With the dark shadows of the First World War looming over Downton Abbey, life upstairs and downstairs will never be the same again.

For scullery maid Daisy Robinson, the war has brought a surprise marriage proposal.

Hit ITV period drama Downton Abbey, which picked up four Emmy awards in America this week, is back on our screens in an eagerly-awaited second series.

Eccleshill actress Sophie McShera, who plays sweet Daisy, is relishing the changes sweeping through the Edwardian country house.

“War changes everything. Daisy becomes entwined in a romance with William. It’s not like a normal courtship because he’s been called up to serve in the army. So he wants to move quickly and marry her right away,” says Sophie.

“It’s difficult for her. She loves William as a friend and wants to do the right thing. Mrs Patmore, the cook, and others advise her to be kind and see him off to war with happy thoughts and her photograph. She doesn’t want to let him down, but does she love him?”

Daisy was a popular character in the first series. “I think it’s because she’s a good all-round person,” says Sophie, 26. “You’re rooting for her because she’s an underdog. But Daisy is also aspirational, she wants to learn and to be better.

“I love her, she’s so open, honest and naive. She’s also really funny. People can relate to her character and her relationships with people both upstairs and downstairs. She has a great relationship with Mrs Patmore. Even though she’s her boss, it’s like a mother-daughter relationship.”

It seems everyone is hooked on Downton Abbey, which pulled in 12 million viewers last week. Why has it struck such a chord with viewers?

“It’s about a different time, but the issues are the same as ones we confront today,” says Sophie. “Relationships are always going to be the same – it’s just the circumstances that are different.”

A former pupil of St Joseph’s College, Sophie did a drama degree in London before landing roles in TV dramas Waterloo Road, Survivors and Emmerdale.

In Downton Abbey, she’s acting alongside the likes of Dame Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern. The only downside of being part of a star-studded, internationally-popular TV drama is that, as a lowly kitchen maid, Sophie doesn’t get to wear glamorous dresses like the ladies of the house.

“Daisy is the lowest of the low in the household. She rarely makes it upstairs,” says Sophie. “I had grease put on my hair and black make-up under my fingernails which I couldn’t get off – but I wouldn’t swap playing Daisy for the world.”

Downton Abbey is on ITV on Sundays at 9pm.