Catherine Tate drew the short straw this Christmas as the BBC has reportedly axed her latest TV show after just one series.
The comedienne’s latest show Queen Of Oz has been dropped by channel after its debut run, according to TV Zone.
Catherine played the leading role as Princess Georgina, a royal party girl sent to Australia by her father after she was plastered all over the tabloids after going from one PR catastrophe to the next.
MailOnline has contacted a representative for BBC for comment.
The Doctor Who star’s axe came in a series of relentless cutbacks being made by the broadcaster in their latest bid to make £500million in savings.
In the face of high inflation and a two-year freeze to the price of a TV licence, which provides most of the BBC’s funding, the broadcaster is doing anything it can to cut back on costs.
Before the savage cull, Catherine praised the broadcaster for giving the show the green light in May.
In an interview with Variety, she said: ‘I think it’s great that the BBC will hold the reins of being in charge of something as incredible as the coronation, but will also go, I guess, ‘This is a palate-cleanser and it’s a comedy.’
When asked if she had anyone in mind when fabricating the character, she claimed it was not based on anyone, saying Queen Georgina is ‘an entirely fictitious creation.’
But she did say she sympathised with the royals, adding: ‘It must be awful to be constantly looked at and constantly scrutinise.’
She joked: ‘I can imagine nothing worse than having to dedicate your life to the public.’
The TV series saw the disruptive Princes get herself involved in yet another scandal, so the King decided to send her to Australia to act as the monarch of the country.
He hoped the unprecedented move would give his chaotic daughter a sense of responsibility, but in true comedy fashion, that did not go to plan.
In the first series alone, it saw the new Queen bulldoze her way through into the land of Oz.
She spread disruption with fires caused by littered cigarettes, wrong portraits printed on currency, and the untimely death of a kangaroo, which only made things worse for the royal.
This is just one of a string of victims the BBC has left behind this winter after they also axed Doctors, Unbeatable and Project Icon.
After 23 years, Doctors was given the chop amid falling ratings and rising costs, with the final episode set to air in 2024.
The cast and crew of the iconic soap were reportedly called into a meeting with channel bosses on Wednesday, where they learned the tragic news after a bid to move the show to a primetime slot failed to draw in audiences.
Revealing the news in a statement, the BBC said: ‘We have taken the very difficult decision to bring daytime drama Doctors to an end after 23 years.
‘With super inflation in drama production, the cost of the programme has increased significantly, and further investment is also now required to refurbish the site where the show is made or to relocate it to another home.
‘With a flat licence-fee, the BBC’s funding challenges mean we have to make tough choices in order to deliver greater value to audiences.
‘We remain fully committed to the West Midlands and all of the funding for Doctors will be reinvested into new programming in the region.
‘We would like to thank all the Doctors cast and crew who have been involved in the show since 2000.
‘We know the crucial role Doctors has played in nurturing talent, and we will work to develop new opportunities to support skills in scripted programming.
‘The final episode will screen in December 2024 and we are working closely with BBC Studios to give it the finale it deserves.’
BBC’s bloodbath deepened when they also waved goodbye to the celeb-fronted reality TV show Project Icon after just one series.
Project Icon will not return to the channel, with a spokesperson saying ‘there are currently no immediate plans for an additional series’.
Jordan North hosted the music competition devised by singer Jason Derulo, 34.
Jason, his manager Frank Harris and British singer Becky Hill mentored 10 aspiring recording artists as they were set challenges to compete for a life-changing prize.
The winner secured a record deal, a collaboration with Jason himself and got to perform at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend.
A BBC spokesperson told TV Zone: ‘Project Icon is a bold, contemporary music show that unearthed some brilliant new talent, including winner Dylan.
‘He has gone all the way from performing in local pubs in Cornwall to recording with Jason Derulo and Frank Harris’ music label in LA and performing at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend.
‘We are delighted to have played a part in Dylan’s music journey and wish him the very best of luck in all his future endeavours.
‘Whilst there are currently no immediate plans for an additional series of Project Icon, we’d like to extend our thanks to the entire team at MultiStory Media and ITV America, including Jason and Frank, Becky Hill and presenter Jordan North for bringing the series to screen and unearthing some top tier talent.’
Daytime gameshow Unbeatable, hosted by comedian Jason Manford, has been cancelled after two series.
Launched in 2021, the general knowledge gameshow offered contestants the chance of pocketing £1,000.
A spokesperson for the BBC confirmed the news to TVZoneUK, saying: ‘Unbeatable had two great series, but we need to make room for new opportunities.
‘We’d like to thank Jason and the team for all their hard work.’
When MailOnline approached the BBC, they declined to comment.
But the BBC is not the only network struggling as Channel 4 has also cancelled a number of shows, from Steph’s Packed Lunch to The Big Narstie Show.
Bosses were, therefore, furious when it was announced that the TV licence fee would increase by £10.50 rather than the £15 they demanded.
Instead, ministers pushed for them to settle for an increase in line with September’s 6.7 per cent inflation rate.
Previously, MailOnline reported that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was poised to block the biggest licence fee hike in 40 years.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
