The paaartays are always much more fun for journalists than celebs who tend to slink away terrified they're going to get interrogated. I can't imagine why Hugh Bonneville didn't show. 
After signing the dreadful confidentiality agreement we were given Julian Fellowes's daughter's book on the series (wonder what else she does to pay the mortgage?), a guide to Highclere Castle and some soon-to-be-out-of-date Highclere Castle fudge (you don't get rich by giving things away).
I gifted it to MIL who professes lofty disdain but is secretly thrilled by the world of snobbery.
Screening room was plush - note the tabloidspeak. I paced myself with water but some people had clearly partaken of the free drinks and many of them trundled in with a couple to stash under their seats .
Consequently there was a lot of raucous laughter at various points.
An acquaintance had a bit of an altercation with a girl in the row in front over the light from her mobile which was distracting him. She aggressively, and IMO, unnecessarily snarled at him that she: 'was fucking working' so we, who were also working, chose not to say that but instead acted all adult-like and bogged her out.
It gets like that. He was a bit precious but she was a dozy moo for pulling the: 'don't you know who I am?' line, to which the only answer must be: 'No, I fucking don't.'
Anyway, we were behind her, which is always the best position.
Press conference: Mr Bates is funny so I can forgive his stripey socks. Dan Stevens should lay off the Sun-In. Of course, he may be filming some 1980s period drama set in Chigwell in which case I will forgive him.
He's lost a bit of timber, which is good. However, he is still a bit jowly, which may be hereditary.
Quite a bit of champagne afterwards. Only mini mince pies to soak it up. Very nice mince pies but you really need something substantial such as mini hamburgers, fish and chips in novelty newspaper cones and potato wedges to avoid binge drink carnage.