The Dowager and Co returning for more Downton drama

ITV and Carnival Films has confirmed Downton Abbey has been recommissioned for a sixth series.

The Sunday night period drama has averaged 10.4 million viewers for the current fifth series airing on ITV. Downton Abbey is also a global success airing in over 250 territories.

Watch the Downton Abbey series 5 finale trailer

The regular cast features, Dame Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Brendan Coyle, Joanne Froggatt, Elizabeth McGovern, Jim Carter, Allen Leech, Laura Carmichael, Lesley Nicol, Lily James, Michelle Dockery, Penelope Wilton, Phyllis Logan and Sophie McShera.

Carnival’s Managing Director, Gareth Neame said:

“We have had an amazing reaction to the story lines, acting and production values of Downton Abbey this year and the whole team is thrilled to be moving ahead with a new season of the show. This will provide audiences with a fresh opportunity to see what will befall our much loved characters.”

ITV’s Director of Drama Commissioning, Steve November said,

“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 5 comes to an end this Sunday (9th November) in the UK but will return at Christmas for a festive edition of the drama. The US will have to wait until Sunday 4th January 2015 to watch the fifth series on MASTERPIECE on PBS.

Downton Abbey series 6 will begin production early 2015.