Downton Abbey series 3
4 November 2011
ITV announces the commission of eight new episodes of the immensely successful Downton Abbey written and created by Julian Fellowes.
Audience figures for the second series have increased by over 21 percent on the first series with a consolidated average of 11.5 million viewers watching the first six episodes of this current series – making it the most popular drama series on UK television for over 10 years.
The new series will be set in 1920 and 1921, and the drama will cover a period of 18 months in the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who work for them.
The globally successful series, produced by Carnival Films, a division of NBCUniversal International Television Production, debuted on ITV1 in September 2010. Since then the country has been gripped by the storylines that saw Downton at war during the second series and the house consumed by the Spanish flu pandemic of 1919.
After 15 episodes and with a Christmas special episode to look forward to on ITV1 in December 2011, the nation remains obsessed and riveted by Downton Abbey.
The cast returning will include amongst others Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Penelope Wilton, Dan Stevens, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jessica Findlay Brown, Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan, Sophie McShera, Lesley Nicol, Rob James-Collier, Siobhan Finneran, Joanne Froggatt, Brendan Coyle, Allen Leech and Amy Nuttall.
The third series will be written once again by Oscar and Emmy award winner Julian Fellowes. The Carnival Films produced series will be executive produced by Gareth Neame, the Managing Director of Carnival Films, together with Julian Fellowes. Liz Trubridge will produce the series for a third time.
The new series has been commissioned by ITV’s Director of Drama Commissioning Laura Mackie and Controller of Drama Commissioning Sally Haynes.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be bringing Downton Abbey back for a third series, as we follow the inhabitants of Downton as they move into the roaring 20’s. It’s rare to find a drama that the audience connects with so strongly and we’re extremely proud to have commissioned a series that has become such a phenomenon,” Said Laura.
Carnival’s Managing Director Gareth Neame responded:
“Downton Abbey has become a huge hit worldwide, sold to over 200 territories and with accolades such as 6 Primetime Emmys and The Guinness World Record. The current series has built on the first with an audience increase of over 21 percent. Julian has created a fantastic ensemble of characters, with a myriad of stories which are dramatic, romantic and comedic all centred around the environment that is Downton. We could not be more excited to invite audiences back to Downton next year."
Downton Abbey’s writer and creator Julian Fellowes said:
"I am extremely grateful to ITV for this. I have grown very fond of my Downton family and I certainly do not want to say goodbye to them quite yet."
Note to Editors:
Downton Abbey has successfully achieved the following awards including 6 Primetime Emmys during 2011
Awards achieved:
Outstanding Miniseries Or Movie in the Emmy Awards 2011
Outstanding Writing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special - Julian Fellowes in the Emmy Awards 2011
Outstanding Directing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special - Brian Percival in the Emmy Awards 2011
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie - Maggie Smith in the Emmy Awards 2011
Outstanding Costumes For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special in the Emmy Awards 2011
Outstanding Cinematography For A Miniseries Or Movie in the Emmy Awards 2011
Guinness World Record - Highest Critical Review Ratings For a TV Show
Best Mini-Series at the Fiction Rockies Awards.
Best Director: Fiction - Brian Percival - in the BAFTA Television Craft Awards 2011
Best Sound: Fiction in the BAFTA Television Craft Awards 2011
Best Drama Series in the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards 2011
Julian Fellowes for the Writers Awards in the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards 2011
Best Drama Series in the TRIC Awards 2011
Nominations received:
Best Drama Series in the BAFTA Television Awards 2011
Best Supporting Actor - Brendan Coyle – in the BAFTA Television Awards 2011
Best Director: Fiction, Editing: Fiction, Photography & Lighting: Fiction, Production Design, and Sound: Fiction in the BAFTA Television Craft Awards 2011
Outstanding International Producer and Outstanding European Producer for Gareth Neame in the Monte-Carlo TV Festival
Outstanding Actor for Hugh Bonneville and Brendan Coyle in the Monte-Carlo TV Festival
Outstanding Actress for Maggie Smith and Michelle Dockery in the Monte-Carlo TV Festival
Best Drama Series in the RTS Programme Awards 2011
Best Actor for Hugh Bonneville in the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards 2011
Best Actress for Dame Maggie Smith in the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards 2011.
Outstanding Art Direction For A Miniseries Or Movie in the Emmy Awards 2011
Outstanding Casting For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special in the Emmy Awards 2011
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Miniseries Or A Movie in the Emmy Awards 2011
Elizabeth McGovern for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie in the Emmy Awards 2011
Outstanding Sound Editing For A Series in the Emmy Awards 2011
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