Kermode and Mayo's Film Review to end after 21 years

Kermode and Mayo's Film Review is set to come to an end after 21 years, the show's stars have confirmed.

Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo have spent more than two decades offering trusted reviews to film fans through their BBC Radio 5 Live show.

But on Friday afternoon, Mayo, 63, and Kermode, 58, announced that they had decided between themselves to call time on the long-running programme with a last broadcast set to go out on Friday, 1 April.

A Paddington-referencing statement from the show's Twitter read: "21 years is a long time to be clogging up the schedules.

"We - and no one else - have decided to step away...To withdraw...to spread our wings...to exit, pursued by a bear."

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However, fans were offered some hope that it may not be the end for the friends as a reviewing duo, as they both also added on their personal Twitter: "After 21 years, the Flagship Film Show @Wittertainment will make its final 5 Live voyage on April 1st. But like [Spinal] Tap, we'll be back… Stay tuned."

Speaking live on air, Mayo said: "We are way too expensive, and there are much better things for the BBC to be spending their money on.

"April the 1st will be our last show... on Five Live."

Mark Kermode first worked with Simon Mayo when he hosted the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show from 1988-1993.

They launched the Film Review show, also referred to as Wittertainment, on 5 Live in 2001.

Kermode is set to continue with other commitments at the BBC, including Screenshot with co-host Ellen E Jones on BBC Radio 4 and his film review on the BBC News Channel.

The 5 Live Drive show will be moving to an earlier time of 4pm and further scheduling changes are also set to be announced.

BBC Radio 1 changes to come into effect in September were also announced earlier this week, including the news that ex-Saturdays singer Mollie King would get her own solo pop show on Thursday nights.

Other changes at the station included a new schedule of rock shows on Mondays, Charlie Tee replacing René LaVice as host of The Drum & Bass Show, and DJ Target moving his Saturday night 1Xtra Takeover show back to airing just on 1Xtra.

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