What dilemmas and drama set for third series of 'Downton Abbey'?

SMALL PRINT: DOWNTON ABBEYfans everywhere are rejoicing at the news that the hit ITV period drama has been given a third series, set to air in September 2012. Along with a Christmas special, it's a drama that keeps on giving and already rumours are whirring about what ground the third series will cover, even though it's only set to go into production early next year.

In between the first and second series, two years were skipped, seeing the inhabitants of Downtonfast-forwarding from 1914 at the end of series one, to 1916 during the Battle of the Somme up to the Armistice of 1918 in series two. The third series will fast-forward another two years at least, and will be set post-Armistice in the 1920s.

So, given Downton Abbey's penchant for drawing heavily from historical events, what possible storylines could series three follow?

The Irish War of Independencecontinues until 1921. Along with the anti-English sentiment that followed Bloody Sunday in November 1920, this could provide some kind of story arc for Irishman Tom Branson, currently engaged in a rather messy love affair with Lady Sybil Crawley.

In May 1920, Joan of Arc was canonised. Perhaps this will inspire Lady Mary to become a ruthless cross-dressing revolutionary. Or maybe not.

The context of the Roaring Twentiesin general. Although Europe's economy didn't start bearing fruit until halfway into the decade, we should expect a general increase in consumer spending around Downton along with advances in technology considering Marconi had begun his experimental radio station in Essex in 1920 and the advance on the Model T, the Aeroford.

Perhaps the kitchen staff will find it hard to come to terms with a new wave of consumer products and appliances that typified the 1920s.

Although one can't imagine the Dowager Countess slurping from a bottle of Coca-Cola, which went on sale in Selfridge's in the early 1920s.