BBC Three comedy Ideal axed

{jcomments on}Long-running BBC Three sitcom Ideal, starring Johnny Vegas, has been axed despite its most recent series attracting its best ever ratings.

New controller of BBC Three, Zai Bennett, has cancelled Ideal to make way for newer programmes. The Johnny Vegas comedy had run for seven seasons and over 50 episodes but despite its strong performance for the recent 7th season it has been dumped from the schedules. Bennett explained his decision by saying “The channel is very much about new comedy and we have to try to make sure we have the room to give new writers and stars the same chance that Ideal had six years ago.”

Ideal is the latest victim of a comedy clear-out not just at BBC Three but across the BBC. Bennett has already cancelled other BBC Three comedies such as Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Lunch Monkeys, Coming of Age and How Not to Live Your Life. BBC One controller Danny Cohen has cancelled veteran comedy My Family while Reggie Perrin has also reportedly been canned.