"Downton Abbey" Renewed for Fourth Season on Britain's ITV
11/23/2012
by Georg Szalai


U.K. TV network operator ITV plans to bring back hit show "Downton Abbey" for a fourth season. It announced the re-commission on Friday.

The costume drama, which stars Maggie Smith and others, finished its third season on ITV1 in early November with a season-high ratings performance, bringing to an end what the network said was the highest-rated season of the show to-date.

In its Sunday night slot, the series from Julian Fellowes, who recently signaled optimism that the series would return, managed to beat music competition show "X Factor" late in the season in average viewership, even though peak viewership for "X Factor" typically outperformed "Downton".





ITV said that the third season of the period drama, which in the U.S. will start on PBS on Jan. 6, averaged 9.7 million viewers when including delayed viewing on the same day, for example via DVR. Season one had averaged 8.4 million viewers, and season two had averaged 9.5 million.

ITV, which will air a two-hour "Downton Abbey" special on Christmas Day like it had done last year, has been expected to order a fourth season of the drama due to solid live viewership and boosts in delayed viewing. This year's holiday special sees Lord and Lady Grantham and family heading for a summer break in the Highlands of Scotland, leaving most of their servants back at home, ITV said Friday.

The fourth season will be set in the early 1920s and return to ITV in the fall of 2013, followed by an extended Christmas special. Filming is set to start in February.





Gareth Neame, managing director of NBCUniversal production label Carnival Films and executive producer of Downton said the new season will include some new faces. “Viewers can look forward to more drama, comedy, love, hatred, jealousy, rivalry, ambition, despair and romance,” he said.

Laura Mackie, director of drama at ITV, added: “We’re thrilled to welcome back a drama series that has become a much anticipated part of all our lives every autumn and achieved success around the globe.”

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/downton-abbey-renewed-fourth-season-393739

I avoided the show for 3 seasons, only sneaking peaks at it in HD on the ATSC side of my tuner. I did notice the view, both inside and outside was stunning! That, all the praise, and the announcement that the local PBS would run all three seasons prior to airing season 4, convinced me that I owed it to myself to at least try to watch the very first episode.

I never got hooked so hard so fast!! It airs 4 times a week, and I watch at least two of them, when I can. SE2 EP5 tonight!

"Downton Abbey" Renewed for Fifth Season
11/10/13


"Downton Abbey" will return for a fourth season in January, but now PBS is announcing the series will be back for at least one more after that.

Masterpiece executive producer Rebecca Eaton says "Downton" fans can, "rest easy knowing that a fifth season is on the way."



The celebrated British costume drama focusing on the elite Crawley family will air its fourth season on Masterpiece beginning Jan. 5.

Earlier this year, more than 24 million viewers watched the third season of the series in the U.S., making it the most-watched drama in PBS history.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/10/downton-abbey-renewed_n_4252149.html?utm_hp_ref=tv

I advise people with a proclivity to witness the genteel decline of the English aristocracy to tune into "Upstairs Downstairs",of which Downton is but a spurious copy.

It's a dreadful show,and I advise people with a proclivity to witness the genteel decline of the English aristocracy to tune into "Upstairs Downstairs",of which Downton is but a spurious copy.

I heard that there was a recent revival of "Upstairs, Downstairs". It didn't last that long, however.

I heard that there was a recent revival of "Upstairs, Downstairs". It didn't last that long, however.
Well don't remake it with new actors:you can watch it on the forbidden site for free.

"Downton Abbey" Renewed for Fifth Season
11/10/13


"Downton Abbey" will return for a fourth season in January, but now PBS is announcing the series will be back for at least one more after that.



Thanks for the info, JamesG.

Good to hear it's an excellent show.