Even though this is not unexpected news, conventional wisdom usually dictates that you withhold any celebratory emotions until you actually read the news in print. That said, you can celebrate away as, according to reports, the news came this past Thursday from ITV in the UK that Downton Abbey, the audience mega-hit seen on ITV and PBS’ Masterpiece, has been commissioned for a third series.

The series will, again, be written by show creator Julian Fellowes and will follow the Crawley family and their servants into the post-war world of 1920 and 1921 England. Thankfully, Fellowes said: “I am extremely grateful to ITV for this. I have grown very fond of my Downton family and I certainly do not want to say goodbye to them quite yet.”

Laura Mackie, ITV’s director of drama commissioning, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be bringing Downton Abbey back for a third series, as we follow the inhabitants of Downton as they move into the roaring 20s.”

Set to return to DA3 are original series stars including Dame Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter, Joanne Froggatt and Brendan.

Even though U.S. audiences have yet to see the premiere of Downton Abbey 2, which will premiere on Sunday, January 8, 2012 as part of the PBS Masterpiece series, this news couldn’t come at a better time. Many will remember the end of series 1 where there was no news yet of a series 2 commission causing massive undo stress around the world as viewers were left hanging and couldn’t get enough DA. Now, UK viewers will be able to watch the Christmas Day conclusion to series 2 comforted by the knowledge that there will, indeed, be a series 3 in the works for 2012-2013. And, U.S. viewers will go in to series 2 armed with the same comforting knowledge. Cheers!