Could Fellowes be leaving Downton? (From Thisisdorset)

Could Fellowes be leaving Downton?

2:53pm Wednesday 20th February 2013 in Latest By Miriam Phillips, Chief Reporter

Julian Fellowes has hinted that he could quit writing Downton Abbey.

The hit period drama's creator, who lives in West Stafford,  suggested in an interview that Downton could continue without him if his US pilot The Gilded Age takes off.

He told The New York Times: "If I'm doing a series at NBC, I would not be able to write all of Downton and all of that series at the same time... If Downton goes on - of course that's not my decision - then it would be with other writers. Perhaps with me supervising, but with other writers."

Asked if he could imagine Downton continuing without him, he said: "I think it would be funny. But in life, you no sooner say 'Oh, I'd never do such and such' than you find yourself strapped into a chair, doing it.

"There's no point, really, in making pronouncements of absolutes. The only thing is, I know I would not be able to write 11 hours of Downton and 10 hours of The Gilded Age, or whatever it is, side by side."

He added: "My own belief is that these things have a life. And one of the tricks is to recognise when it's time to come to an end. But we haven't made a decision when that will be. Some things go on for 20 years, don't they, but I just don't see Downton being one of them."