Johnny Vegas sitcom 'Ideal' axed by BBC Three

BBC Three controller Zai Bennet has dropped Johnny Vegas sitcom Ideal after its seventh season.

Ideal finished its last run with an increased average audience of 535,000, but the quirky show about drug dealer Moz will not be returning.

Ideal writer Graham Duff broke the news, commenting: "As some of you may have heard, the BBC have decided against commissioning an 8th series of Ideal.

"The reason given was that the new channel controller wanted to make a clean sweep."

He continued: "It is a source of both pride and frustration that, at the point of cancellation, Ideal was attracting its biggest ever audiences, its highest-profile guest stars and its best ever reviews.

"And the show is now being screened in more countries than ever before - from America to Finland and beyond.

"I just want to say a huge, heartfelt thank you to everyone who has appeared in the show and worked behind the scenes over the last seven years and 53 episodes. And a very special thanks to everyone who has supported the show and spread the word. We really wouldn't have got this far without you."

Duff concluded: "It's been a truly wonderful journey and to work with such a genuinely amazing team has been both an honour and a solid hoot."

Kara Tointon, Paul Weller, Jason Manford, Mark Radcliffe, Sean Lock and Mark E Smith have all guest starred in Ideal over the last six years.