DORSET writer and director Julian fellowes took his seat in the House of Lords as a Conservative peer.

The creator of hit television series Downton Abbey was one of three new coalition peers inducted into the upper House today.

Lord Fellowes of West Stafford, whose title comes from a village near Dorchester where he lives, wore the traditional red, white and gold ermine robes while he swore his allegiance to the Queen in a brief ceremony of introduction.

Mr Fellowes said he was “very pleased and flattered” when he was included in a list of new working peers announced in November.

He said: “It’s very interesting to me because I’m quite political and this gives me the opportunity to have a political career in supporting causes, charities and other things I already support so hopefully I can be a bit more helpful and useful to them.”

Mr Fellowes has been a longstanding Conservative supporter and helped to write speeches for former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith.

His ITV period drama Downton Abbey has just finished its first series and, after it proved popular, he has been asked to pen a second series, with filming starting next month.