[Scarlett.]

ITV has confirmed that it has decided to cancel Heartbeat.

The Guardian reports that a final series of the show will be broadcast from next month.

Heartbeat, which follows a group of police officers in 1960s Yorkshire, has been on air for 18 years.

ITV insisted that the decision had not been made for financial reasons and explained that it wants to focus more on shorter dramas broadcast over a week.

A spokesperson said: "Heartbeat has been an important part of the television landscape over the last 18 years and we are incredibly proud of what it achieved in its heyday as one of ITV1's top rated dramas. But we are overhauling our schedule to reflect the changing demands of our audience, refreshing the mix of programming we commission and broadcast.

"We will continue to maintain our significant investment in the genre, the biggest of any commercial broadcaster, but ITV1's future focus will be on new and varied drama commissions."

The final series of Heartbeat will begin on July 18.

Digital Spy

[Smithy]

Not much of a surprise tbh, It's been waiting for the axe these past 18 months