The last season for Downton Abbey has reportedly been announced, which ought to leave fans in good hopes for a while.

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On Sunday, Express reported that executive producer Gareth Neame revealed at an event that the series will likely go off the air by 2018.

"The question as to where it ends is something we will think very carefully about," Neame said. "It will not be 10 years and we are filming series five now."

Former Character Returning To The Series?

As for how the final season will end, series creator Julian Fellowes mentioned that he did not have any plans to kill off any of the cast members, and brought up the wedding massacre scene in Game of Thrones.

"Someone with a machine gun?" Fellowes said while laughing. "I can't see it."

The creator remained coy about what the future holds for the series, but revealed that he plans to stay determined in keeping things the way they should be.

"Every show has its own rules and as long as you stick to those rules, you do not disappoint," Fellowes said.

Rumor has it that a former cast member could return to the series to cause some more drama. Siobhan Finneran who played Sarah O'Brien said that she would love to come back.

"I'd love playing her, but she'd have to go back for some reason," the actress told The Sun published on Belfast Telegraph. "I'd love to return and wreck the Bates' marriage or something like that."

Downton Abbey Season 5 is expected to premiere in January 2015 on PBS.