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By India McCarty
It’s official — DOWNTON ABBEY is coming back to PBS!
The network is set to begin rebroadcasting the show’s six seasons, starting this month and continuing into 2027.
“It was an honor to present all six, glorious seasons of DOWNTON ABBEY on Masterpiece,” Susanne Simpson, head of scripted content and executive producer for Masterpiece, said in a press release. “The magic of Julian Fellowes’ blend of drama and humor played out by the exceptional ensemble cast made for the most successful series in MASTERPIECE’s history. I’m thrilled that we will now be sharing it with a new generation of viewers who can fall in love with this beautiful, engaging and inspiring series.”
Andrea Downing, president, PBS Distribution, added, “We’re proud to make all six seasons widely available — whether viewers are rediscovering the series or experiencing it for the first time — across PBS-owned platforms or PBS Masterpiece on Prime Video, ensuring this iconic drama continues to reach audiences wherever and however they choose to watch.”
Alastair Bruce, who served as DOWNTON ABBEY’s historical advisor, recently spoke to TV Insider about his excitement at the show’s return to television, as well as the impact it has had on its audience.
“We were immensely proud of the DOWNTON ABBEY project, and it seems to have brought so much pleasure and joy,” he shared. “Indeed it’s brought a great deal of escapism, to so many people, and I think that, in this time when life is full of challenges, it’s tough for lots of people and DOWNTON ABBEY has managed to bring an escape.”
Bruce called the series “a delightful escape,” adding, “To see it come back to PBS is like seeing a group of friends who you may think you remember the story about, but when you watch it again, it comes to life in its own remarkable way, and I hope that it will bring new escapes for people who wish to return to a place where they felt safe and they enjoyed learning about a family and their staff.”
Julian Fellowes, the show’s creator, also weighed in on what drew him to create a story about an aristocratic family navigating the changing decades.
“I think there was a sort of order in the world that seems to be missing at the moment,” he said in an interview with PBS. “I don’t know that I long for a Victorian way of life and all of that stuff. I don’t think I do. But I do long for a world of order and good manners and where people are pleasant to each other and everyone stops getting so angry about everything. I suppose that is true.”
DOWNTON ABBEY begins re-airing on PBS May 17 at 10/9c.
Read Next: Is DOWNTON ABBEY Really Over?
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