BritScene

Written on November 4, 2011 by Paul

As if there was ever any doubt! ITV yesterday confirmed what we pretty much knew was on the cards when it commissioned a third season of the hugely popular period drama Downton Abbey. Season two comes to a climax in the UK this Sunday and despite some criticism that it has not lived up to the critically acclaimed first series this time round, it has still attracted over nine million viewers an episode.

In a press release from ITV it stated that filming for a new series of the Emmy winning drama, will begin in the new year, with it returning to UK screens in September 2012 (using my crystal ball, I see a January 2013 season 3 premiere in the US!). Creator of the show Julian Fellows was excited by the announcement saying “I am extremely grateful to ITV for this. I have grown very fond of my Downton family and I certainly do not want to say goodbye to them quite yet.”

The third series will follow the Crawley family into the post-war roaring 1920′s and it seems like it may not stop there! Talking to the Hollywood Reporter Executive producer and MD of U.K. production for NBC Universal International TV (sounds important!), Gareth Neame said that there was “no reason” that the show would not continue, as long as viewers showed the same appetite for it and said it continued to grip audiences. “The show’s impact has been greater than anyone could have ever imagined. When Downton was originally conceived, it was mapped out across three series,” adding “But with ratings continuing to reach 11.4 million viewers, our expectations have obviously changed and there is no reason why the show won’t run and run, as long as there is still an audience for it”

All this talk of a third series and we have yet to see season 2! On that front we are looking forward to the premiere when it arrives at PBS’s Masterpiece Theater on January 8, 2012. When checking out the PBS website I noticed they had released another nice little trailer to get you excited for the Crawley’s return. Take a look below and if you want to see more videos, clips or behind the scenes goodness etc. why not check out our full coverage here.

Watch Downton Abbey Irresistible Preview on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.