Downton Abbey to return for season 5, season 4 wraps in the UK

Last night Downton Abbey's fourth season finale aired in the United Kingdom, and it has just been announced the series will return for its fifth season, according to Deadline.com. The UK network ITV had its highest premiere ratings ever at the start of the fourth season on September 22nd. It is hands down Britain's highest-ratings show of the year.

The United States has to wait to see Season 4 until January 5th on PBS' Masterpiece. The series will run until February 23rd. The US is set to get a preview special on December 1st. But ITV in the UK seems to get all the perks, being ahead of the plot by the rest of us. On Christmas Day, ITV will get a 2-hour special. At this time, we can only guess season 5 will air on ITV before the US sometime in the fall (as usual), and the US to follow in January 2015. 

Executive producer Gareth Neame, said in a statement, "We promise all the usual highs and lows, romance, drama and comedy played out by some of the most iconic characters on television." He added, "All the actors and makers of the show continue to be humbled by the extraordinary audience response and want to take the show from strength to strength next year." 

The show, which follows the Crawley family and its servants, started season 1 with the sinking of the Titanic. Now, season 4 is set in the Roaring Twenties. Its this rich history melded with a soap opera-like storyline that helps keep fans coming back for more.

Have you watched the series -- are you still a loyal follower?