PBS Winter/Spring Lineup Including 'Downton Abbey' Finale and 'Mercy Street' Premiere

The final season of Downton Abbey, airing now in the UK, premieres on PBS in the US on January 3.

The winter/spring primetime PBS schedule offers a number of exciting new beginnings, awaited returns and a few goodbyes: most notably to one of television's most beloved dramas, "Downton Abbey" on MASTERPIECE, whose final season premieres January 3. PBS welcomes the highly anticipated premiere of its Civil War drama MERCY STREET on January 17 (see a clip here), and the return of the MASTERPIECE hits "Sherlock" (date TBA), and the British mystery series "Grantchester" this spring.

A chronological listing of winter and spring 2016 PBS programs follows, grouped by month and by premiere dates:

JANUARY ON PBS:

GREAT PERFORMANCES "From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2016" - The Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Mariss Jansons performs favorite Strauss Family waltzes at the opulent Musikverein accompanied by the Vienna City Ballet. Stage and screen legend Julie Andrews returns as host, touring the picturesque city. - Friday, January 1, 2:30-4:00 p.m. and 7:30-9:00 p.m. ET

MASTERPIECE "Downton Abbey, The Final Season" - The top PBS drama of all time approaches its climactic chapter. The year is 1925. Momentous changes threaten the great house, and its owners and its servants, while past scandals loom. The beloved ensemble is back for the farewell season, closing the book on a television legend. - Sundays, January 3 - February 21, 9:00 p.m. ET; series finale March 6, 9:00 p.m. ET

PBS has just released a sneak peek of the final season. Watch below:

Public Service Broadcasters BBC and PBS Announce Major New Partnership

PBS President and CEO Paula A. Kerger announced Monday at the PBS portion of the Television Critics Association Press Tour a unique new multi-title co-production deal between PBS, BBC and BBC Worldwide. It will create 8-10 new programming specials across approximately 20 hours a year, both stand-out singles and flagship multipart series, to air on PBS stations nationwide. Specials will begin airing as early as summer 2015.

Unique in its breadth and scale, this partnership will deliver a pipeline of inspiring content across the full range of factual genres, including natural history, science, history, religion and the arts. These ambitious specials may be part of the PBS schedule or featured in ongoing PBS programming series, including Nature and Great Performances, produced by Thirteen/WNET, and Nova, produced by WGBH.

'Arthur & George' and 'Home Fires' Added to PBS's 'Masterpiece'

Following the highly rated premiere of Downton Abbey, Season 5 on January 4, Masterpiece on PBS, one of the most celebrated drama series on television, today announced that it will bring two new series into its Sunday night lineup. Arthur & George, starring Martin Clunes (Doc Martin), and Home Fires will join the Masterpiece schedule later in 2015.

Masterpiece has experienced incredible momentum in recent years. With massive hits like Downton Abbey and Sherlock, Masterpiece's ratings have soared, making it the top-rated series on PBS. The 3.6 national household rating (live+7) average for 2014 is an increase of 80% over 2010.

"For Masterpiece to be the number one show on PBS in its 44th year is historic," says executive producer Rebecca Eaton. "We are proud of the work of our British partners and grateful to all of our American supporters." Masterpiece is presented by WGBH Boston.

'Downton Abbey' Renewed for Sixth Season

ITV and Carnival Films announced this morning that Downton Abbey will return for a sixth season. The show's fifth season premiered in the UK on September 21, and will debut January 4 in the US on PBS.

Downton Abbey tells intimately interlaced stories centered on an English country estate—a deliciously entertaining formula that has made it the highest-rated drama in PBS history.

Season 5 features returning stars Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Jim Carter, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt, Allen Leech, Robert James-Collier, Penelope Wilton, Phyllis Logan, Lily James, Brendan Coyle, Lesley Nicol, Sophie McShera, Samantha Bond, Ed Speleers, Kevin Doyle, Raquel Cassidy, David Robb, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Daisy Lewis, Douglas Reith, Jeremy Swift, and Andrew Scarborough.

The ensemble is joined by guest stars Harriet Walter (Atonement), reprising her role as Lady Shackleton, and Peter Egan (Death at a Funeral), who returns as Lord Flintshire, together with completely new characters played by Richard E. Grant (Girls), Anna Chancellor (The Hour), and Rade Sherbedgia (24).

Note: Downton Abbey
RELATED:
* 'Downton Abbey' Season 5 Trailer Released! Premieres September 21 on ITV, January 4 on PBS
* George Clooney to Appear In an ITV 'Downton Abbey' Christmas Sketch

'Downton Abbey' Season 5 Trailer Released! Premieres September 21 on ITV, January 4 on PBS

Downton Abbey returns for an epic fifth season of intimately interlaced stories centered on an English country estate—a deliciously entertaining formula that has made it the highest-rated drama in PBS history. Downton Abbey, Season 5, airs Sundays, January 4 - March 1, 2015 on Masterpiece on PBS.

Note: Downton Abbey premieres September 21 in the UK on ITV.

Season 5 features returning stars Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Jim Carter, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt, Allen Leech, Robert James-Collier, Penelope Wilton, Phyllis Logan, Lily James, Brendan Coyle, Lesley Nicol, Sophie McShera, Samantha Bond, Ed Speleers, Kevin Doyle, Raquel Cassidy, David Robb, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Daisy Lewis, Douglas Reith, Jeremy Swift, and Andrew Scarborough.

This acclaimed ensemble is joined by guest stars Harriet Walter (Atonement), reprising her role as Lady Shackleton, and Peter Egan (Death at a Funeral), who returns as Lord Flintshire, together with completely new characters played by Richard E. Grant (Girls), Anna Chancellor (The Hour), and Rade Sherbedgia (24).

'Downton Abbey' Season 5 Runs January 4 - March 1, 2015 on PBS (Spoilers)

Downton Abbey returns for an epic fifth season of intimately interlaced stories centered on an English country estate—a deliciously entertaining formula that has made it the highest-rated drama in PBS history. Downton Abbey, Season 5, airs Sundays, January 4 - March 1, 2015 on Masterpiece on PBS.

Note: Downton Abbey premieres September 21 in the UK on ITV.

Season 5 features returning stars Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Jim Carter, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt, Allen Leech, Robert James-Collier, Penelope Wilton, Phyllis Logan, Lily James, Brendan Coyle, Lesley Nicol, Sophie McShera, Samantha Bond, Ed Speleers, Kevin Doyle, Raquel Cassidy, David Robb, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Daisy Lewis, Douglas Reith, Jeremy Swift, and Andrew Scarborough.

This acclaimed ensemble is joined by guest stars Harriet Walter (Atonement), reprising her role as Lady Shackleton, and Peter Egan (Death at a Funeral), who returns as Lord Flintshire, together with completely new characters played by Richard E. Grant (Girls), Anna Chancellor (The Hour), and Rade Sherbedgia (24).

'Downton Abbey' 20-Second Teaser Released for Season 5

Judging from the newly-released ITV trailer for Downton Abbey's fifth season, the latest episodes will feature (spoiler alert!) polished silverware, heavy curtains and the return of a dinging service bell. And a plot line about things "changing."

Watch below: