'Downton Abbey' Executive Producer Denies the Show Will End in Season 5

Credit: Carnival/Masterpiece

Rumors have persisted throughout the internet regarding just how long Downton Abbey could possibly run, as many critics have felt that the series is already having trouble with sustainability, given the high-profile exits of critical cast members, and the further reliance on controversial storylines. But executive producer Gareth Neame is putting rumors of the show's demise to bed.

"That was totally invented by the British press, totally made up. Completely untrue," Neame says. "There are no plans to end the show."

But with that statement is a catch, as Neame adds that the show's UK network, ITV, only commissions each season "on a year-by-year basis" and, as of this moment, the network has only commissioned the show through the fifth season. So it's still possible that the show could vanish from the airwaves if the show slips in the ratings, or the cost becomes unmanageable. With that said, this is exceedingly unlikely, given not just the popularity of the show, but the fact that PBS foots a considerable portion of the production bill. I'd be shocked if Downton Abbey left the airwaves on any other terms but its own.

As for the immediate future, the production team is currently hard at work on Season 5 of the series, in preparation for the start of shooting.

"We start filming Season 5 in about five weeks' time," Neame said, in an interview with Zap2it. "We're working heavily on the episodes now. [Creator] Julian [Fellowes] has written the first four episodes, I've been working hard on those with him. Right now we're honing them ready for production."

So what do you think? How much longer can Downton Abbey last? Can it go on in perpetuity? Or is the show just not sustainable for the long term? Sound off in the comments!

Via: Zap2It