Downton Abbey cast searched for props on last day of filming

Downton Abbey is the highest rating United Kingdom drama of the past decade across any channel, with an average of 11 million viewers over the course of the five series, including Christmas specials.

But the two shows were both beaten by the Queen’s speech as the most watched programme of the day.

Strictly Come Dancing’s Christmas special ranked in second place in the rankings with 6.5 million viewers, down 400,000 on last year’s show.

Following the final episode on Friday, a special video from the cast and crew shows them filming the final moments on set, as they reflect on their time in the world of Downton.

However, with no one show breaking the seven million barrier, viewing figures as a whole are down on previous years.

The ITV Evening News was the most watched News programme with 3.6 million.

Downton Abbey – The Finale will be shown on ITV on Christmas Day from 8.45pm to 10.45pm. Within the episode, viewers stated their goodbyes to the Crawley family & their servants after six seasons.

Downton Abbey debuted on ITV in 2010 and became a global phenomenon, collecting numerous awards along the way.

Although fans originally didn’t care much about her given that all the attention was geared towards Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery), fans feel that she is also worthy of a happily ever after.

The celebratory tweets continued: “Finally, Lady Edith’s HAPPINESS”.

The Dowager Countess, played by the scene-stealing Dame Maggie Smith, observes: “Every year we drink to the future, whatever it may bring”.

Lord Grantham, played by Hugh Bonneville, declared his enduring love for his wife Lady Cora (Elizabeth McGovern), when he accepted her working at a hospital.

However, if members of the cast didn’t want to continue, it wouldn’t have been the same.