Watch Downton Abbey stars perform scene with American accents on The Late Show

Downton Abbey has proved popular in the US – but one chat show host wanted to witness a scene where the actors actually speak with American accents.

Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville and Allen Leech were on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert when the host decided to try out an experiment.

Colbert said: “One of the things that, I suspect, makes the show seem so alluring and seem in some ways like a fairy tale to us in the United States is just how plummy your accents are.

“I think that for Americans, we hear the accent and we think of it as very classy. So I’d like to try an experiment right now - can you guys try an American accent for me?”

Handing out scripts detailing a scene from the period drama, in which the characters are trying to figure out how to maintain the costs of the famous Abbey, he asked them to speak with their best American accents.

Lord Grantham actor Bonneville put on a very dramatic attempt while Dockery sounded like she would be suited to 90210.

But it was Leech who received the biggest cheers when he jumped in with a high pitched American accent, saying: “Hey guys…that may be hard to achieve.”

Viewers will bid farewell to Downton Abbey on Christmas Day when the series draws to a close.

Downton Abbey is on ITV at 8:45pm on December 25.