'All Saints' survives axe threat

Medical soap All Saints has escaped being axed by Australia's Channel Seven - but will have its series order cut by nearly half to stay on the air.

Last month, rumours surfaced that the series, which first began airing in 1998, was to be cancelled by the network as part of a cost-cutting measure.

Australia's The Daily Telegraph reports that while speculation of the hospital drama's demise may have been premature, its next season will have its episode order cut from 40 episodes to just 22 to 28.

The reduction in number means that production on the soap will now go into hiatus three months earlier than originally planned, with filming to cease in August this year rather than November.

With a stable of successful dramas currently under its belt, including Home and Away, Packed to the Rafters and City Homicide, Channel Seven said that the money saved from All Saints's episode cut may go towards developing another local serial.