The star has been dealt a major blow as her new series from an Oscar-nominated creator was axed.
The star was unrecognisable from her Downton days in the now-axed series(Image: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic via Getty Images)
A Downton Abbey star has been given a tough hit to her career as the BBC appeared to cancel her show from an Oscar-nominated creator after just one series. Michelle Dockery, who rose to fame as Lady Mary in the ITV show, has experienced less success with her recent television project.
This Town, created by Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight, will reportedly not be returning for a second season, reports the Express. The six-part 1980s musical drama premiered on BBC One on March 31 last year.
Prior to the first episode’s airing, Dockery expressed her enthusiasm for her role of Estella, an alcoholic singer, stating, “She’s an amazing character. I just loved her. When I read the script for the first time, I just fell in love with all of the characters in this; it’s just so beautiful and relatable.”
In the series, Dockery was almost unrecognisable from her Downton days, sporting a huge backcombed perm, heavy eye makeup, and the iconic era’s fashion trends.
The star’s newest show has been axed after just one series(Image: BBC)
Her refined Downton accent was replaced with a Brummie dialect, and she showcased her impressive singing talent with a stirring rendition of Somewhere Over The Rainbow during a funeral scene.
Like her fellow cast members, Dockery performed all her own singing in the drama, which served as Knight’s homage to the West Midlands music scene in the 1980s.
The programme kicked off impressively with 3.2 million viewers, but by the end of its run, it had lost a million.
But it still managed to bag the Royal Television Society Award for Limited Series and Single Drama earlier this year.
At the launch at the BFI in London, creator Steven expressed his optimism that the show would have a long lifespan.
“I certainly have enough ideas for more episodes going forward. I hope we are with these characters for a long time to come,” he stated.
However, the BBC seemed to confirm that there will be no further episodes.
A spokesperson commented: “We’re hugely grateful to Steven Knight and the cast and crew for bringing This Town to life – in no small part due to Steven’s passion for the West Midlands.
“We look forward to working with him on new projects in the future, and we’re in talks about what’s next.”
Also for fans of Downton Abbey, another period drama is gaining serious popularity on the BBC.
Wolf Hall is a British TV series based on two of Hilary Mantel’s acclaimed novels Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies.
This fictionalised biography follows the life of Thomas Cromwell – the influential advisor to King Henry VIII.
The six-part series first aired on the BBC in 2015, directed by BAFTA-winning filmmaker Peter Kosminsky and was adapted for the screen by acclaimed screenwriter Peter Straughan.
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