'Downton Abbey' Season 6 Cast & Spoilers: Brendan Coyle Out in Alleged Last Leg of TV Series?

It seems that the fifth season of "Downton Abbey" is the last for Brendan Coyle, as the actor who plays Bates may be exiting the show.

In a spoiler for Season 6, iDigitalTimes noted that Coyle left open the possibility that we're seeing the last of him soon. At the end of the season, Bates's wife, Anna, was arrested on the suspicion of murdering Mr Green, the man who raped her. When Lord Grantham assured him that Anna won't be convicted of the heinous crime, Bates grimly replies, "No, she will not be convicted."

Considering that Bates is not the kind of person who will let his wife go to jail, he will probably take advantage of the lost ticket that could be his alibi, and instead confess to murdering Mr Green to get his wife off the charges. He will then be hanged for the murder, and that's the last we're going to see of him.

Variety also noted that it may not only be Bates we're going to have to say bye to after season 6, as there were rumors of the show ending. However, executive producer Gareth Naeme said about the speculation, "We plan the show from year to year, and right now I just want the cameras rolling..."

He also added jokingly, "If I had a dollar for every time, every day this comes up...We are entirely focused on Season 6 right now, and getting scripts ready for production."

PBS President Paula Kerger also said about the alleged end of the series, "We're planning on Season 6. After the holiday when everyone is depressed, and it's cold and dark...we are happy to bring the Crawley family back to the American public."

People also noted that writer Julian Fellowes will be giving up "Downton Abbey" for a new project for NBC called "The Gilded Age" which is set for a 2016 premiere in the US. Fellowes previously admitted that he could not work on other projects while doing "Downton,"

NBC Chairman, Bob Greenblatt told Variety about Fellowes's work, "I think he's at a point now where he's able to start developing and writing our new show. Hopefully this show will be coming to life sometime in the next season."

"Downton Abbey" is set to begin filming for its sixth season in the UK this spring.

Do you think it's really going to be the last season for the series, or will it only be the last for Coyle's character, Bates?