Dame Maggie poised to end her acid reign at Downton Abbey after third series By KATIE NICHOLL PUBLISHED: 16:10 EST, 14 April 2012 | UPDATED: 16:10 EST, 14 April 2012 (DAILY MAIL)

Dame Maggie Smith is preparing to deliver her final acid put-down as the Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey.

She has told writer Julian Fellowes she wants the third series to be her last, although he has persuaded her to do the Christmas special. The ITV drama, which is currently being filmed on location at Highclere Castle in Hampshire and at Ealing Studios in London, will return to ITV for the third time in September.

Fellowes has yet to complete the plot-line – but sources say he is preparing to write out the formidable Dowager Countess. ‘Maggie has asked Julian to write her character out,’ says a source. ‘She is filming until August and then wants to leave, going out on a high.

She thinks that three series is enough and she wants to get back to the stage and big screen.’


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