And so another series of Downton Abbey, one of the finest shows to come out of Great Britain in years, has come to an end just when things were really starting to get juicy. While a Christmas special is due to air at the end of the year (reportedly racking in at a bum-numbing two hours in length, so make sure you've got your snack supplies ready beforehand, people), it'll be a long twelve months before Downton Abbey opens its doors to us mere peasants again this time next year and treats us to drama so slow-burning, it's positively glacial. Whether you're watching for the fashion, or Maggie Smith's putdowns, or even the storylines (as if...), we've compiled a list of the things we're all hoping to see in the future on Downton Abbey...
10. Shirley MacLaine Makes A Downton Comeback
It was cruel of the Downton Abbey producers to announce that Shirley MacLaine would be joining the cast as Cora's outspoken and vivacious mother, and then only have her stay for one episode. Shirley's performance as Martha Levinson was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the show's third series, so in the future instead of teasing us with such a short stay we'd like to see her stick around for at least a few episodes. It was great seeing a different side to Cora with someone from her past in America kicking around the abbey, not to mention the fact it would be great to see Dame Maggie Smith finally square off against someone who can give it out as well as she can in future episodes. Plus, let's be honest, anything that means we get to see more of Shirley MacLaine on our screens surely can't be a bad thing?