Downton Abbey star lets slip pregnancy plot in final movie

Actress Joanne Froggatt shed light on the anticipated new Downton Abbey film during her Monday night appearance on The One Show, chatting with hosts Gethin Jones and Alex Scott.

The host eagerly asked about the final chapter of the cherished period drama, which drops in September, as she questioned: "Are you ready to say goodbye?"

To which Joanne responded: "Oh my goodness, it's going to be hard! We've said goodbye a few times, thinking, 'This is the end', at the end of the seasons. Then we did one movie and we wondered if we'd get a second movie.

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"This really is, the third and final, so this really is goodbye. It's going to be emotional, but all good things must come to an end, I suppose."

Audiences will recognize Joanne from her enduring role as Anna Bates in the saga, emerging onto the scene back in 2010, reports .

The series concluded in 2015 with her role capping off an impressive run, though she reprised her role for the subsequent movies, with the first launching four years post-finale in 2019.

As Joanne confirmed this marks the cast's last curtain call, host Gethin Jones couldn't resist probing for some juicy tidbits about the finale.

Challenged about spilling any details, Joanne divulged: "Look, I think I can say Anna, my character, is pregnant because I was pregnant when we were filming and there's been pictures out there, so that's one spoiler."

Gethin appeared oblivious to the revelation as his reaction conveyed visible astonishment. In jest, Joanna supplemented her confession with: "I wrote my own storyline there!"

Downton Abbey enthusiasts welcomed the suggestion last year from Imelda Staunton that one last movie was in the offing. Since that hint, more recent news disclosed the upcoming, highly-anticipated film would bear the title, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.

Just last week, the Downton Abbey account on unveiled the official poster for the new film. The poignant image depicts Lady Mary Crawley, played by Michelle Dockery, walking through a hallway at Highclere Castle.

Quickly, comments started rolling in from devotees voicing their opinions on the impending finale film. One dismayed fan stated: "NOO [sic] You simply must do prequels!!"

Another concerned viewer wrote: "Goodbye? Why? I hope the series doesn't end on a horrible note e.g with the family selling the estate."

Meanwhile, someone else yearned for more, reflecting on the era's iconic style: "Mp, we need another full series set in the 1930s- they had the best fashion."

One optimistic fan suggested maybe the end of the film could lead to new beginnings on the small screen: "Goodbye to the movies? Maybe hello to a continuing series?"

Yet another enthusiast wrote: "This will feel like saying goodbye to a dear friend."

.The One Show is available to watch on iPlayer and Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is set to be released on 12 September 2025