[LukeB]

Downton Abbey's upcoming sixth series will be its last, ITV has confirmed.

The broadcaster has announced that the period drama will air its final episode during the Christmas season in the UK.

The final episode of Julian Fellowes' drama will follow an eight-episode series, which is scheduled to air this autumn.

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."

Executive Producer Gareth Neame explained that it is important to end the series when it "felt right and natural for the storylines to come together".

Peter Fincham, ITV's director of television, added: "When Julian Fellowes and Gareth Neame brought us the idea for Downton Abbey six years ago, we thought it would be a great Sunday night series for ITV, but we had no way of knowing that it would become a global phenomenon playing to hundreds of millions of viewers around the world.

"What a ride it's been - for everyone involved in the production, for the cast, and most of the all for the audience. We all thought very carefully about the right moment to bring something so special to a close that felt editorially right, and left viewers wanting more.

"Christmas Day on ITV this year will certainly be one to remember, as the concluding special brings a series to an end that started as a leap of faith for all of us, and ended surpassing all expectations."

The announcement brings an end to months of speculation about the show's future, following rumours that the end was nigh for the Crawley family.

Maggie Smith recently suggested that the sixth series would be her last, even if the show continued past that point.

Downton Abbey will return to ITV later this year. The programme airs on PBS in the United States.


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[Jack_]

About ****ing time

[LukeB]

Awful show

[Natalie.]

That's a shame but it's the right time I think, last season bored me a BIT

[smudgie]

Been a fantastic show, but it really is the right time for it to finish.
Lady flipping Mary drives me crackers as her voice is getting posher every series.