'Masterpiece' Executive Reflects On Career, 'Downton Abbey'

09:39

January 01, 2014

The PBS series, "Downton Abbey," has been the most popular drama on the venerable PBS series, "Masterpiece." The next season starts on January 5. (PBS)

The season premiere of "Downton Abbey," PBS's wildly popular drama, is just around the corner, on Sunday Jan. 5. It has been PBS' most watched drama.

"Downton Abbey" airs on the venerable PBS series, “Masterpiece,” a broadcasting icon that has brought British drama to American homes for more than 40 years.

But "Masterpiece" executive producer, Rebecca Eaton, tells Here & Now's Meghna Chakrabarti that when the Downton script first came her way, she decided against putting the show on PBS.

Hear the original interview on Radio Boston

Guest

Rebecca Eaton, executive producer of Masterpiece “Making Masterpiece: 25 years Behind the Scenes at Masterpiece Theatre and Mystery! on PBS.”

This segment aired on January 1, 2014.