Michelle Obama requests, receives 'Downton' sneak peek

LONDON, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. first lady Michelle Obama requested Britain's ITV send her Season 3 of "Downton Abbey" on DVD before it debuts in America this January, show sources said.

The third season of the iconic English costume drama aired in the United Kingdom this fall and will run on PBS in the United States this winter.

"We know it's very popular in America as it's so quintessentially British," a show insider told The Sun newspaper in London. "We'd heard the Obamas liked to watch it but we were very surprised when someone from the first lady's office got in touch asking for the series. They were very polite and we were more than happy to sort out some DVDs for them to send over. Obviously, we hope they keep the spoilers to themselves as our U.S. fans may not know about ... well, you know what."