Downton Abbey will end its run following its upcoming sixth season. Producer Carnival Films made the announcement on Thursday.
The production company’s managing director, Gareth Neame, had the following to say.
“Millions of people around the world have followed the journey of the Crawley family and those who serve them for the last five years. Inevitably there comes a time when all shows should end, and Downton is no exception. We wanted to close the doors of Downton Abbey when it felt right and natural for the storylines to come together and when the show was still being enjoyed so much by its fans. We can promise a final season full of all the usual drama and intrigue, but with the added excitement of discovering how and where they all end up …”
According to a report from the Hollywood Reporter, this isn’t a complete shock, as many have speculated as much for a while now.
.@DowntonAbbey's sixth season will be its last. Producers reveal what to expect: http://t.co/Wge2AvTzeH pic.twitter.com/9SfuzgZ8hk
— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 26, 2015
Creator and writer Julian Fellowes said, “The Downton journey has been amazing for everyone aboard. People ask if we knew what was going to happen when we started to make the first series and the answer is that, of course we had no idea. Exactly why the series had such an impact and reached so many people around the world, all nationalities, all ages, all types, I cannot begin to explain. But I do know how grateful we are to have been allowed this unique experience. I suspect the show will always be a principal marker in most of our careers as we set out from here, and if so, I consider that a blessing and a compliment.”
Season five of Downton Abbey premiered in January. Production for season six is said to start filming a little later in 2015.
“At its heart, television is about storytelling, and Downton Abbey is certainly storytelling as Downton Abbey and the Crawley family have kept us on the edge of our seats as they navigate through some of the biggest moments of the 20th century,” Paula Kerger, PBS President and CEO, said a while back. “Along with our member stations, PBS can’t wait to share the next season of Downton drama with our audiences.”
Downton Abbey stars Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Lily James, Joanne Froggatt, Jim Carter, and Maggie Smith.
Are you among Downton Abbey fans who are disappointed to learn that the show’s sixth season will be its last?