Mock the Week: Panel show is ending after 17 years ‘to create room for new shows’ at BBC

Mock the Week is coming to an end at the BBC after 17 years “in order to create room for new shows”.

The satirical panel show first aired in 2005 with Dara Ó Briain at the helm and has remained on BBC Two for 21 series.

In each episode, six comics talk through the week’s news stories, as well as perform short stand-up routines and one-liners based around a theme.

On Tuesday (2 August), it was announced that the forthcoming series would be its last after 235 episodes.

A producer for the show said that the team was “naturally hugely disappointed that Mock the Week is coming to an end”, adding: “[We] hope that we will be able to resurface somewhere some day in the future.”

Discussing the show’s end, Ó Briain 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 [Dennis]’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!”

Panellist Angela Barnes shared her favourite memories of the show (Twitter)

A BBC spokesperson added: “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.”

Dennis has appeared alongside Ó Briain in every regular episode of Mock the Week. Other regular panellists have included Frankie Boyle, Andy Parsons and Chris Addison.

Responding to the news, former panellist Angela Barnes tweeted: “Mock The Week has been a massive part of my comedy life, thanks for having me along for the ride. I’ve made many memories and many friends, and will be so sad to wave it off. On the bright side, I had LITERALLY just run out of ideas for unlikely things to hear in an action film.”

The final eight episodes of Mock the Week will air on BBC Two this autumn.