'The Crown' Season 5 Won't Be Airing Until 2022

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With the fourth season of the Netflix show set to be released later this year, it's believed that Left Bank Pictures won't get the cameras rolling on Season 5 until June 2021 - meaning the fifth instalment won't be released until the following year.

Earlier this month, The Crown fans rejoiced after it was revealed there would in fact be a sixth season of the show, despite creators previously revealing it would end after Season 5.

It's reported that the hiatus is nothing to do with the coronavirus pandemic and has always been the intention of the show's production schedule.

The Crown fans will remember there was a lengthy break between Season 2 and 3 of the show, when Olivia Colman took the reins from Claire Foy.

"News from the palace: we can confirm there will be a sixth (and final) season of @TheCrownNetflix, in addition to the previously announced five!" The streaming platform tweeted earlier in July.

"Writer/creator Peter Morgan: 'As we started to discuss the storylines for Series 5, it soon became clear that in order to do justice to the richness and complexity of the story we should go back to the original plan and do six seasons.'

"So to summarise - we'll have one more season with Queen Olivia Colman, before she passes the crown to Imelda Staunton. We're just half way through! Lovely."

Alongside Imelda Staunton taking over as the Queen, Oscar-nominated Lesley Manville has been confirmed to play Princess Margaret in the fifth season.

Speaking about the role, she said: "I could not be happier to be playing Princess Margaret. The baton is being passed on from two formidable actresses and I really don't want to let the side down.

"Furthermore, to play siblings with my dear friend Imelda Staunton will be nothing short of a complete joy."

While a release date for the fourth season hasn't yet been confirmed, it's expected to drop later this year. More as it comes...