Sitcom lasted just six episodes

ITV has cancelled its sitcom The Family Pile after just one series.

The show starred Amanda Abbington, Clare Calbraith, Claire Keelan and Alexandra Mardell as four sisters packing up the family home after their parents died.

Six episodes aired in January and February to a muted critical reaction and ratings that have been described as ‘lower than expected’.

 ITV said today: ‘There are currently no plans for a second series of The Family Pile, we would like to thank all the cast and crew for their hard work in bringing the show alive on screen.’

The Sun, which broke the story, said: ‘TV is a brutal industry and shows that are not instant successes rarely get a second chance…. they couldn't ignore the poor audience figures.’

On the comedy’s launch, the Daily Telegraph awarded two stars and headlined its review: ‘Congratulations to ITV for inventing the joke-free sitcom’, while a three-star review in The Independent concluded it was  ‘warm and sometimes funny, but lacking in sparkle.’

The series, set in Liverpool and written by The Smoking Room creator Brian Dooley, was a rare venture into half-hour comedy for ITV. However, it has committed to the format with a number of others in tthe pipleine including  vampire sitcom Count Abdulla, starring Arian Nik and Jaime Winstone, call centre sitcom Ruby Speaking with Jayde Adams, and Significant Other with Youssef Kerkour and Katherine Parkinson.

Made by Hat Trick, The Family Pile and is still available on ITVX.

Published: 21 Apr 2023