- published: 10 Dec 2015
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Downton Abbey is a British-American television series coproduced by Carnival Films in the UK and WGBH Boston in the U.S. It is set on the fictional estate of Downton Abbey in the North Riding of Yorkshire, England, and features an ensemble cast. It was written principally by Julian Fellowes, who co-created it with Gareth Neame. It premiered on ITV on 26 September 2010 and on PBS on 9 January 2011.
Reception of the programme was predominantly positive; ratings were extremely high for what is usually considered a "period" show, and the first series picked up a number of awards and nominations after its initial run. It has subsequently become the most successful British costume drama since the 1981 television serial version of Brideshead Revisited, and in 2011 it entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the "most critically acclaimed English-language television show" for the year, becoming the first British show to be recognised as such by the Guinness Book of Records.
The second series aired in autumn 2011 on ITV and in January 2012 on PBS. On 3 November 2011, ITV confirmed that a third series had been commissioned. The third series is currently in production for broadcast in September 2012 on ITV and in January 2013 on PBS.
Downton Abbey is a British television period drama series, produced by British media company Carnival Films for the ITV network. It was created and principally written by actor and writer Julian Fellowes.
(1912–14)
(1916–19)
A 46-minute long documentary compiled in anticipation of the Christmas 2011 two-hour special broadcast, Behind the Drama features behind-the-scenes footage from the filming of the series and short interviews with Julian Fellowes, the writer, actors (Elizabeth McGovern, Joanna Froggatt, Brendan Coyle, Dan Stevens, Michelle Dockery, Jessica Brown Findlay, Laura Carmichael, Penelope Wilton, Phyllis Logan, Thomas Howes, Leslie Nicol, Sophie McShera, Allen Leech) and other members of the team that produces Downton Abbey. It was shown in the United Kingdom at 7:30pm on Wednesday 21 December 2011 and narrated by Hugh Bonneville. 4.5 million people watched the show.
(1919–20)
ITV confirmed the commissioning of a third series on 3 November 2011. It entered production in early 2012, and will air from September 2012.
Lord Crawley sees his family heritage, especially the grand country home Downton Abbey, as his mission in life. The death of his heir aboard the Titanic means distant cousin Matthew Crawley, a Manchester lawyer, suddenly is next in line and accepts moving onto the vast estate with his even more modernist, socially engaged mother, who clashes with his lordship's domineering, conservative mother, the dowager. Marrying off the daughters is another concern. Meanwhile, the butler presides over a staff which serves the family, but also lead most of their entire lives in the servants' quarters, intriguing amongst themselves.
Keywords: 1910s, 1920s, american, aristocracy, aristocrat, british, butler, cane, chambermaid, chauffeur