My Family gets the chop

'My Family' has been axed after 11 years on air.

The BBC One comedy will see Ben and Susan Harper - played by Robert Lindsay and Zoe Wanamaker - wave goodbye as all five of their children as they leave home, bringing the show to an end this spring.

Although the programme has enjoyed popularity since it launched in 2000, TV bosses decided to give it the chop to make room for fresh new comedies.

BBC One boss Danny Cohen confirmed the 11th series will be the last, saying: "Now they have fled the nest we feel it's time to make room for new comedies."

An insider on the show - which also stars Kris Marshall, Gabriel Thomson, Daniela Denby-Ashe, Siobhan Hayes and Tayler Marshall as the Harper's offspring - also revealed producers were worried about it losing its appeal.

The source told The Sun newspaper: "'My Family' has done great business but all good things come to an end. It was in danger of becoming a bit stale and that's the last thing we want."

"Getting rid of 'My Family' will allow us to quit while we're pretty much ahead and free up space in the schedule for new stuff."

Comedy chief Cheryl Taylor explained the channel was looking forward to producing more shows, and would welcome Robert and Zoe back in new roles.

She said: "Now almost a generation of British children have grown up with the Harper brood, we're looking to the future with new families and new comedies that we hope will prove equally popular."

"We look forward to Zoe and Robert continuing to being part of our comedy family in the years to come."