Much has been said over the past several months since the surprising plot twist on Downton Abbey season 3’s season finale.

Finally, actor Dan Stevens is saying sorry.

“I am sorry about that!” he said in a brief new interview with Radio Times. Stevens’ Downton Abbey character Matthew Crawley surprisingly died in a car accident shortly after the birth of his and Lady Mary’s daughter. The plot twist was added because Stevens wanted to leave the show.

Added Stevens following his apology, “I think what emerged is that it’s an unwritten rule that you’re not supposed to die on British television on Christmas Day, and that, specifically, was not my doing.”

Stevens says it wasn’t his choice how the character died. “I didn’t have any say in the manner in which he went. Ultimately, it was in the hands of Julian [Fellowes] and the producers.”

He went on to say that this way of leaving the show was more ideal than other options. “It was right that he didn’t run off and have an affair with somebody. I don’t think that would have been right for Matthew as a character.”

All Downton Abbey fans were supremely upset when Matthew died, because the ending should’ve been a happy one thanks to the birth of Matthew and Mary’s child.

Downton Abbey series 4 is currently shooting in the United Kingdom and is expected to premiere later this year. We’re eager to see if a new romance is in the future for Lady Mary, or if she’ll be left on her own for the duration of the series (with help raising the child from everyone within Downton).

We do wish the character of Matthew had departed a different way so at least the option of Dan Stevens returning to the show would be there.

Thanks, Radio Times.