As the UK inches towards the conclusion of the highly-anticipated and delivering on every moment second series of Downton Abbey, the States are still in the highly-anticipating mode as the second set is not scheduled to premiere until Sunday, January 8, 2012 as part of PBS’ Masterpiece series.

Whether you are in the ever-patiently waiting U.S. audience or the every Sunday evening edge of your seat UK audience, there’s some news of great interest coming out of the Downton Abbey camp this week. According to Brendan Coyle, who plays John Bates, the valet, the concluding Christmas Day episode will end on a cliffhanger, with viewers not knowing who lives and who dies – suggesting this series will not be the last. Coyle went on to say: “There are three shocking twists in store that no-one could have imagined – including us”.

This on the heals of last weeks bombshell by Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary, that teased viewers of the ITV1 DA2 drama by saying: “…there’s a wedding, a funeral and a sex scene and I’m in one of those”.

Both Coyle or Dockery thankfully have been able to dodge the repeated questions about their respective characters and their potential love interests of maid, Anna, and Matthew Crawley, respectively. Doyle’s tease will have to hold UK viewers until Christmas Day and US viewers until early 2012 by saying: “I can’t tell you that, but I will say Anna’s a very determined woman and isn’t prepared to give up Bates.

Can you say Downton Abbey 3? Anyone?