'.

Mandy, (short for Mandel, sadly not Mandrake) said he was disheartened by his two seasons on the popular series.

"I thought it was something very different. I never thought they were going to kill and rape all these women every night, every day, week after week, year after year. It was very destructive to my soul and my personality. After that, I didn’t think I would get to work in television again," the actor told New York magazine.

Patinkin was full of praise for his new series 'Homeland', and his Emmy winning co-star Claire Danes, nominated again this year for her role as CIA agent Carrie Mathison.

"I tell you, she is one of our great gifts as an artist to be cherished and nurtured and cared for. She is a tremendous gift, and I am one of the privileged people to get to be with her and learn from her every day."

U.S. cable channel A&E has tapped Freddie Highmore to play Norman Bates in a TV prequel of Alfred Hitchcock’s 'Psycho'.

Highmore, 20, best known for his roles as Charlie in 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and 'Finding Neverland' looks set to leave his past as a cute child actor behind to play the infamous on-screen psychopath.

Bolstered by the success of horror serials such as 'American Horror Story' and 'Grimm', the serial TV drama titled 'Bates Motel' begins production in October. Actress Vera Farmiga ('Up In The Air') has been cast as the Norman’s mother, Norma Bates.

It’s an exciting time to be Kimberley Crossman; last month it was announced she would be guest starring on NCIS Los Angeles with Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J. Now the former 'Shortland Street' star has published her first book, adding author to her growing resume.

Crossman says of her self-help manifesto, "I wish when I was younger that I had had a book like this to refer to."

In 'Love YOU: Be Your Best And Live Your Dreams', Crossman "reflects on important influences in her life and shares how she overcame challenges to achieve her dream of being an actor and entertainer", and offers up her top tips, for achieving your goals, such as being born blonde and adorable. We kid!

'Love YOU: Best Your Best And Live Your Dreams' will available for purchase late October.

Jennifer Aniston’s latest commercial for Smartwater pokes fun at the rumours surrounding the former 'Friends' star and first Mrs. Brad Pitt.

In 'leaked security footage' of Jennifer at home we see her pregnant with triplets (either that or terrible SmartWater bloat) and poolside with her secret children, played by talk show host Jimmy Kimmel and an alien midget.

In the humourous spot, Jennifer also reveals what’s lurking under her famous 'Rachel' hairstyle.

This year’s Emmy nominees were canvassed on their favourite shows were growing up.

Christina Hendricks, nominated for the third time for her role as Joan on 'Mad Men', chose classic sitcom 'M.A.S.H' and cult favourite 'Northern Exposure' as her all-time must-see TV.

"Both of them had a sense of real community and camaraderie among the cast, a sense of friendship in this world that I remember responding to," Hendricks said.

Nicole Kidman is up for her first Emmy this year for her role as Martha Gellhorn opposite Clive Owen in the TV movie "Hemingway & Gellhorn." Kidman said her favourite shows as a child were the 'The Brady Bunch' and unsurprisingly, considering her role as Samantha in the big screen version, 'Bewitched.'

Like so many of us, Jesse Tyler Ferguson ('Modern Family') and Zooey Deschanel ('New Girl') were big fans of 'The Cosby Show' and had dreams of joining the Huxtables.

"It felt very familiar," Tyler Ferguson said, "and I wanted desperately to be a part of that family."