'All Saints' axed by Channel Seven

Channel Seven has announced that it has axed Australian medical series All Saints after 11 seasons.

Speculation has surrounded the future of the award-winning series after Seven announced it was cutting the drama's episode order from 40 episodes down to just 22.

Confirmation of All Saints' cancellation has come as a shock to many in the Australian television industry. The series, which premiered in Australia in 1997, is a steady performer for Channel Seven, last week finishing as the 23rd most-watched show of the week with over 1.2 million viewers.

In a statement about the medical drama's cancellation, Channel Seven director of programming Tim Worner said: "All Saints is a show which viewers and Seven have loved. However, an audience shift and increased production costs are behind this decision.

"The cast and crew deserve the highest admiration and respect for what they have achieved. All Saints has made a significant contribution to the rich history of Australian drama."

Filming will cease in August, with the final episode, the show's 493rd, to air in Australia in November.