Don’t tell anyone, but it looks like Downton Abbey is headed to a 4th series in 2013 (insert deep sigh of relief here). As the U.S. eagerly awaits the initial crossing of the paths of Shirley MacLaine and Dame Maggie Smith, the thought that there will, most likely, be a series 4 allows everyone west of the Atlantic to breathe a bit easier as we move ever so close to the January 6 premiere of series 3 on PBS’ Masterpiece.

Writer Julian Fellowes lent his support to this notion when he told The Telegraph his thoughts on his creation coming back for more, “I would hope there will be more because of the response to this series, but you know ITV are always pretty close to their chest in terms of an actual commission. I’d be surprised if there was not a fourth series,”.

For those that have seen series 3, you know that some people go and new characters have been introduced which suggests another series is in the offing. Personally, I don’t think anyone involved on the production side are ready to walk away just yet. I’m guessing that neither is anyone on the viewing end either.

In response to the critics of Downton Abbey who have expressed concern that the series does not contain any black characters, the writer said it would be “rather nice to open it up ethnically a bit”. He further explained in an interview with The Daily Telegraph, “Oh I think that’s rather a good idea. You have to work it in in a way that is historically believable, but I am sure we could do that. The show certainly ought to have an Indian character from that period.”

***Spoiler Alert Warning*** For those that just can’t wait for January 6, here’s quick look at what’s in store on PBS’ Masterpiece beginning January 6, 2013 in this BBC Breakfast report.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95tjLcrBvmM