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BBC axes Never Mind the Buzzcocks after 20 years BBC axes Never Mind the Buzzcocks after 20 years
(about 4 hours later)
The BBC has pulled the plug on Never Mind the Buzzcocks after 20 years and 28 series of the music panel show.The BBC has pulled the plug on Never Mind the Buzzcocks after 20 years and 28 series of the music panel show.
The show, which has been presented by Mark Lamarr, Simon Amstell and, in its latest incarnation Rhod Gilbert, has featured team captains including Phill Jupitus, Sean Hughes, Bill Bailey and Noel Fielding.The show, which has been presented by Mark Lamarr, Simon Amstell and, in its latest incarnation Rhod Gilbert, has featured team captains including Phill Jupitus, Sean Hughes, Bill Bailey and Noel Fielding.
It will be remembered for the occasional explosive walkout including the Ordinary Boys lead singer Preston, upset after Amstell read out extracts from his then wife, Chantelle Houghton’s autobiography, and Fun Lovin’ Criminals frontman Huey Morgan, who smashed a mug to bits.It will be remembered for the occasional explosive walkout including the Ordinary Boys lead singer Preston, upset after Amstell read out extracts from his then wife, Chantelle Houghton’s autobiography, and Fun Lovin’ Criminals frontman Huey Morgan, who smashed a mug to bits.
Related: Never Mind the Buzzcocks: top five moments
BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw decided not to recommission the show to “create space for new entertainment formats”.BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw decided not to recommission the show to “create space for new entertainment formats”.
Made by independent producer Talkback, Never Mind the Buzzcocks first aired on BBC2 in 1996, returning for nearly 270 episodes in all.Made by independent producer Talkback, Never Mind the Buzzcocks first aired on BBC2 in 1996, returning for nearly 270 episodes in all.
One of BBC2’s most enduring hits, Never Mind the Buzzcocks is not the draw it once was, its last run at 10pm on Monday nights regularly dipping below 1 million viewers.One of BBC2’s most enduring hits, Never Mind the Buzzcocks is not the draw it once was, its last run at 10pm on Monday nights regularly dipping below 1 million viewers.
Original presenter Lamarr stayed with the show for its first 17 series. Amstell fronted four series, in between two stints of guest presenters, before Welsh comic Gilbert was given the permanent job last year.Original presenter Lamarr stayed with the show for its first 17 series. Amstell fronted four series, in between two stints of guest presenters, before Welsh comic Gilbert was given the permanent job last year.
Asked if the show still had legs when he was given the role last year, Gilbert said: “Yeah, I hope so! If I thought I was coming in just to stand on the bow while the bloody thing sank, I wouldn’t be doing it.”Asked if the show still had legs when he was given the role last year, Gilbert said: “Yeah, I hope so! If I thought I was coming in just to stand on the bow while the bloody thing sank, I wouldn’t be doing it.”
Jupitus was the show’s most constant captain, taking part in nearly every episode of the show that was recorded.Jupitus was the show’s most constant captain, taking part in nearly every episode of the show that was recorded.
But he briefly considered quitting the show when he grew unhappy with its direction when Amstell presented it.But he briefly considered quitting the show when he grew unhappy with its direction when Amstell presented it.
“It struck me with Simon that people were being booked especially to have the piss taken out of them in a very overt fashion,” Jupitus said in a Guardian interview in 2010.“It struck me with Simon that people were being booked especially to have the piss taken out of them in a very overt fashion,” Jupitus said in a Guardian interview in 2010.
Related: Phill Jupitus interview: 'I am not everyone's cup of teA'Related: Phill Jupitus interview: 'I am not everyone's cup of teA'
“Mark [Lamarr] didn’t book people to rag on them, it was just in the flow of the show that people suddenly went a bit weird and Mark could turn on them. It became something else with Simon and started to get a bit wearing.”“Mark [Lamarr] didn’t book people to rag on them, it was just in the flow of the show that people suddenly went a bit weird and Mark could turn on them. It became something else with Simon and started to get a bit wearing.”
The panel game has had various retrospectives in the past but the BBC does not have any plans for another Buzzcocks show, compilation or otherwise, which means the last episode has already aired.The panel game has had various retrospectives in the past but the BBC does not have any plans for another Buzzcocks show, compilation or otherwise, which means the last episode has already aired.
A BBC spokeswoman said: “After 28 series we’ve decided not to bring Never Mind the Buzzcocks back to the BBC. This will create space for new entertainment formats in the future.A BBC spokeswoman said: “After 28 series we’ve decided not to bring Never Mind the Buzzcocks back to the BBC. This will create space for new entertainment formats in the future.
“We’d like to thank the team at Talkback, Rhod Gilbert, all the brilliant hosts over the years and of course Noel and Phill for the years of enjoyment they’ve given BBC2 viewers.”“We’d like to thank the team at Talkback, Rhod Gilbert, all the brilliant hosts over the years and of course Noel and Phill for the years of enjoyment they’ve given BBC2 viewers.”