Mock The Week to end after 17 years

'The UK has finally run out of news' says Dara O Briain

Mock The Week is to end, after 17 years, 21 series and 235 episodes.

The next eight episodes of the Dara O Briain-fronted BBC Two panel show, beginning this autumn, are to be the last.

Since it began in June 2005, the series has covered six England football managers, soon to be six Prime Ministers, four US presidents, and four BBC director generals.

O’Briain said: ‘That’s it, folks; the UK has finally run out of news. The storylines were getting crazier and crazier; Global pandemics, divorce from Europe, novelty short-term Prime Ministers. It couldn’t go on.

'And so, regretfully, we are closing the doors on Dara and Hugh’s Academy for Baby Comedians. We just couldn’t be more silly than the news was already. Huge thanks to all our guests over the years, so many of whom went on to huge successes of their own, and never write or call. It was a joy!’

A spokesperson for programme-makers Angst Productions said they hoped the show might find a new home, in the same way The Mash Report moved from BBC Two to become Late Night Mash on Dave.

They said: ‘We’re naturally hugely disappointed that Mock The Week is coming to an end and hope that we will be able to resurface somewhere some day in the future.

‘However, the last 17 years on BBC Two have been an absolute blast, it’s been a great privilege to work closely with scores of truly incredible performers and we’d also like to take the opportunity to thank the BBC and all our many fans around the world for their support over the years.’

A BBC spokesperson added: 'We are really proud of the show, but after 21 series we have taken the difficult decision in order to create room for new shows.

'We would like to thank Angst Productions, host Dara O Briain, panellist Hugh Dennis and all the guest comedians involved in the show across the 21 series.’