Downton Abbey renewed for fifth season

ITV and the makers of Downton Abbey, Carnival Films today announce a fifth series of the hit drama.

Downton Abbey broke records in the US earlier this year with the finale of Series 3 beating all network and cable competition to become the highest rating programme that evening on American television. The series was watched by a total of 24 million viewers.

The globally successful series, produced by Carnival Films, part of NBCUniversal International Television Production, debuted on ITV in 2010 and has since been sold to over 220 territories and is viewed by an estimated global audience of 120 million people.

The fifth series will once again be written by Julian Fellowes and Executive Produced by Gareth Neame, the Managing Director of Carnival, together with Liz Trubridge and Fellowes.

Carnival’s Managing Director Gareth Neame said:
“Audiences have enjoyed their regular Sunday evening visits back to Downton once again this autumn and we are thrilled to produce a new series of the show next year. We promise all the usual highs and lows, romance, drama and comedy played out by some of the most iconic characters on television. All the actors and makers of the show continue to be humbled by the extraordinary audience response and want to take the show from strength to strength next year”.

ITV’s Director of Drama Commissioning, Steve November responded.
“We are enormously happy to have Downton Abbey on ITV and we are delighted to be announcing this new series. With Julian writing and Gareth and Liz producing we know it will be as warm, witty, romantic and dramatic as previous series and we can't wait to catch up with our favourite characters again.”