
17 July 2018
Stream the Downton Abbey boxset before the movie hits cinemas
Update: Downton Abbey is no longer on Showmax. Find your next British binge in the series catalogue here.
Love a bit of British snobbery, with a liberal sprinkling of snooty one-liners and dry put-downs? (Who doesn’t, right)? Get your period drama fix by returning to the Crawley family’s Yorkshire country manor when you stream the full boxset of Downton Abbey, Seasons 1 to 6, on Showmax ahead of the upcoming big-screen adaptation of the series.
Written by Julian Fellowes (who also brought us the four-part miniseries Titanic and the 2013 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet), who is also going to have a hand in the film, Downton Abbey won 15 Emmy Awards and three Golden Globes during its run.
The full main cast of the show is set to return – from Maggie Smith as Violet the Dowager Countess to Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary and Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham. And let’s not forget the Grantham’s employees, since without the attentions of the cook Mrs Patmore (Lesley Nicol), butler Mr Carson (Jim Carter), and the rest of the downstairs staff, the Crawleys would never survive.
The one cast member who’s not set to return is Lily James as Lady Rose, a cousin on Violet’s side, who is sent to Downton when her parents are serving the empire in India. Rose was sent to the States during the series, so “it would be far-fetched to bring her back,” James told PEOPLE magazine.
Craving more period drama? Check out our list of the top picks on Showmax below, and don’t miss our top-class British series while you’re at it.
https://stories.showmax.com/5-british-period-dramas-fit-for-royalty/
https://stories.showmax.com/the-best-british-series-to-stream/
Original African stories by local talent

The ABC Killer
The ABC Killer is a twisty true-crime documentary series about serial killer Moses Sithole. Stream from 22 July on Showmax.

What if we believed the best can come from here?
Let’s rewrite the rules of what it means to be local.

Untied S1
Untied explores the deeply personal and often complex experience of divorce, told through the voices of women who have lived it. Stream now, with new episodes every Tuesday.

Reckless S1
Reckless follows a pair of young brothers who find themselves at a crossroads when a tragic accident changes their lives forever. Stream now, with new episodes every Monday and Tuesday.

The Mommy Club NBO
The Mommy Club NBO is the fifth instalment of the record-breaking Mommy Club franchise. Stream now, with new episodes every Friday.

Empini S1-2
Empini is a high-stakes, action-packed drama set in the ruthless, corrupt world of private security. Season 2 is now streaming, with new episodes every Tuesday.

Youngins S1-2
Stream Tshedza Pictures’s first teen drama, Showmax Original Youngins. S1 and S2 are ready to binge.

The Real Housewives of Durban Seasons 1-5
Our eThekwini queens are back with a brand-new season. Stream Season 5 now, with new episodes every Friday.
SA celebs open up about divorce on Untied
The action heats up on Empini
More Mzansi gold

Date My Family S1-12
Find your next bae based solely on the impression their family gives. That’s the format of Date My Family S1-12 on Showmax.

Laugh Africa Comedy Club
A high-energy celebration of stand-up, spotlighting the continent’s finest comedic talent and international guests, straight from the iconic Laugh Africa Comedy Festival.

Sorisha Naidoo on being an OG of The Real Housewives of Durban
Sorisha Naidoo reflects on her journey in The Real Housewives of Durban ahead of the highly anticipated Season 5 reunion, airing in two parts on Showmax, on 4 July and 11 July 2025.

Een Keer Om Die Son S1
Over the course of a year, the Van Wyks mourn the loss of a loved one and struggle with divorce, illness, forgiveness, high school and secrets as they heal and find each other again.