‘Downton Abbey’ Season 4: Who Else Is Leaving the Cast?

Despite the fact that UK audiences knew a good two months before we did, 'Downton Abbey' fans were shocked by the most recent, which saw two major departures from the cast, and not in the "maybe they'll return for a cliffhanger!" sort of way. Now, as the award-winning Masterpiece drama prepares to go before cameras for a fourth season, we've learned that one more major cast member has exited the series, and won't film a proper goodbye onscreen. Find out who's leaving 'Downton Abbey' inside!

Those who haven't witnessed the 'Downton Abbey' season 3 finale by now may wish to turn back, but it seems the TV gods have claimed yet another of the establishment's residents. After Dan Stevens and Jessica Brown Findlay were shuffled off the series over the course of season 3, it seems 'Downton Abbey's resident malicious maid Siobhan Finneran will be departing the series as well.

Unlike Matthew Crawley and Lady Sybill, however, Siobhan Finneran's character Sarah O'Brien won't be killed off from the series, nor will she be given an on-screen goodbye. Finneran told the UK's Mirror, "I’m not doing any more. O’Brien is a thoroughly despicable human being — that was great to play.” No reason was given for the departure, but O'Brien's exit will reportely be addressed in exposition when 'Downton Abbey' season 4 picks up six months down the line from the season 3 ending.

What say you? Are you disappointed 'Downton Abbey' lost another of its biggest characters? Are you looking forward to the fourth season, whenever it premieres in the US?