Similarly to Anna, John Bates’ #DowntonAbbey journey is a rocky one. He is initially Robert Crawley’s valet, however faces prejudice from other members of staff due to injuries he sustained during the Boer war. Head housemaid Anna is the only one who is kind to him, and the couple soon fall in love. It is revealed that John has a difficult relationship with his ex-wife, a criminal whom he is wrongly accused of murdering. Although all charges against him are eventually cleared, he is sentenced to