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02nd Aug 2022

Mock The Week is coming to an end after 17 years, BBC confirms

Charlie Herbert

Mock the week cancelled

Host Dara O’Briain has confirmed the news

Mock the Week has been cancelled by the BBC after 17 years.

The popular BBC Two satirical panel show has launched the careers of a number of iconic British comedians over the years, but host Dara O’Briain has confirmed the show has now come to an end, joking that the UK has “finally run out of news.”

The Irish comedian 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!”

Mock the Week first aired in June 2005, with O’Briain and Hugh Dennis the only remaining members from that first show.

The likes of Chris Addison, Frankie Boyle, Russell Howard, Rory Bremner and Andy Parsons have all been regulars on the show in the past.

In a tweet, show producer Dan Patterson said he was “desperately disappointed” by the news but that hopefully they will “resurface soon.”

He continued: “Huge thanks to Dara and Hugh and all the wonderful performers over the years. It’s been a privilege.”

The final series of eight episodes will be shown this autumn. By its conclusion, teh show will have ran for 21 series and 235 episodes.

In a statement, the BBC said: “The next series of Mock The Week will be the last, 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.”

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