'Downton Abbey' Is A Ratings Hit With 8.1m Tuning In To Watch The Fifth Series, But Not Everyone On Twitter Was A Fan

'Downton Abbey' returned to our screens on Sunday night and more than 8 million of us settled down to watch the ITV period drama.

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In a victory for ITV, the first episode of the fifth series was watched by 8.1 million viewers - more than four million more than those who chose to watch the debut episode of the BBC's army drama, 'Our Girl'.


The cast of 'Downton Abbey'

But despite being a ratings hit, the new series of 'Downton' attracted mixed reviews from TV critics.

The Telegraph's Ben Lawrence said "there are still faults" with the drama and that some of the dialogue "should really have been left on the cutting room floor".

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And The Independent's Ellen E Jones described the episode as "slow-moving", but said it was worth tuning in if only to watch Maggie Smith's portrayal of the Dowager Countess.

Meanwhile, over on Twitter, many reviews weren't quite as polite (but rather funny)...

Watching Downton Abbey makes me wish I lived in the 1920s, where I wouldn't have to watch Downton Abbey.

— Glenn Moore (@TheNewsAtGlenn) September 22, 2014

Jesus, is Downton still on? Have we reached the Falklands War yet?

— Bibi Does Soho (@BibiLynch) September 21, 2014

How long is it til Fascism? Can't come too soon tbh #Downton

— Catriona (@lacatchat) September 21, 2014

"Marriage is a lottery"

Did they really have the lottery back then?

#Downton

— Lily (@LilyThePurr) September 21, 2014

Anyone else catch this obvious prop mistake on Downton Abbey? #notphotoshopped pic.twitter.com/PGilyKMvrD

— JamieDMJ (@JamieDMJ) September 21, 2014

Why does ITV insist on interrupting the ads with Downton Abbey?

— tom jamieson (@jamiesont) September 21, 2014

Fingers crossed this is the Downton ep where the toffs are kind & any poor people who don't know their place get their comeuppance.

— tom jamieson (@jamiesont) September 21, 2014

Can’t wait for the chronology of Downton Abbey to reach the present day, when they’ve got television, and they all watch Downton Abbey.

— paul bassett davies (@thewritertype) September 21, 2014

Surely Downton's caught up with the present day at the *very least*. Hoping Maggie Smith's now a cyborg from a futuristic police state.

— Philippa Warr (@philippawarr) September 21, 2014

Is Downton Abbey the programme where someone enters a room in period dress, interrupting a conversation between people in period dress?

— Dan (@ThatConnArtist) September 21, 2014

Downton. EastEnders for people who like gardening catalogues.

— David Quantick (@quantick) September 21, 2014

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