On this day: Downton Abbey first aired in 2010

Could it really be 14 years since Downton Abbey first aired?

The beloved prestige soap opera debuted in the UK on 26 September, 2010, kicking off a turbulent family saga that would span six seasons and two movies (with a third film on the way).

To celebrate, we’re taking a trip down memory lane with some of our favourite moments from the show — starting with the many barbed one liners of Dame Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham.

Who could forget the tumultuous “will they or won’t they” relationship between Lady Mary and her cousin, Matthew Crawley, seemingly fated from their prickly first meeting? Here’s how it all began…

And of course, there’s John Lunn’s ‘s the iconic theme song. To any seasoned viewer, this warm and wonderful melody will feel like an old friend.

The story is not yet over; a third and reportedly final Downton Abbey film is currently in production and slated for a release in September 2025.