The BBC has axed studio sitcom Not Going Out after three series.
The Avalon-produced series, co-created by its star Lee Mack and writer/broadcaster Andrew Collins, was part of BBC1's Friday night line-up.
As well as Mack, it starred comedian Tim Vine, Sally Bretton and Miranda Hart, and centred on a hapless man in his thirties as he battled with his landlord – and his landlord's younger sister.
Writing on his blog, Collins said he was surprised at the decision, as the final episode of the third run delivered its biggest audience and critics had been increasingly receptive to it.
He added: "It all comes down to numbers in the end, even though the BBC is a publicly funded broadcaster and thus not reliant on advertising revenue and thus not really in the ratings game to the degree where, like American broadcasters, it cancels shows that aren't performing to a set of made-up targets. But that's what's happened: over three series, despite the ratings gradually going up, show by show, and series by series, it still hasn't rung the requisite bell."
Not Going Out was launched in 2006 and 21 episodes have been aired, including a 2007 Christmas special. A second special has been filmed and is expected to air next Christmas.