Grammer shocked by cancelled sitcom

Kelsey Grammer has said he is surprised that his sitcom Back To You has been cancelled.

It was confirmed last week that Fox had opted not to renew the show, in which he and Patricia Heaton play squabbling news anchors.

The Frasier star told Reuters that he had called CBS Corp chief executive Leslie Moonves and entertainment president Nina Tassler earlier this week in a bid to persuade them to pick up the series. However, the network was not willing to step in.

He said: "[Fox] have let it go. We were told all this time we were in good shape and we were coming back.

"I'm not really sure what the real reasoning is. I think they ended up with a show that was going to be a great show. It was a great show."

The series made a strong debut last autumn but ratings had begun to fall by the end of its run.

An online petition has started in an attempt to save the show, which will air in the UK on More4 this summer.