Hugh Bonneville has confirmed that the upcoming sixth series of Downton Abbey will include a Christmas special.

The ITV period drama is currently filming its next run of eight episodes, which will likely air in the autumn.

Nick Briggs



Bonneville attended the TRIC Awards in London today (March 10), where Downton Abbey picked up the Drama Programme of the Year award.

Speaking to Digital Spy and other press, Bonneville teased what fans can expect when the show returns.

"We're in 1925, so the series has nudged on another six months, and Lady Rose has been on her honeymoon and she's now moved to America," he said.

"Tom Branston has gone to Boston, and some faces that we met towards the end of the fifth season may or may not be coming over the horizon to break or make the hearts of Lady Mary and Lady Edith and people like that."

Asked if they will once again film a Christmas special, he said: "We will. We'll do a ninth episode which will come out at Christmas."

Meanwhile, asked if Shirley MacLaine or Paul Giamatti will reprise their roles in the new series, the Paddington star said: "I don't know. I haven't heard that one, but we'd all be delighted because we love having them. The guest artists we've had have been amazing and to have any of them back would be brilliant."

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