UVAVU, BBC!

The BBC have cancelled Shooting Stars

For years there was a black hole on BBC TV, and it was Vic & Bob shaped. Sod that, it was Shooting Stars shaped.

So when the BBC agreed to commission more episodes of the popular celebrity panel game in which North East comics Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer took the piss out of more people than anyone else has ever managed – and with considerably more wit than Keith Lemon (not difficult) – it was a happy day.

Well, the clouds are in the sky, it’s raining… so today must be a sad day. For some reason, the BBC has again cancelled Shooting Stars, no doubt happy to have an extra three series of material for them to flog to Dave and rerun ad infinitum on BBC Three.

As revealed by Bob Mortimer himself on Twitter yesterday:

BBC have just cancelled shooting stars

THe BBC claim that the decision is based on cuts, but worryingly that BBC Two won’t be offering alternative projects to Reeves & Mortimer.

“In future there will be less space on BBC2 for comedy/entertainment panel shows,” said a BBC spokesperson, “so sadly Shooting Stars won’t be returning. We’d like to thank Vic and Bob for everything they’ve brought to the channel over the years.”

Clearly the people in charge of BBC Two don’t actually know its strengths.

According to the Radio Times, meanwhile:

This follows the announcement last month of plans under the cost-cutting Delivering Quality First initiative, in which BBC2 – which is to reduce its content spend by 6% by 2017, and is to take on comedies and dramas previously produced by BBC4 – was asked in particular to make fewer panel shows.

Here’s a great moment to remind us all about what we’re going to be missing in future. AGAIN.