ITV orders sixth series of ‘Downton Abbey’
By Nick Levine
ITV has officially commissioned a sixth series of Downton Abbey.
Filming will begin on the next run of Julian Fellowes’ award-winning period drama early next year, ITV and the show’s makers Carnival Films announced in a press statement today (November 6).
ITV’s Director of Drama Commissioning, Steve November, said in a statement: “It is fantastic that Downton continues to be such a phenomenon – still the most popular drama on ITV in its fifth series – and we are thrilled to have commissioned a sixth series. We don’t know yet what Julian has planned, but we are looking forward to working with him, the fantastic cast and Carnival again and have no doubt series six will be unmissable.”
Series five of Downton Abbey began on ITV in September and will draw to a close with its eighth and final episode this Sunday (November 9). The show will then return for a Christmas Special on ITV later this year before the new series begins filming in early 2015.
Since beginning in 2010 Downton Abbey has become a major hit both in the UK and abroad, winning numerous Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy Awards in the process.