‘Downton Abbey’ season 4: A possible new look behind the scenes

There is little doubting at the moment that “Downton Abbey” is a phenomenon, and the reach of the show extends far beyond its home country in the United Kingdom. As a matter of fact, it has become just as much of a sensation here in the United States.

With this in mind, we bring you the news that the show, which is currently in the midst of season 4 production, could be featured in an upcoming book all about the history of “Masterpiece,” the program in which “Downton Abbey” is tied into in America.

It was announced on Monday the Rebecca Eaton, executive producer of “Masterpiece” for two and a half decades, has a book deal with Viking for “Making Masterpiece: 25 Years Behind the Scenes of Masterpiece Theatre and Mystery!” We’re sure that “Downton Abbey” is only going to be a small portion of the book, but you have to believe that it will be discussed in large part thanks to the series’ ability to draw in record numbers for PBS. While there have been occasional complaints about the extensive waiting time between seasons, especially since audiences in the United Kingdom are seeing them several months earlier, the show is still finding a way to continually deliver and place “Masterpiece” into the spotlight.

Hopefully, this book will give us some insight into how a series becomes a part of “Masterpiece,” and all of the components that go into bringing successful international shows across the pond. Even with “Downton Abbey,” the series has to be re-edited so that it no longer contains commercial breaks as it does on ITV.

If you want to read some more of the latest “Downton Abbey” notes featuring Dan Stevens along with new actor Tom Cullen, be sure to head on over to the link here.

Photo: ITV