Downton Abbey fans can rest easy as Lord Grantham himself (Hugh Bonneville) has confirmed that there will be a Christmas episode.
Speaking at the TRIC Awards in London, where the ITV period drama picked up the award for Drama Programme of the Year, Bonneville said: "We're in 1925, so the series has nudged on another six months, and Lady Rose has been on her honeymoon and she's now moved to America," he said.
"Tom Branston has gone to Boston, and some faces that we met towards the end of the fifth season may or may not be coming over the horizon to break or make the hearts of Lady Mary and Lady Edith and people like that."
Asked if they will film a Christmas special, the Paddington star said: "We will. We'll do a ninth episode which will come out at Christmas."
The 51-year-old actor was also asked whether Shirley MacLaine or Paul Giamatti – who play Lady Grantham’s mother and brother - will reprise their roles in the new series.
"I don't know. I haven't heard that one, but we'd all be delighted because we love having them," he said. "The guest artists we've had have been amazing and to have any of them back would be brilliant."
The show saw Hollywood actor George Clooney make a guest appearance on the show for a Text Santa special last Christmas.
