Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes has said that the period drama could leap ahead to the 1970s for a spin-off show after the series comes to an end later this year.
Fellowes has several ideas 'up his sleeve' including a movie and he has toyed with the idea of fast forwarding to the seventies when Britain's aristocracy had fallen on hard times.
Speaking at the Lord Mayor’s Mencap Fashion Show in London, he said: “I think in 10 years it could be quite fun, when we have all forgotten about it, if it came back as Downton struggling in the 1970s. We could have all new different situations."
Fellowes has also considered a Downton spin-off focussing on Mr Bates and Anna and in regard to a movie of the global hit, he said: “It is just talk at the moment. But I like the idea of a film as we could take the characters and situations and have a film budget. We could give it some welly . . . make it fantastically good.”
Downton Abbey will end this Christmas. “There will be eight more episodes and a two-hour special on Christmas Day," Fellowes said.
“I can’t say how it will end but I hope the viewers will enjoy it. I think it is better to go when people feel sorry that you are leaving, rather than asking if you will ever leave.”
