Filming has secretly began on a brand new collection of Downton Abbey.
The interval drama – the final episode of which was aired somewhat over eight years in the past – is making a shock comeback in a seventh collection.
Bosses hoped to have the ability to convey again a number of the massive title actors akin to Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern and Joanne Froggatt who appeared within the earlier six seasons and two film spin-offs.
While it’s not identified if all of them have signed up, chiefs are stated to be ‘thrilled’ with their casting.
The return of the present, which was filmed at Highclere Castle in Hampshire and which coated the various societal modifications and world occasions between 1912 and 1928, is predicted to be on display on the finish of the 12 months.
The solid of the primary season of Downtown Abbey, which premiered in 2010, is pictured above
For the brand new season bosses hoped to have the ability to convey again a number of the massive title actors akin to Hugh Bonneville (left), Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern (proper) and Joanne Froggatt who appeared within the earlier six seasons and two film spin-offs
It is known that it will likely be on ITV, the place it was broadcast from 2010 till 2015.
Old episodes of Downton are properly watched on the channel’s streaming platform ITVX so TV insiders count on they may do what they’ll to cease it going to rivals akin to Netflix or Amazon.
A supply near the venture instructed the Mail: ‘Filming has been occurring for a number of weeks now, it’s all very, very secret. There are individuals engaged on it who’ve by no means seen secrecy prefer it.
‘Those engaged on the set have been made to signal non-disclosure agreements in order that they do not give the sport away however there’s plenty of pleasure on the return of Downton.
‘It was such an enormous success earlier than and there are such a lot of extra tales to be instructed, it appeared such a disgrace not to have the ability to make extra of it however they’ve made it occur.’
The Mail on Sunday revealed final May that bosses have been hoping to revive the collection and in December creator Julian Fellowes didn’t rule out the return when requested if it will make a comeback.
He instructed Radio Times: ‘I’ve stated goodbye to Downton so many instances, and I’ve written the final scene about six or seven instances. Now I’ve received out of the behavior of constructing everlasting statements about whether or not it is gone.
‘It simply offers me plenty of pleasure that so many individuals loved it, so to really feel that you just created a present that cheers individuals up and so they had fun with it, I like that.’
The remaining episode of the present – which acted as a launch pad for the careers of Ms Dockery, who performed Lady Mary, Lily James, who performed Lady Rose, and Jessica Brown Findlay, who performed Lady Sybil, was aired on Christmas Day 2015, with the viewing determine peaking at 7.4million.
In the finale, viewers noticed Edith – portrayed by Laura Carmichael – and Bertie, performed by Harry Hadden-Patton, lastly get married, on New Year’s Eve 1925.
The remaining collection was adopted by two films, one in 2019 and the opposite in 2022.