Victoria star Jenna Coleman has been discussing the pressure of replacing Downton Abbey on PBS.

From the makers of Poldark, the eight-part series follows Queen Victoria (Coleman) from her accession to the throne at the tender age of 18 through to her courtship and marriage to Prince Albert.

Victoria will premiere in the U.S. at 9pm on Sunday 15 January 2017 on PBS, in the slot traditionally taken by Downton Abbey for the past six years.

Buy Victoria on DVD on Amazon here.

Coleman told Deadline: “There is a lot of expectation but I think Downton was a phenomenon. It’s its own. The shows are both period dramas and that’s kind of where the similarities end. It’s a completely different period of time.”

The Doctor Who actress added: “What’s fantastic is that Downton has been so popular in the U.S. that it’s carved an audience that hopefully are hungry for investing in the next drama which takes you back to somewhere which isn’t now.”

The final episode of Downton Abbey aired last Christmas on ITV.

Buy the complete Season 1-6 box set on Amazon here.

Victoria has now been sold to over 150 countries worldwide.

Watch the PBS trailer…

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