Spose you have heard that Maggie Smith will be leaving after next season.

I've always wondered - when you across the Pond (or further) get Brit tv shows - Downton, Dr Who - are you current with the season we have running?
Apart from rare exceptions like The Walking Dead, currently on Fox - I day delay - we can be months, sometimes years, behind. So we get Christmas Specials at Easter, Hallowe'en at Christmas! Often the show has been cancelled before we see season 1. Case in point - The Tomorrow People.
I know this is the fault of our Schedulers/Purchasers trying to get cheap deals, but are you left as frustrated as us?

Dave.

Sorry, Kitt. Yes, I had heard about Maggie even though I don't watch. Everything Downton is big news here.

In regards to Downton, the US is months behind England. We get it in US on PBS. PBS typically shows British TV quality shows on Sundays. Father Brown, and Doc Martin are examples...which are only reruns now. But there are others now like Poirot, and another new one whose name escapes me at the moment. All on PBS.

We also don't get much Canadian TV unless a cable station buys the rights. Right now Murdoch Mysteries (aka The Artful Detective) is being shown here on Ovation channel. The same with Motive...which is a couple of seasons behind here.

Maggie Smith has voiced leaving the show before. So far the next season is the only one planned, as far as I have seen on the Downton forums online.

I don't watch it either. I just keep up with it when I can. Maggie Smith is 80 and is still acting otherwise as well.

From what I read in our papers, it seems Dame Maggie is concerned her character 'must be about 110', and neither of them can go on forever.
The show's Rights are now owned by NBC/Universal, and the extraordinary popularity in the States is a driving force for continuation. The Creator/writer (name eludes me) states that it cannot go on indefinitely, but he has no plans to stop.

Dave.

It was my understanding that next season's Downton would be the last (and should be). The finale of Season V last Sunday showed the January, 2016 Season previews.

I watch Downton; but really feel next season should be the final. Running out of plots, situations, etc. Watching the ending of Season V Sunday was in a way almost funny. It appeared as a desperate way to end this year's season.


Gerry

I rather felt like everything was wrapped up this Sunday.

They must have thought it would be a series finale at one point.

I sure hope they leave Anna and Bates to have a normal life now.
They have suffered enough, already.

The only thing left hanging was Robert's health issue (Lord Grantham).

I also read that.

Actually that was a wrap up as well. It turned out to be an ulcer so Lord Grantham promised Cora not have any alcohol until Christmas-Eve. That was Cora's concern when he was attempting to make a speech. Not having alcohol for a while she was afraid it would "hit" him and he might be a bit foolish.

I do agree; the ending did appear to be a wrap up. There might have been some thought given to this being the Downton finale. Showing the preview with a January 2016 return has put that aside; at least for another year.


Gerry

From what I have read Season 6 will be the end of it. Of course, that might change. Wait and see.