ITV orders more Downton

downton abbeyITV has ordered a fifth season of hit period drama Downton Abbey. The UK broadcaster has greenlit another season following the success of the fourth, which has proved a big ratings winner in a Sunday night slot.

The period drama is made by NBCUniversal-owned UK producer Carnival Films.

It is distributed internationally by NBCU’s content sales division and is popular globally, notably in the US where is a big hit for PBS, which is a coproduction partner on the series.

The fifth series will once again be written by Julian Fellowes and executive produced by Carnival’s Gareth Neame.

Separately, there will be a two-hour special of the show, starring Shirley MacLaine, going out on ITV on Christmas day.

ITV’s director of Drama Commissioning, Steve November said: “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.”

 

Most Recent