'Downton Abbey' to end with season six

Popular British drama series "Downton Abbey" will end its run with season six, its makers have announced.

"Millions of people around the world have followed the journey of the Crawley family and those who serve them for the last five years. Inevitably there comes a time when all shows should end, and Downton is no exception," Carnival Films' managing director Gareth Neame, who is also the show's executive producer said on Thursday, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

"We wanted to close the doors of 'Downton Abbey' when it felt right and natural for the storylines to come together and when the show was still being enjoyed so much by its fans. We can promise a final season full of all the usual drama and intrigue, but with the added excitement of discovering how and where they all end up," he added.

"Downton Abbey" is the highest rated Britain drama of the past decade across channels, with an average of 11 million viewers over the course of the five seasons so far, including Christmas specials, the companies said.

Created by writer-creator Julian Fellowes, the show follows an aristocratic family's fortunes from 1912 to the mid-1920s.

Hugh Bonneville and McGovern have played the Earl and Countess of Grantham since the show began in 2010.

The drama has won a string of awards since its inception, including two Baftas, three Golden Globes and 11 Primetime Emmys.

Shooting for the sixth and final season has begun in Wiltshire, England.