Downton Abbey to end after season six

ITV has confirmed that the sixth series of Downton Abbey will be the hit period drama’s last.

The official announcement, made by ITV and the show’s maker Carnival Films, puts to rest widespread rumours that creator Julian Fellowes was ready to call time on the series.

“The Downton journey has been amazing for everyone aboard,” said Fellowes, who wants to start focusing his attention on his long-awaited US drama The Gilded Age for NBC. “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.”

The show has been one of ITV’s biggest hits, averaging 11 million viewers across the five series and Christmas specials that have aired to date.

The show has also been a huge hit in the US, where it is broadcast on PBS, as well as other, more unlikely territories ,such as China.

“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,” said Fellowes. “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.”

A number of the stars of Downton Abbey have also won Hollywood roles, increasing pressure on their TV filming commitments.

Hugh Bonneville, who plays Lord Grantham, recently appeared in the Paddington film and Maggie Smith was in the Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, along with Penelope Wilton. Lily James, who plays Lady Rose, is the star of the new Cinderella film due to premiere this week.

Gareth Neame, executive producer of Downton Abbey, said that it felt “right and natural” to stop after the sixth series airs later this year.

“Inevitably there comes a time when all shows should end and Downton is no exception,” he said. “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...”

In a conference call with media following the announcement Neame added that there is the possibility that a Downton Abbey feature length film could be made.

“We would be very interested in that,” he said. “It is definitely something we are contemplating. It is wrong to say there are any [definite] plans for a film. It is something we are contemplating and interested in doing. There is nothing firmly in place, no [actors] have been contracted to do it.”

Michael Edelstein, president of NBCUniversal International Television Production, said that the show has proven itself to be a “cultural phenomenon”.

“Julian Fellowes and Gareth Neame’s sublime drama has secured its place as a beacon of British creativity that will live on for decades to come,” he said. “At NBC Universal, we continue to build on the success of Downton and on our reputation as the creative home for great television content that entertains global audiences.”

Roles roll in for Downton Abbey cast

Dan Stevens – whose character, romantic lead Matthew Crawley, was killed off at the end of series three – has since become a successful Hollywood leading man. His film roles to date include starring alongside Liam Neeson in action movie A Walk Among the Tombstones and family adventure film Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. He was recently announced to be playing the role of The Beast in Disney’s live action remake of Beauty and the Beast.

Lily James, who joined the show as wild child Lady Rose in series three, landed the title role in Disney’s retelling of Cinderella, directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh, which also starred Downton’s Sophie McShera, aka kitchen maid Daisy, as one of the wicked stepsisters. James, 25, will appear later this year as Elizabeth Bennet in action blockbuster Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and is signed up to appear in a new BBC adaptation of War and Peace.

Jessica Brown Findlay was the first major cast member to leave the show for pastures new, when her character, the forward thinking Lady Sybil, died in childbirth in the third series. She went on to star in TV costume dramas Labyrinth, based on the Kate Mosse novel, and Jamaica Inn, and later this year will appear on the big screen alongside Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy in Victor Frankenstein.

Michelle Dockery – now known all over the world as the frosty Lady Mary – has a successful career as a jazz singer and has performed with Sadie and the Hotheads, a band formed by Elizabeth McGovern, who plays her on-screen mother, the Countess of Grantham. Dockery has had guest voice roles in US animations American Dad and Family Guy, and appeared with Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore and Lupita Nyong’o in action thriller Non-Stop last year. She recently filmed another Hollywood thriller Self/less, co-starring Ryan Reynolds and Sir Ben Kingsley.

Irish actor Allen Leech, who played chauffeur-turned-estate-manager, Tom Branson, has landed several movie roles since making his name in Downton, including award-nominated film The Imitation Game.