EXCLUSIVE: Express.co.uk spoke to Outlander’s John Bell about the show finishing and what fans can expect from season seven.
Outlander fans were left with a tinge of sadness earlier this year after it was confirmed the show had been renewed for an eighth and final season.
The drama, which takes its cue from American author Diana Gabaldon’s international best-selling novel series, has been airing since 2015.
However, after nearly a decade on screens, Outlander will be finally coming to a close.
Thankfully for fans, season seven has only just started and will be a super-sized affair with a total of 16 episodes.
The first batch of episodes will be airing this year on Starz and the latter half of season seven will premiere in 2024, which means the final season will be likely hitting screens in 2025.
Depending on the release schedule for season eight, Outlander could potentially be on screens until 2026.
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Scottish star John Bell – who is better known to fans as Young Ian Murray – opened up about the hit drama series finally coming to a close.
He said: “Bittersweet, obviously. It’s a privilege to be on this show for so long. It’s something I don’t think a lot of shows get.
“So, to have carried this torch for this character for this amount of time.
“I’m immensely proud but then there is the sadness of something coming to an end and feeling like it’s part of your life.
“It’s all memories now. But then it happened and it was beautiful, so I’m proud mostly.”
Although Bell couldn’t confirm whether work had yet started on season eight, he promised fans had a lot awaiting them in the seventh run.
He went on to say about those who were familiar with the Outlander novels: “I guess it’s interesting for you guys as book readers to see what’s going to make it in, what doesn’t, where will it take it.”
Season seven of Outlander takes its cue from A Breath of Snow and Ashes and An Echo in the Bone with the latter novel seeing Young Ian having a huge role to play.
In the book, Young Ian encounters William Ransom (played by Charles Vandervaart) with the pair having an intriguing and ever-shifting dynamic.
Young Ian is well aware of William’s true paternity but is forced to hold back for fear of the huge consequences for the ninth Earl of Ellesmere should the truth come out.
Bell said: “I think Ian and William’s relationship is one book readers will know will go on a big journey, I don’t want to say too much.
“But they start as friends but there might be a certain someone that gets in between that.”
Bell went on to tease Young Ian had an “integral” role in the latest season and with this came added pressure.
