Those of you who crave the aristocratic aura of that PBS period piece Downton Abbey can take heart knowing that as the post-Edwardian era comes to its close Its creator Julian Fellowes will likely be bringing some familiar faces to the new show 'The Gilded Age', a series about the upper crust of New York’s social society set in the 19th century.

Speaking about the upcoming NBC show to Radio Times Fellows said: "They can't be the same people because Gilded Age is much earlier. It's in the 1870s, so none of them would be born." He went on say: "But I'd love to work with them again. What a good idea. One or two familiar faces just to make [American viewers] feel at home!"

His confidence with the genre he has become master of is palpable.

"I'd never done an open-ended series. Now I feel I know much more about the game. I suppose there is something interesting about the idea of going on and using it somewhere else," said Fellows.

Though the start of the series has been announced by NBC Entertainment President Robert Greenblatt Fellows was according to the Radio Times quick to dispel rumors that he was ready to start working on the series, saying:"Everyone always keeps announcing that it's about to happen, but I've had that for about four years now."

Fellows has been glib and curt about when Downton Abbey will end; in Vanity Fair he said: “It's not going to go on forever. It won’t be Perry Mason.”

NBC was previously offered Downton Abbey, but they turned had it down.

The award winning drama was picked up by PBS instead and has become the one of highest-rated dramas in the channel’s history.

The show has attracting 8 million viewers three and won six Emmy awards.