‘Downton Abbey’ creator weighs in on 2016 race

The creator of “Downton Abbey,” a conservative member of Britain’s House of Lords, says he considers Hillary Clinton a “more convincing world politician” than the rest of the 2016 White House hopefuls.

Julian Fellowes tells CNN’s Michael Smerconish in clips released Tuesday, “I think [Clinton] has a grasp of the political language, what’s happening in the world, where others seem — without naming any names — seem rather insular in their approach.”

{mosads}Fellowes, executive producer of the popular PBS British period drama, which premieres its final season on Sunday, adds of the Democratic front-runner and former first lady, “When she first was in the White House as Mrs. Bill, I think she seemed less broad-minded and seem to have less of a grasp than she has now. But now, after she’s been secretary of State and everything, she seems to me a stateswoman.

“And I also feel, as much as I’m allowed to have an opinion about America’s government, to see a woman president — it’s about time.”

Fellowes isn’t as quick to praise the GOP presidential race’s leader, Donald Trump.

“While I’m sure Mr. Trump has many merits and of course great skills and talents in the ways he’s managed a career, whether he is exactly how I’d define a politician is perhaps something that I don’t know I have anything useful to say on,” he says.

The full interview with Fellowes airs Saturday on “Smerconish” on CNN.