The creator and writer of Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes, has implied that the days of the series are numbered. This is due to him being commissioned by network NBCUniversal (who co-produces Downton Abbey through their company Carnival) to write an American period drama titled The Gilded Age.
During an interview in the US, Fellowes said he will not be able to write The Gilded Age while he is still working on Downton Abbey. He confirmed there will be a fifth series, but went on to say “I don’t know yet if there is a season six, but it’s not going to go on for ever. It won’t be Perry Mason.”
Downton Abbey drew in an average of 11.8 million last year and seven million watched the Christmas special on ITV two weeks ago. The series started airing this week on PBS in the US. ITV has not confirmed if the series will return in 2015.
