ITV's DOWNTON ABBEY Finale Earns Season High; Christmas Special to Air

Deadline reports that the third season finale of ITV's DOWNTON ABBEY earned a season high in the ratings with an average of 10.1 million viewers and a 39.1% share. The season marks the highest-rated installment for the drama which overall averaged 9.7 million viewers, topping Season Two's 9.5 million and Season One's 8.4 million. 

A two-hour Christmas movie is set to air that will "tie up some loose ends at the Grantham estate."  Season 2 will premiere on PBS in the U.S. on January 6th.

No details have been revealed as to the possibility of a fourth season of the show. Series star Dan Stevens, who can currently be seen on the Broadway stage in the revival of 'The Heiress', recently told The Wall Street Journal,  “I think we’ll have to wait and see really,” about a fourth season. “You do feel a certain obligation to shows that raise your profile like Downton has. But there are definitely other exciting opportunities out there.” Julian Fellowes, creator of the show told The Telegraph, “I think I’d be surprised if there was not a fourth series.” 

Photo courtesy of ITV