'Downton Abbey' Season 6 Renewed or Canceled? Show to End After Season 6
Following the announcement of "Downton Abbey" main cast member Maggie Smith (who plays as the Dowager Countess of Grantham, Madame Crawley) that she won't be reprising her role if even the hit British period drama gets another season.
The show's producers said that the story of the Crawley family is coming to an end this sixth season, which will begin airing in the U.K. through ITV this September 2015 and January 2016 in the U.S. via PBS channel.
Speaking in a telephone news press conference in London this Thursday, executive producer Gareth Neame confirmed that the upcoming chapter would be the last one because apparently, "it's the right time" to do so.
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"Our feeling is it's good to quit while we're ahead," Neame told USA Today. "The show is in incredibly strong shape. ... The danger is to let it go on forever ... eight, nine, 10 years. We wanted to end when the time is right, so that people will love it for years to come and not feel there's a drop-off, and we've not outstayed our welcome."
"It was a cast decision, (too), we've taken these characters on a journey, we've told our story," Neame added.
The show's official social media account also echoed the news:
"The time has come to announce that Series 6 will be our final visit to #Downton. Thank you for sharing our journey!"
As expected, avid followers of the show were left disappointed upon hearing the update. However, Neame teased that there might be a big screen version of the TV drama.
"Our (he and Fellowes) position is that we would be very interested in that, it's something we're contemplating, it would be great fun to do," he said. "I can't confirm it's definitely going to happen but we shall see."
