'Out Of The Blue' to end after first run

Aussie soap Out of the Blue will be axed after its first series, BBC head of fiction Jane Tranter has said.

The show debuted on BBC One on April 28 after being commissioned as a potential replacement for Neighbours, but failed to attract viewers and was moved to BBC Two on May 19.

Tranter, speaking at a Royal Television Society event last night, said the show would not be renewed following its six-month run. Out of the Blue "just didn't grab hold" of the loyal following required for a soap, she said.

After opening to nearly 1.2m, audiences for the show rapidly dropped off to around 600,000. On BBC Two it has averaged just 125,000.