He took over as butler following Carson's retirement in the series finale.

But Thomas Barrow will be set for a shocking demotion in the long-awaited Downton Abbey movie, as Lord Grantham asks for the retired Charles Carson to return to his position ahead of the upcoming royal visit.

In an exclusive first look at the film Thomas is furious as he asked to step aside, and despite His Lordship's suggestions of how could fill the position, the butler snaps that he 'won't be a sort of anything' and storms out.

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Dramatic: Thomas Barrow will be set for a shocking demotion in an exclusive clip from the long-awaited Downton Abbey movie

In the short clip, Lord Grantham (played by Hugh Bonneville) prepares to address Thomas (Rob James-Collier) about the household development.

His daughter Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) is also present, and begins the meeting by revealing: 'Carson is going to move back into the house for the royal visit.'

Carson (Jim Carter) can be seen standing close by having been asked to come out of his retirement and return to his former position.

He's back! In the clip it's revealed that retired butler Charles Carson has been invited back to his position to oversee the upcoming royal vitis

Shocking: Lord Grantham and Lady Mary break the news to Thomas, who took over as butler at the end of series in 2015

Raging: Thomas agreed to stand aside, but furiously insisted he wouldn't be a 'sort of anything'

Of course Thomas is furious by the news, after years of working as a footman for the iconic household.

He asks his Lordship: 'You are coming back as the Butler when I am the Butler here Can I ask how long this has been planned my lord?'

As Lord Grantham starts: 'I wouldn't exactly say planned...' Thomas chimes in by adding: 'Because I don't quite understand where it leaves me... with your permission I'd rather not be a sort of anything.

Uncomfortable: As Thomas storms out, Lord Grantham and Mary sarcastically agree that the discussion 'went well'

Awkward: Thomas also announces that the house is having troubles with the boiler, but Carson is quick to step in and offer a solution

Questions: It remains to be seen whether the royal visit will run smoothly given the clear tensions that are surfacing below stairs

'I will surrender my position for the duration of the visit if I must, and serve you again when their majesties have gone...'

Delivering a final statement before slamming the door, the acid-tongued servant adds: 'By the way, the boiler's playing up and there's no hot water.'

Before Mary sarcastically notes that the meeting 'went well,' Carson is quickly on hand with a solution to the boiler problem, saying: 'Not to worry, the plumber will have it mended in no time my lady, and we'll bring water jugs up to the bedroom tonight and in the morning. It can't be that hard... we did it for 300 years.'

The exclusive clip comes as fans eagerly await the release of the Downton Abbey movie, almost four years after the series came to an end.

Hugh Bonneville teased the possibility of a second Downton Abbey movie being made in the future, as he discussed the TV show's hotly-anticipated feature-length adaptation with The Mirror earlier this month.

The actor, 55, seemed very keen to return to the franchise, as he admitted: 'When we started filming, I thought this is going to be a nice full stop, but there is such an appetite for it, I can see it carrying on. I'd never say never!'

Epic: Fans have been eagerly awaiting the upcoming film adaptation, which sees many of the show's original cast return to reprise their roles

Hugh added that stepping out on the film set wasn't that different to making the beloved British TV show, as it just felt like 'a bigger table.'

And of returning to the characters in a feature-length setting, he said: 'Here we all were eight years later. As we looked around the room there were grins of "can you believe we're here again"!'

The actor reprises his role of Lord Grantham in the film, a role he first played in 2010, and stars alongside Dame Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, and Laura Carmichael.

The movie is set to follow the characters as they try to keep afloat following the announcement of a royal visit by King George V and Queen Mary, who will be played by newcomers Simon Jones and Geraldine James.

The TV series, which aired on ITV from September 2010 until Christmas Day 2015, followed the lives of the aristocratic household during the early 20th century.

Earlier this year, Michelle couldn't hide her delight at being able to return to her iconic role as she discussed the new film.

Speaking to In Style magazine, she said: 'Three years, but it felt like no time had passed at all. [I realised] I’d taken some things for granted. Like driving up to that house [the setting for Downton Abbey], it honestly took my breath away.'

While Oscar-nominated actress Imelda Staunton said the experience of filming the project was like 'a nice box of chocolates'.

Speaking to The Mirror, she said: 'It was like a nice box of chocolates. It was just luxury. I’ve done seven years of hardcore theatre, where it just beats me all the time, but this was great.'

Downtown Abbey is scheduled for a 13 September release in the UK.