Downton Abbey could be coming to an end next series, if hints from Julian Fellowes are to be believed.
The show creator doesn't want the ITV period drama to lose its punch and plans to wrap things up in the next year or two, confirming rumours the popular programme will soon come to an end.
Asked if there is going to be a season five for 'Downton', he told The Wall Street Journal newspaper: "Yes. I don't know yet if there is a season six, but it's not going to go on forever. It won't be 'Perry Mason' [long-running US crime drama]."
Julian also admitted he tried to get Dan Stevens - who played handsome heir, Matthew Crawley - to stay for the duration of the fourth series, but eventually realised the actor's departure provided him with interesting writing possibilities.
He said: "I realised it meant we could have a time jump, so we could start [season 4] six months later, and then you get into all the interesting stuff of someone coming through widowhood and the loss of someone they thought would be there the rest of their lives. I didn't want Dan to go.
"I loved him and I wish he'd stayed with us, but given the fact that he'd gone, I thought that worked for Michelle [Dockery, who plays Lady Mary] and made for an interesting journey, as opposed to them just sitting there being happy and saying, 'Have you had a good day?' "
Julian is hopeful fan favourite character Mrs. O'Brien could make a return in the next series, despite 'Benidorm' actress Siobhan Finneran quitting the role.
He said: "I'd love it if she did [return]. [In America] you can get actors for five or seven years. For some shows you have to sign a thing saying you are prepared for that when you go for an audition, when you haven't even got the part!
"We just don't have that. No agent will give you an actor for longer than three years in England."
Tagged in Julian Fellowes Dan Stevens Michelle Dockery