Hollywood's major television studios have invoked force majeure contract clauses, laying off dozens of writers and producers, as the WGA strike shows no sign of coming to an end.

Among the more high-profile casualties of the axe include Hugh Jackman at CBS Paramount. Jackman's Seed Productions, which produced the short-lived US version of Viva Blackpool, had signed a long-term deal with the studio earlier this year.

Other writers and producers cut from CBS Paramount's books include Medium's Rene Echevarria and Without a Trace's Jennifer Levin.

Over at Fox, K-Ville writer Larry Kaplow and Journeyman creator Kevin Falls have been let go.

Each of the studios blamed the continuing WGA strike for the layoffs. In a statement, CBS Paramount said: "Production companies in the entertainment industry continue to feel the impact of the ongoing writers strike. As a result of this change in development and production activity, we have made a difficult decision to discontinue overall deals with a number of writers and producers whose talents we greatly value and respect."

Universal Media Studios concurred: "The duration of the WGA strike has significantly affected our ongoing business. Regretfully, due to these changed business circumstances, we've had to end some writer-producer deals."