It was just announced this week that the new season will kick off on January 5 and run through February 23, with show stars like Shirley MacLaine, Maggie Smith and Elizabeth McGovern returning to reprise their roles on the beloved series.

The show also plans on adding six new characters to show, including reports from earlier this year that fans could look forward to a black character joining the show in the role of a jazz singer, possibly as a love interest for Lady Mary, played by actress Michelle Dockery.