It's all been Abbey-lutely fabulous

Television sensation comes to an end on big screen with changing of guard

- LYNN RUSK

HISTORICAL dramas have long been a staple of film and television, but few have captured audiences' hearts quite like Downton Abbey.

Created by Oscar winner Julian Fellowes, the acclaimed period drama is set on the fictional Yorkshire estate of Downton Abbey and follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their household staff.

First airing in 2010, the series became a global phenomenon, running for six acclaimed seasons. Its success extended to the big screen with two feature films: Downton Abbey in 2019 and Downton Abbey: A New Era in 2022.

Now, after 15 years of captivating audiences, the Crawleys and their staff prepare to bid farewell in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, the final chapter of the beloved franchise.

The third and final film follows the Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s.

As the beloved cast of characters navigates how to lead Downton Abbey into the future, they must embrace change and welcome a new chapter.

The third film will be the first without veteran actress Maggie Smith, who played Violet Crawley and who died in September 2024 aged 89.

The new Downton Abbey film sees stars including Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Talbot, Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley, 7th Earl of Grantham, Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith James-Collier and Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates, all reprise their roles.

Michelle, 43, who plays the eldest Crawley daughter, says her character is navigating a divorce and grieving her grandmother Violet in this movie.