Upstairs Downstairs axed by BBC

BBC One’s period drama Upstairs Downstairs has reportedly been axed by the BBC.
The BBC One revival of the classic LWT drama was penned by Heidi Thomas who also adaptedCranford, and more recently Call the Midwife, for the corporation. The second series of Upstairs Downstairs aired on BBC One earlier this year but its ratings were down on the three-part run during Christmas 2010. By the time the six-part series had concluded on BBC One ratings had dropped to 5.2 million viewers compared with 7.8 million viewers who watched the series premier just weeks before (figures are based on BARB final ratings and not overnight figures).
Actor Neil Jackson, who played Harry Spargo in the drama, confirmed the demise of the series on his Twitter page. The actor wrote‘Such a shame. I have just heard that the BBC will not be making any more Upstairs Downstairs. I loved the show and will miss… [it] greatly’ 
Upstairs Downstairs starred Keeley Hawes, Ed Stoppard, Anne Reid, Adrian Scarborough, Ark Malik and Alex Kingston while original series actress Jean Marsh – who also created the original series – appeared in two episodes of the second series. Marsh was originally slated to appear in all six episodes but suffered a stroke shortly before production began and subsequently could only appear in two episodes.
Writer Heidi Thomas had previously spoken of a desire to pen a third series of Upstairs Downstairswhich would cover the Second World War years.