When does Downton Abbey Season 5 start in the US? PBS Release Premiere Date

When does the new series of Downton Abbey start in the US?

PBS have now officially set the Downton Abbey season 5 premiere date for Sunday, January 4, 2015 at 9:00pm on Masterpiece.

The biggest cast announcement made for the upcoming season see’s the arrival of ‘Gosford Park’ actor Richard E. Grant, who plays new character Simon Bricker, a guest of the Granthams.

Guest starring in 2015 will be ‘The Hour’ actress Anna Chancellor as Lady Anstruther and Croatian actor Rade Šerbedžija who plays an as yet unnamed Russian refugee.

Executive Producer of Downton Abbey, Gareth Neame, told Masterpiece: “We are delighted to welcome these talented actors to the world of Downton. The characters they play are set to bring yet more excitement and intrigue to the show.”

Viewers will also see the return of former cast members Dame Harriet Walter and Peter Egan, who return to the roles of Lady Shackleton and Lord Flintshire respectively. It was recently announced too that Hollywood A-lister George Clooney had filmed a special Downton scene, to be aired in Britain as part of ITV’s Text Santa charity programming. Best keep a lookout for that one on YouTube this December.

Despite the award winning period drama airing a few months later in America than across the Atlantic, Downton’s UK channel ITV are still yet to reveal their series 5 start date. We expect the show to begin airing on ITV around mid-September.

UPDATE: UK viewers will be re-introduced to the Crawley’s on Sunday September 21, 2014 at 9:00pm.

To get yourself even more in the mood for the new series, check out the official Downton Abbey, Season 5 teaser trailer (above) from PBS.