Fans of the show Downton Abbey will be sad to know that season 4, whose season opener attracted a record high 10.2 million viewers in the U.S. will come to a close on Feb. 23, but Carnival Films and Masterpiece on PBS announced that season 5 is set to begin filming this month and will premier later on in 2014.

Its Emmy and Golden Globe recognition makes the British produced series Downton Abbey one of the most talked about and acclaimed dramas on television, no surprising feat considering it had to attract fans in both the U.K. and U.S. PBS grew the American fanbase considerably by airing it as a part of its Masterpiece Classic anthology and in return the show has brought the network record-high ratings.

"Audiences have enjoyed their regular Sunday evening visits back to Downton once again this autumn and we are thrilled to produce a new series of the show next year. We promise all the usual highs and lows, romance, drama and comedy played out by some of the most iconic characters on television. All the actors and makers of the show continue to be humbled by the extraordinary audience response and want to take the show from strength to strength next year," executive producer Gareth Neame said about the new season.

Matt Damon, whose wife is reportedly a big fan of the show, may be receiving a guest starring role, in addition to new character Simon Bricker (played by Richard E. Grant), who visits Downton Abbey as a guest of the Granthams. Anna Chancellor joins in a guest role playing Lady Anstruther and Rade Sherbedgia of 24 as a Russian refugee, in addition to the returning stars of the previous seasons: Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Jim Carter, Penelope Wilton, Phyllis Logan, Samantha Bond, Laura Carmichael, Lily James, Allen Leech, Brendan Coyle, Joanne Froggatt, Lesley Nicol, Sophie McShera, Rob James-Collier, Ed Speleers, Kevin Doyle, Raquel Cassidy, David Robb, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Daisy Lewis, Douglas Reith, Jeremy Swift and Andrew Scarborough.