Long-running topical comedy show Mock the Week is to end on BBC Two after 17 years, the corporation has announced.
The next eight episodes of the popular show, which will air in the autumn, will be the last and mark the end of the show after 21 series and more than 200 episodes, hosted by Irish comedian Dara Ó Briain.
The show first aired in June 2005. A series regular has been Hugh Dennis, with other comedy stars including Chris Addison, Frankie Boyle, Rory Bremner and Russell Howard.
Ó Briain said: “That’s it folks, the UK has finally run out of news.
“The stories got crazier and crazier: global pandemics, divorces from Europe, new short-term prime ministers. I couldn’t go on.
“And so, sadly, we close the doors on Dara and Hugh’s Academy of Baby Comedians.
“We couldn’t be any more stupid than the news already was.
“Many thanks to all our guests over the years, many of whom went on to great success and never wrote or called. It was a joy!”
The show has been credited as a platform for comedians who have become household names with Michael McIntyre, Sarah Millican, Kevin Bridges, John Bishop and Rhod Gilbert all featured in the early stages of their careers.
The BBC said: “The next series of Mock the Week will be our last, we are very proud of the show but after 21 series we have taken the difficult decision to make room for new programmes.
“We’d like to thank Angst Productions, host Dara O’Briain, panelist Hugh Dennis and all the guest comedians involved in the series 21 show.”
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Angst Productions, the company behind the show, said: “We’re naturally very disappointed that Mock the Week has come to an end and we hope that we can make a comeback one day in the future.
“However, the past 17 years at BBC Two have been an absolute blast. It’s been a great privilege to work closely with a host of truly amazing performers and we’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the BBC and all our fans around the world for their support over the years.”
The series was created by Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson, the duo behind the comedy improv show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, which aired in the UK before becoming a hit series in the US.
The final episodes of Mock the Week will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer this autumn.