Downton Abbey Celebrates Success With A Special Tribute Show

Downton Abbey might almost be finished for good (SOB), but we’ve still got a few treats to look forward to, including their Christmas special.

Not only that, but tonight we’ll be treated to a very exciting tribute programme celebrating the outstanding success of the show.

Copyright [Kieron McCarron/ITV]

The programme will include the moment they won BAFTA’s Special Award, presented by Dame Julie Walters.

Jonathan Ross will be hosting ‘BAFTA Celebrates Downton Abbey’, with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to some of the last ever recorded scenes, while creator Julian Fellowes will reveal secrets about the show and how the show was created.

Hugh Bonneville and Dame Maggie Smith will perform a specially written sketch, and there will be performances from Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Julian Ovenden.

If that’s not enough, ‘What Downton means to me’ will be shown, in which various fans, including royalty, will reveal what the show has meant to them.

Copyright [Kieron McCarron/ITV]

Speaking to stv.tv, Julian explained: “It was rather an extora evening in a way, you never normally get that, I’ve never heard of anything similar, and it was rather marvellous really.

“And seeing all the people like Dan [Stevens who played Matthew] who had gone the series and either died or gone off to green fields and pastures new, there was something rather touching about it.”

Amanda Berry, OBE, Chief Executive of BAFTA, said: “I am delighted that BAFTA has paid tribute to Downton Abbey, an extraordinary series that has flown the flag for British drama since 2010.

“Our tribute will take us backstage with the cast and crew to reveal what’s made it both a national treasure and global phenomenon.”

Copyright [Kieron McCarron/ITV]

Gareth Neame, Executive Producer of the ITV show and managing director of Carnival Films (which produces Downton), added: “As Downton Abbey moves towards its conclusion with the final series, I speak for the entire cast and crew when I say how honoured we are that the Academy has recognised the show with this Special award.

“Not only is Downton a much loved show in Britain, it has huge success in both the US and right around the world, waving the flag for Britain and our creative content and that’s why BAFTA recognition means so much to us.”

This sounds like a perfectly fitting way to say goodbye - even if we’re not quite ready for the show to end yet.

BAFTA Celebrates Downton Abbey airs tonight (Mon 21 December) on ITV at 9pm