ITV has released a preview clip of Downton Abbey‘s upcoming Text Santa special, featuring special guest star George Clooney.

The annual charity appeal returns later this month with a three-hour fundraising show.

It’s Christmas at Downton and Lord Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville) seems to be facing financial ruin once again. He’s beginning to wonder if his family may be better off without him, but divine intervention in the form of a very special heavenly body gives him a view of what life would really be like without his guiding spirit.

Text Santa will air at 8pm on Friday 19 December on ITV, supporting six UK-based charities, including Teenage Cancer Trust, Guide Dogs, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Alzheimer’s Society, WellChild and Together for Short Lives.

Ant and Dec, Phillip Schofield and Christine Bleakley, and Paddy McGuinness and Alesha Dixon will each host an hour of this all-star cast and present their own special segments.

Downton Abbey returns to ITV on Christmas Day for the period drama’s traditional festive special.

> Buy the complete Season 1-5 boxset on Amazon.

Are you looking forward to Text Santa? Let us know below…