It is probably the most famous dog’s bottom in TV history.

In the opening credits of Downton Abbey a labrador follows a man in toff’s tweeds – presumably Hugh Bonneville’s Lord Grantham – outside the stately home otherwise known as Highclere Castle on a glorious summer’s day.

But now it appears that his lordship will be dog-less for the sixth (and in all likelihood final) series, which is due to air later this year.

Hugh Bonneville has told RadioTimes.com that Lord Grantham’s canine companion Isis has not been replaced in the new run following his onscreen death last year. Bonneville is midway through shooting the new series and tells RadioTimes.com that so far he’s not shared any a camera time with a successor.

A Downton Abbey spokeswoman declined to comment on the storyline but confirmed that if Isis is not replaced and there is no Labrador in the show, the credits will stay the same for series six.