Allen Leech snapped back at photographers while filming scenes for Downton Abbey’s fifth season with Michelle Dockery in Bamton, Oxfordshire, England on Thursday.

Downton Abbey Filming

Leech, who plays Tom Branson on the hit BBC series, held up his cell phone to take a picture while decked out in his period costume during the afternoon on set. Beside him stood Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley, wearing a plum-colored suit. They appeared to be filming a scene on location in a meadow.

Also on set Thursday was Hugh Bonneville, who is returning to the show in the role as Lord Grantham. Bonneville’s appearance during the UK filming is notable, as Grantham was planning to head to the United States when Downton wrapped up its previous season.

Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes has been hoping to keep much of season 5’s plot a secret, which proves difficult when paparazzi snap pics of filming – but even harder when members of the cast share photos on Twitter. In an effort to cut down on plot leaks, Fellowes admitted earlier this month that he warned the actors not to tweet about filming.

"We had to explain to the cast about the dangers of tweeting as no one realized how interested everybody was in the show. You’re in a bubble when you’re filming," Fellowes told the Daily Telegraph. "You’re just tweeting these nice things and you don’t realize there are millions of people worldwide trying to pick up the plot."

Downton Abbey's fifth season will begin airing on the BBC in September.

– Chelsea Regan

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