Mock the Week axed after 17 years, BBC confirms

The long-running comedy panel show Mock the Week has been axed after seventeen years on the air, the BBC has announced today.

The final eight episodes of the series will air in autumn, marking its end after twenty-one series and more than 200 episodes.

The BBC said in a statement: “The next series of Mock The Week will be the last, we are really proud of the show but after twenty-one 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 twenty-one series.”

Presenter and comedian Dara O’Briain addressed the news shortly after, sarcastically saying the ‘UK has finally run out of news’.

He said: “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!”

Angst Productions, the company behind the programme, added: “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 seventeen 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.”