[Shaun]

House, the US medical drama which starred British actor Hugh Laurie as grumpy doctor Dr. Gregory House, will end later this year, its producers have confirmed. The show debuted in 2004 and will have run for eight series when it ends later this year. It has been screened in over 60 countries during its run.

The producers of the show have issued a statement, which reads as follows: "After much deliberation, the producers of House MD have decided that this season of the show, the 8th, should be the last. By April this year they will have completed 177 episodes, which is about 175 more than anyone expected back in 2004."

The statement also said that the decision to end the show had been taken to preserve the enigma of the show's lead character and that they hope the show ends with "some promise and mystique in the air".

It said of Dr. House: "He should never be the last one to leave the party. How much better to disappear before the music stops, while there is still some promise and mystique in the air."

Hugh Laurie's starring role in House has made him one of the highest earning British actors in the world, with the actor pockering a reported fee of $400,000 for each episode he starred in.

The show has also starred Tron:Legacy actress Olivia Wilde, Omar Epps, Lisa Edelstein and Robert Sean Leonard at various times during its eight-year run.