‘Downton Abbey’ cast heads to ... ‘Doc McStuffins’?

While fans patiently await the return of “Downton Abbey” to PBS early next year, they can get a comforting visit from several cast members in a most unusual place: Disney Junior’s animated series “Doc McStuffins.”

Joanne Froggatt, also known as Anna Bates; Lesley Nicol, who plays Mrs. Patmore; Matt Milne, who plays Alfred Nugent; Nigel Harman, who plays Mr. Green; and Robert Bathurst, who plays Sir Anthony Strallan, will all lend their voices to an upcoming episode of the series about a young girl whose doctorly aspirations have led her to run a clinic for banged-up toys in her backyard playhouse.

In the special longer episode, which airs Nov. 2, Doc travels back in time to 19th century England and helps Florence Nightingale become a nurse.

This won’t be an actual “Downton Abbey” crossover in that Doc won’t actually meet Lord Grantham or any of the characters from that show. But the voices of the people she does meet will sound awfully familiar.

Froggatt voices Florence Nightingale, Nicol plays a small porcelain doll named Pip, Milne portrays a teddy bear named Bernard, Harman plays a tin rooster named Doodle Doo and Bathurst is a toy admiral named Fiddlesticks.

Along with the special episode, Disney is also debuting a new series of “Doc McStuffins” shorts as part of the “Disney Magic of Healthy Living” initiative that encourages kids and families to make smart food and exercise choices.

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