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The best made television that South African TV viewers will see all year will suddenly last a whole lot longer: Downton Abbey - the absolutely terrific Britcast set 100 years ago - is getting the starting date of its second series dramatically moved up and will now start on BBC Entertainment on 8 July.
Last month just before the first series of the sumptuous show ended, I asked the BBC about when South African viewers would get to see the second series of Downton Abbey which just concluded earlier this year in America. Usually the time between TV seasons is roughly a year. BBC told me last month there is no definite starting date ... yet. And now its changed!
If you haven't watched the aristocratic antics of the Crawleys yet ... do so ... please. BBC Entertainment actually shows repeats as well as marathon weekend episodes of Downton Abbey - check your TV guides. BBC Entertainment also has very interesting behind-the-scenes bits and cast interviews running between shows on the channel's programme schedule.
The first series of Downton Abbey scored a massive 400 000 viewers for BBC Entertainment, making the channel the number 1 international channel on DStv during its timeslot and achieving the second highest viewing figure on the channel this year.
The second series of Downton Abbey which starts on 8 July will take place amidst the shadow of the First World War. Viewers can get ready for more captivating plot line twists of deception, intrigue and of course love and scandal in a further 9 episodes. Downton Abbey becomes a kind of hospital for war wounded, but there's war on every front as everybody within the household - upstairs as well as downstairs - are battling with their own issues.
Take a look at this (
