‘Downton Abbey’ season 4 spoilers: Brendan Coyle on missing Dan Stevens, new episodes

When it comes to “Downton Abbey,” moving forward has to be a key, because no matter what happens you follow that British “keep calm and carry on” tradition. Look at Michelle Dockery’s Mary, and the rumors that at some point, she will get over the passing of Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) enough to consider falling in love again. When it comes to Brendan Coyle’s Mr. Bates, he has to try and settle into an ordinary life again after spending so much time behind bars.

In some ways, Coyle himself is taking on this sort of steadfast personality as his character, telling the Radio Times the following about the sort of philosophy that he and his fellow co-stars are taking when it comes to planning what comes ahead with the hit series:

“Instead of cutting back and cutting back and saying, ‘We have a success now,’ the producers want to expand. Not just in terms of bringing in more characters, but the variety of characters and the situations they find themselves in. It’s not going to last forever but we’re all enjoying it very much. Like I say, this is our best [season].”

With this of course being said, Coyle is also reasonably quick to admit that he does also miss some of his former co-stars at the same time, which is understandable given the journey that they have went on over the years:

“You miss people. I miss Jessica [Brown Findlay], I miss Dan [Stevens], I’m really going to miss Siobhan [Finneran]. You miss them because it’s a tight unit and they’re all great people and great actors, but they move on. And you just have to crack on.”

Season 4 of “Downton Abbey” will premiere on PBS early next year; as for the show’s return to British television, the only thing that can be confirmed for now is that there will be new episodes on ITV this fall.

Want more story-related scoop? Then click here, as you can see what is coming up next for Gary Carr and his character of Jack Ross.

Photo: ITV