The hit British drama series "Downton Abbey" is reportedly saying goodbye to its fans. The show, which centers on the lives of the Crawley family and their servants, will probably be ending soon after its sixth season, reported TV Line.
TV Line says that it has already been confirmed that the series would indeed bid goodbye after the sixth season as almost all of the contracts of the actors and actresses are set to expire.
"The decision to end Downton was mostly a practical one - the cast's contracts expire at the end of Season 6 and, with one or two possible exceptions, the actors are ready to move on," to quote the news outlet.
"You can keep the show going without Matthew and Sybill, but you can't continue it without the entire Crawley family," an unidentified "insider" allegedly told TV Line.
Note that there was also a separate Cinema Blend report (citing Sunday Times) saying that "Harry Potter" actress Maggie Smith, who plays the role of Dowager Countess of Grantham in the series, would be leaving the show soon. "They say this is the last one, and I can't see how it could go on. I mean, I certainly can't keep going. To my knowledge, I must be 110 by now. We're into the late 1920s," Smith was quoted as saying.
Cinema Blend said this is not the first report about Smith's departure. Three years ago, it has been reported that Smith was having second thoughts of going back to the series. However, the actress still apparently went back.
Cinema Blend noted that despite the decreasing ratings the show received, it remains popular to many TV fanatics. So far, the previous seasons have already dealt with 12 years of the lives of the characters. During the time, we also saw a lot of changes and developments.
We saw Mary's husband Matthew, played by Dan Stevens, and sister Sybil, played by Jessica Brown Findlay, both passed away. Some servants also bid goodbye including lady's maid Sarah O'Brien, played by Siobhan Finneran; footman William Mason, played by Thomas Howes; and footman Jimmy Kent, played by Ed Speleers. In the fifth season, we also saw Lady Rose get married and Sybil's husband Tom Branson leave for America.
"If 'Downton Abbey' does end, it won't be the worst final bow a show has ever been given. We do know for certain that Season 6 is happening, and that should give the writers, cast and network plenty of time to wrap the show up in a fitting manner, without any cliffhangers," Cinema Blend's Jessica Rawden said in her report.
The Season 6 of "Downton Abbey" will reportedly arrive a year later. The series is created and written by Julian Fellowes.