Renewed: Downton Abbey

ITV has renewed Downton Abbey for a fifth series.

In the UK the fourth season has averaged 11.8 million viewers – making it the highest rated drama on television in 2013.

The fifth series will once again be written by Julian Fellowes and Executive Produced by Gareth Neame of Carnival Films, together with Liz Trubridge and Fellowes.

“Audiences have enjoyed their regular Sunday evening visits back to Downton once again this autumn and we are thrilled to produce a new series of the show next year. We promise all the usual highs and lows, romance, drama and comedy played out by some of the most iconic characters on television. All the actors and makers of the show continue to be humbled by the extraordinary audience response and want to take the show from strength to strength next year,” said Neame.

ITV’s Director of Drama Commissioning, Steve November added, “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.”

In the UK viewers will also be treated to another Christmas edition, this time a 2 hour episode which will see Shirley MacLaine reprise her role as Martha Levinson and Paul Giamatti join the cast as Cora’s playboy brother, Harold.