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This is not the news Downton Abbey fans will want to hear, but the period drama is coming to an end this year.

Writer Julian Fellowes is ditching the popular ITV show, which stars Hugh Bonneville as the Earl of Grantham, after its sixth series so he can work on a new project about 19th century New York.

Last week, agents were seeking work for some of the main stars while they were in Los Angeles at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

One source said: “It’s an open secret that Downton is ending this year.

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"Some of the actors are keen to let it be known they will be available for work after the summer. Some are interested in the US, where Downton is as popular as it is in the UK.

“Joanne Froggatt, Edith Carmichael and Allen Leech were in Los Angeles for the awards last week and there were several meetings about both TV and film roles.”

The stars collected the gong for outstanding performance by an ensemble cast for the second time.

Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary, has spoken in the past about working in America.

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She said: “It feels as though there are more opportunities for us over there. “I love spending time there.”

Stars such as Dan Stevens and Jessica Brown Findlay have already left Downton after getting offers from Hollywood.

The sixth and final Downton is due to start filming in the spring and will finish in the summer before airing on ITV from September.

ITV declined to comment but drama chiefs are looking for a ­replacement show for autumn Sunday nights, which generates some of the highest ratings of the year.

A source said: “They want something long-running and ­ambitious.”

(Image: ITV)

Independent production companies have been asked to pitch for the slot, which traditionally generates some of the highest ratings of the year.

One TV insider revealed: “They are looking for something which is long-running and ambitious and which could appeal to the mass audience in the way that Downton has done.”

Anticipation over the plots for the final run of Downton will now be immense.

Last month the Christmas special ended with the revelation that Mrs Hughes the housekeeper (Phyllis Logan) and Carson the butler (Jim Carter) are to be married.

But viewers will also want to see Lady Mary (Dockery) settled with a new husband after dallying with a string of suitors and also for Lady Edith (Carmichael) to find happiness after the death of her newspaper editor lover in strange circumstances in Germany.

(Image: Getty)

Fans would also love to see Isobel Crawley marry Lord Merton despite his interfering sons and for Anna and Mr Bates to become parents.

Writer Fellowes confessed a year ago that he needed to get on with new NBC drama The Gilded Age, set in 19th century New York.

He told the Wall Street Journal: “It will happen when Downton finishes, because I just couldn’t do both at once.”

He added at the time, “Downton is not going to go on forever. It won’t be Perry Mason.”

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Speaking at the National Television Awards last week, Fellowes confirmed he was looking forward to getting his teeth into The Golden Age.

“I am interested to do another series because Downton was the first series I’d ever written.

"Now I feel I know much more about the game. I suppose there is something interesting about the idea of going on and using it somewhere else.”

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