Question: who did peter egan play in downton abbey
Answer: Peter Egan ( born 28 September 1946 ) is a British actor known for his TV roles , including Hogarth in Big Breadwinner Hog , the future King George IV of the United Kingdom in Prince Regent ( 1979 ) ; smooth neighbour Paul Ryman in the sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles ( 1984 -- 89 ) ; and Hugh `` Shrimpie '' MacClare , Marquess of Flintshire , in Downton Abbey ( 2012 -- 15 ) .