Ben Miller's cult science fiction drama Primeval has been axed by ITV.

The programme, which also starred Douglas Henshall, Andrew-Lee Potts and former S Club 7 singer Hannah Spearritt, followed a group of scientists studying prehistoric and fantasy creatures.

The third series launched in April with 5.3 million viewers and scored an average audience of 4.41 million until it finished last weekend.

On the channel's decision not to commission a fourth series, an ITV spokesman said: "After three very successful series of Primeval there are no plans at the present time for it to return to ITV. High quality drama remains a key part of the ITV schedule although our current focus is on post-watershed productions."

The programme used CGI effects to brign its creatures to life, and was created by Impossible Pictures, the team behind the BBC's Walking With Dinosaurs.

MSN


So...after its best seires its axed? I hope we find out what happened to everyone...maybe in the film, or they could at least give us a final episode

Although it does make sense to end it now with Helen and Nick dead

MSN?

Aye, the website, not ON MSN :b

ITV has cancelled Primeval, according to a report on Total Sci Fi.

A source close to the show's production team apparently claimed that the cult series will not return for a fourth year, despite ITV earlier denying that it had been axed.

"Basically ITV have changed their policy about drama before 9pm in that they've decided they really don't want any, at least not of the quality and cost of Primeval," the insider is quoted as saying.

They continued: "At the point where we finished the third series, we had every reason to believe we would be doing a fourth. Had we known there was any likelihood of cancellation, clearly we wouldn't have left half the cast marooned up a tree in the distant past. We can understand that some fans might be frustrated by this ending and we're sorry for that."

Addressing future plans for the franchise, the source added: "Some fans may know that there are ongoing talks for both a film and a North American series version of Primeval and if and when those projects come to fruition, we will make every effort to carry on the story in a suitable way."

ITV commented via Twitter: "Thanks for your questions about Primeval. I've checked and can confirm that there are no plans at the present time for it to return to ITV."

Digital Spy

Is this 100% true
or a wind up?

Probably 50% true, ITV might not have commisioned a new seires yet, and they have probably built it off that

Why Post it
unless it is 100% bang on.


Chewy

Becuase its news, and according to a source it is axed

But Chewy
Sources are graded.

It is only News if it is Confirmed as 100% True.

You need to go to the Media Guardian site more.


Like Tomorrow
the CEO of Near Bankrupt Ch4 is on the No.1 Businees and Media show
Jeff Randall Live SkyNews 7:30PM

I'd be surprised but not shocked if it were true. However the film deal does provide a better chance of renewel for the series. The audience isn't huge but it equals that of Robin Hood and Merlin and is generally consistant. ITV's money troubles does lend this story some merit but generally ITV are infamous for many new series bombing so I'd be surprised if the took the risk in getting rid of it when they could easily lose the saturday audience to BBC1 by replacing it with tacky reality shows.

Until it coems from the horse's mouth I ain't buying it. The deal alone would probably equal another series.

Aye, it seems weird they'd axe it after the franchise is taking off big style (US TV show and film) I hope it isnt true, as its one of my fave shows

Also Chewy
you are aware when they Film these
they are in Blocks
so I think the next series (in the can) will be shown
so it would end better,
that if this is True - of course.


BBCAmerica sells it on USA DVD

I'm 80% sure it hasn't been cancelled, there's only really the financial issue that gives the story credence.

No further series of Primeval, ITV confirms, after weeks of speculation over multichannel rescue plan

ITV has ended weeks of speculation about the future of fantasy action drama Primeval by confirming today that it will not be making another series of the show.

The announcement from ITV appears to scupper a rescue plan hatched by Impossible Pictures, the independent producer of Primeval, to keep the show alive by sharing the cost with a multichannel broadcaster.

ITV has now decided against commissioning a fourth series. The third run launched with 5.3 million viewers in April.

"After three very successful series of Primeval there are no plans at the present time for it to return to ITV. High-quality drama remains a key part of the ITV schedule although our current focus is on post-watershed productions," an ITV spokesman said.

The ITV director of television, channels and online, Peter Fincham, had been weighing the future of the series in recent weeks.

Impossible Pictures is understood to have presented ITV with a proposal that could have seen the fourth series of the Saturday evening drama premiere on a digital channel before airing on ITV1 later. It was understood that the Sci Fi channel was being eyed as a potential home for the show.

The series stars Ben Miller and the former S Club 7 singer Hannah Spearritt and follows a group of scientists investigating prehistoric and futuristic creatures that enter the present through anomalies in time. It is relatively expensive because of all its CGI effects.

ITV has been looking to cut costs on a range of its shows following the slashing of its programme budget because of declining advertising revenues.


Media Gaurdian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009...sible-pictures

So they wanted the SciFi ch.



This is so so wrong.

I'm absolutely gutted :(

Another channel need to pick it up, its a brilliant show, with a lot of potential

http://www.info.itvjobs.com/wd/plsql..._page_id=78264

and ITV jobs page for a website editor for soaps/dramas

Primeval is mentioned, which would be weird if the show was cancelled

ITV do not make it
so it could go onto another channel



As for Job pages
do they bother to update them enough.

Aye, I hope another channel picks it up, it'd be a shame to let it go

Three months ago, ITV announced that it was pulling the plug on Saturday night dino drama Primeval after three series. Fans were suitably outraged: the ratings were good, and the series had ended on an almighty cliffhanger. But in a surprise twist, ITV today confirmed that it is bringing the show back for not one, but two new series under a co-production deal with digital channel Watch. Excited, we called up co-creator Tim Haines to find out how the show's resurrection came about.

You must be feeling good about today's announcement...
"Oh, very good. Obviously I knew about it before! But it was very good to finally crack it. The series was doing fine, we were prepared to continue the story and then everything that happened at ITV gave us a very, very high bar to get over."

How did the new deal come about?
"We started down the process way back, and we had got agreement with ITV in principle to look for other people to come in on the project, but come the summer we had to do absolutely everything. So there is the new deal with Watch and there is some more money from co-producers. Fortunately the series is very successful abroad and none of those producers wanted to see it finish either. Also we're moving the show to Dublin, where we'll be getting tax breaks, so that helps. Essentially, the budget stays as a £1 million show, which is important, because you don't want to come back with a cheap show. But we had to make the deal different for ITV."

How will moving to Dublin affect the show?
"It was shot in Surrey but apart from one show, which was in the British Museum, we never really identified it as being anywhere in particular. Actually going to Dublin is brilliant because it gives us a lot more locations nearby - there will be modern blocks, castles and shopping centres. But now we can do the coast as well if we want to!"

Was there ever a point where you thought the show was finished?
"I can't really answer that question. I don't give up easily and as I say, except for ITV's predicament, there was no reason it should finish. It was a very tricky time."

How big a part does someone like Pro7 play? The show seems to be wildly popular in Germany!
"They are very important. They certainly stayed with us and held the slot open, because they believed we would find a way of bringing it back. If, after ITV's announcement, they'd decided to abandon it, then we'd have faced the problem of reselling it to them in two or three months' time. So that was very good. BBC America has had a great success with it, and also, BBC Worldwide sold it to 45 countries worldwide. It's bigger than Lost in South Korea! These sort of things help."

Have you got all of the cast back?
"Yes, they're all coming back, which is fantastic. Obviously we've got to be careful about how we book them. This is the longest run that's been commissioned. We started off getting six episodes, then seven and then ten. Now it's 13. So it's a long stint for them, but they've all signed up."

Technically this is going out as two series though. Is it going to be considered one in terms of storytelling?
"No, it's always got very heavy serial elements. As far as Watch is concerned, there'll be a midseason climax, but it can be viewed as one long run."

What's the timescale for getting up and running with production again?
"We're starting to write scripts straight away and we're aiming to deliver in January 2011."

And are you still progressing with a US version of the show?
"Yes. Well, there's a feature film, contracts for which should be signed shortly. We are still talking to Canadian partners about a US version, as well as a children's animation and things like that. But you never know how those go. Sometimes they seem to stop, then accelerate forward, but they're still all there."

Primeval airs on ITV1 and Watch from 2011.

Tubetalk, Digital Spy

Yes Clever of Watch Channel
as they do not have much Top stuff.

And because the CGI in this is Good
and works well with the actors a Feature Film
in BluRay will be great.

This has made my day, especially since S4 and S5 will just be one long season with a break :D

The other spin off stuff looks good too

2011 seems so far away

I know D:

but its like 13 episodes long :D