The Crown to run to six series after all

The Crown is to get a sixth and final season, Netflix has confirmed six months after creator Peter Morgan said the hit royal family drama series would end with its fifth season. 

Imelda Staunton, set to take over the role of the Queen for season five, will also play the part in the final season, taking over from current star Olivia Coleman. The fourth season of the series, which wrapped just before the coronavirus pandemic shut down production in the UK, is expected to screen sometime this year. 

In a statement, Morgan, who is also writer and executive producer of the series, said: “As we started to discuss the storylines for series five, it soon became clear that in order to do justice to the richness and complexity of the story we should go back to the original plan and do six seasons. To be clear, series six will not bring us any closer to present day - it will simply enable us to cover the same period in greater detail.” 

Cindy Holland, vice president of original content at Netflix, added: “The Crown keeps raising the bar with each new season. We can’t wait for audiences to see the upcoming fourth season, and we’re proud to support Peter’s vision and the phenomenal cast and crew for a sixth and final season.” 

Produced by the UK’s Left Bank Pictures, The Crown and its cast and crew have won awards including eight Emmys and three Bafta awards.