Dan Stevens still feels bad over how Matthew left ‘Downton Abbey’ 

star Dan Stevens has revealed that he’s “still apologising” to fans who were upset by his exit from the show.

His character, Matthew Crawley, was killed in a car accident just moments after his wife Mary had given birth during the final episode of the period drama’s third season – which aired on Christmas Day in the UK!

: “The way Matthew went was out of my hands – but it was rather shocking.”

He added: “There were some very upset people and I’ve had to apologise to a lot of people over the past four years. But I take it as a compliment that Matthew was so loved on the show.”

At least the 34-year-old English actor’s decision to leave

] though – so hopefully people are seeing what I have been up to and are beginning to understand why I wanted to move on.”

 when it arrives in cinemas this November, playing author Charles Dickens.

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