Downton Abbey Ending After Season 6

March 27, 2015 CLEE25 Leave a Comment

It’s official … Masterpiece’s masterpiece, Downton Abbey, will call it quits after Season 6. PBS announced the news yesterday.

Gareth Neame, executive producer of Downton Abbey, said: “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.”

When I heard that Maggie Smith vowed to quit after Season 6 earlier this month, I must admit I wondered how the show could continue without her sassy spirit and quick wit. I guess we won’t have to face a season without the Dowager after all, but the news of Downton’s end is surely sad.

Luckily, it’s not time to say goodbye quite yet. We can look forward to Season 6, and perhaps entertain speculation about future Downton spinoffs. Downton has enjoyed unrivaled success during its run, receiving 51 Emmy nominations, “more than any other British show in Emmy history,” according to PBS. Season 5 was seen by 25.5 million people.

Julian Fellowes, writer and creator of Downton Abbey, 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.”

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