Downton Abbey, the ember of intelligent drama on ITV

The Downton Abbey finale attracted an average of 10 million viewers on Sunday evening.

8th November 2010

Downton Abbey, an Edwardian period drama on ITV1 concluded yesterday evening with news that Britain was at war with Germany. I enjoyed this programme immensely. In my mind Downton Abbey is the silhouette of sanity on an otherwise utterly disappointing channel riddled with programming which caters to the manufacture of celebrities and enlargement of Simon Cowell's wallet.

I have previously written in my post Bread and Circuses that two thousands years may separate us but we are identical to the Romans. I think that ITV1 and ITV2 epitomise this view. It is my belief that ITV1 is largely a channel for gossip and celebrity culture which has been instrumental in dulling the minds of our Nation through the spectacle of circus. That is why I am so pleased and surprised that ITV has commissioned such a high quality period dramas with intelligence and wit. It is perfect Sunday evening viewing.

The quality of the writing to some should be of little surprise as the show has was written and created by Oscar-winning Julian Fellowes. Fellowes won his Oscar for Best Writing with the script of period murder mystery, Gosford Park.

I hope what with the success of series one will mean that ITV places greater merit on high quality drama as entertainment rather than producing copious talent shows. Downton Abbey has in my eyes been a considerable home run for ITV as I have been attracted back to a channel I usually avoid. Typically I do not watch ITV1 because of the displeasure X Factor and Britain Got Talent causes me.

I hope the success of series one of Downton Abbey which I see as an ember of intelligent programming gives ITV's director of drama commissioning, Laura Mackie, the impetus to produce more superbly written entertainment.

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