Future of British sitcoms 'bleak' says ITV boss as Birds of a Feather and Bad Move are axed

ITV boss Kevin Lygo has reportedly axed both Birds of a Feather and Bad Move. Describing the future of British sitcoms as ‘bleak’ Lygo, ITV’s Director of Television, also said that audiences could now get their sitcom ‘fix’ from other ITV shows such as soap opera Coronation Street.

According to the Daily Mirror, Lygo reportedly said: “We’ve smuggled in the drug you used to get in sitcoms into soaps but it has been at the expense of traditional comedy.”

“Audiences can get their fix of character-based scripted comedy from Corrie. It’s on six times a week and you don’t have to create a 30-minute plot. You have beloved characters the audience has known for years.”

He also confirmed that the revival of Birds of a Feather and the Jack Dee starring comedy Bad Move will not return.

“We had success with Birds of a Feather, that was our most successful sitcom in years, but it’s come to a sort of natural end.”

“We had two series of the Jack Dee sitcom but I don’t think we’re continuing with it now. It’s just very, very hard,” he said.

Beloved 90’s sitcom Birds of a Feather was revived in 2014 and was a ratings success. The former BBC comedy ran for three series and two Christmas specials on ITV, but has now come to an end.

Meanwhile Jack Dee’s starring comedy Bad Move ran for just two series. Last year at the Edinburgh Television Festival Lygo described the future of British sitcoms as ‘quite bleak.’

Last year also saw the cancellation of popular sitcom Benidorm. However, a few sitcoms continue to thrive on ITV, including its successful revival of Cold Feet.

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