Season 5 of the beloved historical drama Downton Abbey will begin airing on January 4.
Downton Abbey is a British period drama that addresses the dramas and life events of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants as they deal with changing times and events such as the sinking of the Titanic and World War I.
Beloved by many, the British show will begin airing in the U.S. on PBS months after its original airing in the UK. The decision for delayed release in the U.S. has many critics, as often U.S. fans have uncovered spoilers of the plot long before they have an opportunity to watch the episodes.
However, Paula Kerger, who is the President and Chief Executive of PBS, continues to stand by the decision to air episodes later at a Beverly Hills TV press tour. Defending the later U.S. release, Kerger stated, “January works well,” as reported by the L.A. Times During the cold winter months, people naturally spend more time inside and thus have more time to enjoy the dramas at Downton.
While the release date for Downton Abbey has been officially set, according to The Seattle Times, the return date for Sherlock, the popular modern adaptation of the classic detective, has yet to be confirmed.
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