After You’ve Gone Axed
The BBC has axed its Friday night family comedy series, After You’ve Gone, despite already commissioning more episodes of the series starring Nicholas Lyndhurst and Celia Imrie. BBC Insiders blame ITV’s placing of Coronation Street against the comedy series.
The BBC has decided to drop its family comedy series After You’ve Gone even though they had already announced a further series for the comedy and another Christmas Special. The BBC announced in January that the series would return for a third season, currently airing, and then a fourth season next year along with two Christmas Specials. The axing of the comedy was confirmed by the corporation to Media Guardian.
“We have decided that the current series of After You’ve Gone will be the last, “We are very proud of the programme and its achievements over the past three years but believe it has now come to a natural end.” BBC spokeswoman told MediaGuardian.co.uk.
It’s believed that writing for scripts for the fourth season had already begun but the BBC said that production on the fourth season hadn’t begun with the axe was dropped on the series. BBC insiders hinted to Media Guardian the series was dropped because of low ratings following ITV’s placement of Coronation Street directly opposite it on Friday evenings. Since the ITV soap moved to Friday nights the series has suffered in the ratings and not recovered.
After You’ve Gone stars Nicholas Lyndhurst as a father of two who is forced to share parential duties with his mother-in-law, played by Celia Imrie, after his ex-wife decides to go to Africa. This year’s Christmas Special of the comedy will be the series final episode.