Gloucester-born Soprano Mary-Jess Leaverland is set to be heard on the big screen in one of the country’s most anticipated films of the year.

The ‘Downton Abbey’ movie comes out on Friday 13th September and will feature Mary-Jess singing on the film’s main theme, after she was asked by the series' and film's composer John Lunn.

“I couldn’t believe it when he asked me” said Mary-Jess.

“I’d love to be able to sit here and tell you that I was very professional about it, but I was just so excited I did a little jump on the spot and said, ‘Oh my goodness John do you mean it?! That would be amazing! I’m so excited!’ so loudly that everyone else in the room turned round to see what was going on! I couldn’t stop smiling for days.”

The film picks up from the popular ITV series, which ran from 2010 to 2015, and revolves around the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Downton.

It stars Downton regulars Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville and Jim Carter, as well as newcomers Imelda Staunton and Tuppence Middleton.

When she was asked, Mary-Jess admits that she had watched a few episodes but wasn’t actually fully up to date with what was going on in the series.

She continued: “I was asked halfway through the second series, and at that time I was just finishing a 23 date UK tour with tenor Russell Watson.

“All focus had been on the tour and preparing for the recording, so I often wasn’t near a TV when it was being broadcast.

“I’d watched the majority of the first series and loved it, so I saw recording the theme as a good excuse to buy the box set of series one and two and watch them one after another once the tour was over. It was a great excuse to sit and relax for a bit after travelling all over the UK on the tour.”

And whilst Mary-Jess was happy to sit down and catch up with Lady Mary and the other characters, her husband Rich was less happy.

“He moaned a bit about me taking over the TV,” she added, “but after a few episodes it was him asking if we could watch the next one! He was hooked and still is, not that he’ll admit it!”

Award-winning lyricist Don Black was asked to write the lyrics for the theme and chose the title, ‘Did I Make the Most of Loving You?’.

The song has since featured on the film’s trailer, as well as three official Downton Abbey albums.

The ‘real life’ Downton Abbey is Highclere Castle in Hampshire, and Mary-Jess recently visited alongside a handful of cast members on a day to raise money for the Armed Forces

“It really is a stunning place, I highly recommend a visit,” said Mary-Jess.

“I met Sophie McShera and Lesley Nicol who play Daisy and Mrs Patmore, as well as Allen Leech who plays Tom Branson.

“They were all so lovely and so generous with their time signing autographs for everyone, as you can imagine there was a long line of people wanting to meet them!”

Mary-Jess will also be returning to Gloucestershire this December with her tour ‘Christmas at the Musicals’.

“I asked my friend Joanna Forest to join me on stage for Christmas at the Musicals last year and it was just so successful that we’ve turned it in to a full tour for this year,” said Mary-Jess.

“Not only does Joanna have an amazing voice, but she’s one of the most inspirational people I’ve ever met. At age 21 she nearly died from breast cancer, but she beat the horrible disease and has since gone on to achieve her dream of creating a UK Classical Number One selling album, not once, but twice!

“It’ll be so much fun to share the stage with her again and I just can’t wait to bring the show home to Gloucestershire.”

Christmas at the Musicals will be at The Bacon Theatre in Cheltenham on Friday 13th December. Tickets are available from www.mary-jess.com and from the Bacon Theatre box office.

For more information, please email maryjessmusic@gmail.com or call 07722 844323.

You can read more about Mary-Jess' music here