After six successful seasons, "Downton Abbey" finally bid goodbye to its viewers on March 6.
The British period drama attained success even among American viewers. But to avoid stirring up any controversy, the show created by Julian Fellowes avoided filming scenes showing its characters praying.
Alastair Bruce, who served as the show's historical advisor, told The Telegraph the producers were specifically ordered to "leave religion out of it" because they feared a large number of atheist and non-Christian viewers might get turned off if they did so.
Bruce explained that this was the reason why the Crawley family was never seen in the process of sitting down to dinner to leave out the part where the family would say grace. Fans noted that in the show the family would always be seen already mid-way in their meal.
"In essence you hardly ever see a table that isn't already sat at. I think the view was that we'd leave religion out of it, and it would've taken extra time, too. I suggested a Latin grace, but they decided that was too far, and no one would've known what was going on," said Bruce.
Bruce added that the show was so particular about avoiding religious acts that he was even prohibited from featuring napkins that are folded in the shape of a bishop's mitre.
Meanwhile Peter Fincham, ITV's director of television, said during a separate interview that he almost changed the name of the series because there were some who were iffy about the word "Abbey."
"I can remember discussions that almost seem comical now. We talked about the word Abbey. Would people think it would have nuns or monks in it and be a religious series? But we satisfied ourselves they wouldn't and did a bit of marketing around it," he said.
