[Scarlett.]

ITV has axed 1960s drama Heartbeat, it was revealed last night.

It has not commissioned another series after the one currently in production is completed later this year.

The Royal, a spin-off series also set in rural Yorkshire, is also to be culled in a desperate drive to save money.
Out of work: The cast and crew of ITVs Heartbeat will not be working on a new series, it has been revealed

Out of work: The cast and crew of ITVs Heartbeat will not be working on a new series, it has been revealed

The Royal Today, the daytime TV spin-off, has already gone.

It comes after the broadcaster last week announced it was halving the output of The Bill to a single episode a week. insiders say they expect many more cutbacks by ITV bosses.

The success of shows like Dancing On Ice and I'm A Celebrity... are also blamed for squeezing traditional drama out of the schedules.
Popular characters: Aunt Peggy (Gwen Taylor) and David (David Lonsdale)

Popular characters: Aunt Peggy (Gwen Taylor) and David (David Lonsdale)

Heartbeat, which has starred actors including Nick Berry and Tricia-Penrose, has been a staple part of cosy Sunday night viewing for nearly two decades.

The series, which first aired in April 1992, used to draw 10million viewers. It now attracts between 4 and 5million, while The Royal gets 4million.

There were suggestions Heartbeat could make a comeback in a couple of years' time. But sources close to the show admit that once ITV has laid off the actors and closed the production offices, it will not return.

The insider said: 'Staff have been kept holding on another series of Heartbeat, but there has been nothing. People on the show have been told at the moment that there is no recommission.'

Another source close to the show said: 'Heartbeat has been there for years. This is a big deal. I would have to say even if ITV was not in trouble, you would have to admit this is a series that is at the tail-end of its career.'

'Its like all the things that Yorkshire TV has been founded on, they are all coming to a close.'

Other stars to have appeared in the show over the years are former Coronation Street actor Nikki Sanderson, Gwen Taylor and Bill Maynard.

ITV has denied suggestions that it is also set to scale back the number of episodes on Emmerdale.

Daily Mail

[Shaun]

YAY. So boring.

[andyman]

Great news! Long overdue

ITV having problems with cash, ad revenue aint the same these days.. Global credit crunch, the world is ending but Tesco's will save the day!

[30stone]

I never liked heartbeat i though u had to be a grandparent to watch it... them again i thought that about strictly come dancing and dancing on ice...

as for the royal, ive never heard of it.

[Scarlett.]

The Royal is the spin off to Heartbeat...ya know the hospital one

[30stone]

Lol naw ive watched heartbeat once round my nans when i was like 10 and never even heard of the royal lol.

[podge2007]

I'm not surprised. Heartbeat is well past it's sell by date.

[Annie]

Aw thats a shame. That used to be like a big thing in our house.

[Spike]

No surprise. Its been obvious ITV have been trying to kill the shows for a while. I do think its been really bad how these shows have been treated by ITV

[Scarlett.]

Yeah, a perfect way to end Heartbeat is at the end of the 60's

[Scarlett.]

Production of long-running ITV show Heartbeat is to be suspended to clear a stockpile of unbroadcast episodes.

It is understood that by the end of the year more than a series worth of shows will have been made and ITV wants to broadcast them before making new ones.

But the channel insisted the show was still an important part of its schedule amid reports it is to be axed.

The nostalgic drama set in North Yorkshire has been an ITV Sunday night staple since it first aired in 1992.

It is unclear how long the break in production will last.

An ITV spokesman said: "Heartbeat and The Royal (the show's spin-off medical drama) are an important part of the ITV schedule and are currently in production."

'Pleased with progress'

Earlier this week, five members of the show's cast and crew were taken to hospital after a tractor accident during filming.

Although four were later discharged, one guest actor was airlifted to hospital in Middlesbrough with chest injuries.

An ITV spokeswoman told the BBC News website that doctors treating the actor were "pleased with his progress" and that the Heartbeat production team were hopeful he would be released later on Wednesday.

She added that the guest actor, who has not been named for privacy reasons while recovering, was only appearing the episode being filmed.

Heartbeat is based on the books of Peter Walker under the pen name Nicholas Rhea.

The drama, set in the late 1960s, is about the life of police constable Joe Mason, played by Joe McFadden, who patrols the streets of Aidensfield.

Tricia Penrose and former Coronation Street actress Nikki Sanderson also star in the series, which returns to ITV1 later this year.

The series draws up to seven million viewers in its Sunday night slot.

BBC News



Sounds like they will bring it back sometime in the future

[Princess]

Gary Barlow was in Heartbeat once... Although I've never seen it.

[Scarlett.]

Alan Titchmarsh just said its axed on his show....sounds like it isnt being 'suspended' afterall

[Scarlett.]

ITV has reportedly revealed that police drama Heartbeat and its spinoff show The Royal will remain on TV screens for the next two years.

Earlier, it was reported that the broadcaster had decided not to recommission the programmes once they finish their current production run.

However, it is now thought that ITV has stockpiled enough episodes of both shows to transmit a new series of each this year and in 2010.

"Heartbeat and The Royal are an important part of ITV's schedule and are currently in production," said an ITV representative.

However, the spokesperson refused to comment on the future of the programmes after 2010.

Heartbeat, which is set in a rural Yorkshire village, debuted in 1992 and attracted audiences of around ten million at its peak. Spinoff show The Royal was launched in 2003, but both programmes have recently seen a decline in viewing figures.

ITV reportedly decided to axe the Sunday night dramas in a bid to save money. The popularity of reality shows including Dancing On Ice and I'm A Celebrity... has also been partly blamed for the demise of traditional drama.

Last week, the broadcaster announced that it will be scaling back production on long-running drama The Bill.

[Tom]

Good, they're rubbish anyway

[Nicky.]

Aww I love themm!

That sucks xx

[Magic]

Originally posted by Tom
Good, they're rubbish anyway

[Scarlett.]

They may not be great, but its liely trash 'reality' TV will be their replacement

[Magic]

Originally posted by Chewy
They may not be great, but its liely trash 'reality' TV will be their replacement

Yeah I agree with you on that, ITV has got so crap with cheap shows like that, and then crap dramas with passed it storylines.

I am suprised soon we wont see the return of shows like 'Celeb Fat Club' etc.

[supernoodles!]

thankgod about time too.The heartbeat theme tune depresses me though because it reminds me of being a kid and sunday nights before bedtime and having to go to school the next day.

[Scarlett.]

They should launch a new serial drama