Downton series will wrap things up, says Fellowes

Fellowes said the new series - which starts on September 20 on ITV - was one of “resolution” after the creative team had intended to bow out after five series of the popular period drama.

Viewers will join the new series in 1925 with Downton Abbey inhabitants Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville) and his daughter Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) having to come up with new ways to keep the estate intact with finances tight.

A battle is also raging over the future of Downton hospital, which is being run locally but could be placed under the control of a centralised authority based in York.

Fellowes said: “This is a series of resolution, that’s why we did another one. We were going to end on a season five but we just felt we needed a series to wrap it up.

“We had a fairly strong idea of where we were going. Sometimes the routes to get there changed.”

Bonneville admitted his character had to face up to reality when neighbour Sir John Darnley was forced into selling his estate Mallerton.

He added: “That’s when Robert begins to realise that the writing is on the wall for estates like Downton. It’s time to adapt or die.”

Fans will also be pleased to note there will be developments in the relationship between Mr Carson (Jim Carter) and Mrs Hughes (Phyllis Logan).

Having become engaged at the end of the previous series, the first few episodes move towards them getting married - with some “bumps” along the way.

“There are also some slightly delicate negotiations about under what terms they are getting married; whether as an old bachelor and spinster, or whether it will be a ‘full’ marriage so to speak,” Carter revealed.

He also added that the final Christmas special would be a tearjerker and that the audience will find it “very moving”.

Romance is also in the air for widower Lady Mary, who will become involved with racing car driver Henry Talbot (Matthew Goode), who came into the show at the end of series five.

Dockery said: “What appears to be a good relationship for Mary, seemingly moving in the right direction, takes a cruel turn that sends Mary to a dark place again.”

Executive producer Liz Trubridge said: “Although I think a lot of the audience wants certain characters to pair up ... that isn’t the way it is going to be.

“We have to do what we feel is right and the audience will either love or loathe us for that, but I’m hoping that we will end up where we all feel would be the great place to end.”

Downton Abbey airs on Sunday September 20 at 9pm on ITV.