The return of Downton Abbey last night was unable to match the launch of last year’s series.

However, the show still proved to be popular, drawing an average audience of 9 million.

But that’s still 300,000 fewer viewers than the first episode of the 2011 series.

The figures mean that Downton, which has moved into the 1920s for its latest run, has become the station’s highest rating drama so far this year.

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