Julian Fellowes has admitted he now has no say in how Downton Abbey will end.
Julian Fellowes
The creator of the series has confessed all decisions such as this one are out of his control and lie with the show's owners, NBC Universal.
Speaking to The New York Times newspaper, he explained: "It's not really my decision. I don't own 'Downton Abbey' now.
"NBC Universal [which owns Carnival Films] owns Downton Abbey. So I could walk away. But I wouldn't walk away. It's too much my baby."
Although he "can't immediately" say when Downton will come to an end, he's "not a believer" in keeping a series going longer than it needs to.
With a sixth season of the popular period drama coming later in the year, Julian added he can't see it going past World War Two.
"Maybe people would say, 'Oh my God, that's baby George, grown up!' But I don't think it would be continuous, with Michelle Dockery with her hair covered with talcum powder."
Fans were pleased this week to hear rumours that Dame Maggie Smith was planning to exit the show, with a spokesperson for the actress stating that wasn't the case.
"[Smith] has always been on the record as saying she'll be with the show for as long as the show runs."
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