Downton Abbey has officially won the battle of the British period dramas. Though it’s unlikely that the show would exist if it weren’t for Upstairs Downstairs, the BBC has canceled the recent reboot of the classic ’70s series.
The new incarnation of Upstairs Downstairs aired in the U.K. in 2010, and then scored six Emmy nominations when it played in the U.S. on PBS’ Masterpiece. The show’s six-episode second series has yet to air in the U.S., but after the ratings took a nosedive in Britain, the BBC announced that no more episodes will be produced. A network spokesperson said, “From Call the Midwife to Bird Song and The Syndicate, 2012 has been a great year for Original British Drama on BBC1 but at this stage there are no plans for Upstairs Downstairs to return.” There are several petitions to save the show circulating online, but it seems unlikely that they’ll manage to resurrect Downton‘s less steamy cousin.
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[Deadline]