By Jessica Michele Herring (staff@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Nov 11, 2013 03:43 PM EST
Tags Downton Abbey, Downton Abbey season 5, Downton Abbey renewed for season 5, Downton Abbey renewed, Downton Abbey PBS, Downton Abbey ITV, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Julian Fellowes, Joanne Froggatt, Brendan Coyle, Dame Maggie Smith

It's official: the Crawleys will be returning for another season of aristocratic drama. 

PBS announced that British period drama "Downton Abbey" has been renewed for a fifth season, as reported by Buzzfeed. The show will once again air as a "Masterpiece Classic" show on public broadcaster PBS. 

"As American audiences ready themselves for the January 5th premiere of Season 4," said "Masterpiece" executive producer Rebecca Eaton, "our devoted "Downton" fans will rest easy knowing that a fifth season is on the way."

Production on season five will begin in 2014. However, the broadcaster did not reveal a debut date for the fifth season.

PBS is premiering season four of "Downton" in the U.S. in January, and is currently wrapping up its run in the U.K, which will be followed by a Christmas special later this year. It will air in the states at the same time as "Sherlock" for the first part of its run. Season five is likely to follow the same pattern as the drama's previous four seasons. 

Season four will air in the U.S. following a preview special, "Return to Downton Abbey," which is scheduled for Dec. 1, USA Today confirms. 

"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," said the show's executive producer, Gareth Neame, in a statement. "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."

The show has consistently achieved high ratings in both its native country and the U.S. Given its popularity, the show's renewal is not unexpected. The series has drawn an average 11.8 million viewers in the U.K., rendering it the highest-rated program of 2013. In the U.S., "Downton Abbey's" third season drew in more than 24 million viewers, making it the highest-rated program in the history of PBS. 

Watch season four of "Downton Abbey" when it premieres on Jan. 5 on PBS. 

© 2015 Latinos Post. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.