Bill Bailey’s show Bring The Drama has been axed after just one series.
The reality TV show, hosted by the comedian, 59, saw eight aspiring actors given a chance to fulfill their career dream and bag a casting agent.
Guest mentors from shows including Bridgerton, Fleabag and Broadchurch helped the actors over six weeks with Bill – who won Strictly Come Dancing in 2020 alongside partner Oti Mabuse – hosting the proceedings, as they reenacted famous scenes to show off and hone their talents.
At the end of the series, casting director Kelly Valentine Hendry selected three participants to present their showreel to major industry figures.
On its release in February critics raved about it, with The Independent stating it ‘deserves to be a terrific success’ dubbing it ‘moving’ and ‘mesmerising’, while The i gave it a ‘standing ovation’.
But despite rave reviews, the show has been axed after just one season, reports TV Zone.
The BBC told the Daily Mail: ‘There are no current plans for another series of Bring the Drama on the BBC.’
A whole host of acting faces appeared on the series including EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy, who directed one of Sonya’s famous scenes from the soap when she saves Phil Mitchell in the Queen Vic.
Line of Duty star Rochenda Sandall and Downtown Abbey’s Jimmy Kent also directed the actors, who often performed on the real film sets where the scenes they were reenacting were originally shot.
Kelly said as the show launched: ‘Growing up in certain communities, if you’d said you wanted to be an actor you’d be laughed at.
‘And there are also the finances – you had to go to drama school and you had to live in London to get acting work.
‘It all requires money, so acting has been an area of privilege.’
Bill Bailey said in a statement on its release: ‘It has been a delight to work on Bring The Drama and witness first-hand how the actors have grown in confidence and skills over the weeks.
‘What I particularly liked was the way it shows the whole process of making TV – being on an actual set, with a real crew to help you learn what it’s really like.
‘It was great fun but also a brilliant insight into how casting works and a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of some of our most popular tv shows.’
This news comes after Bill shocked fans by chopping his iconic, wispy locks – which he once referred to as ‘the skullet’ – in favour of a buzz cut.
Taking to Instagram to show off his bold new look, he wrote: ‘Had a bit of a trim for the summer.’
Fans were shocked to say the least, with @river_vam writing: ‘I’m fairly sure that this is one of the signs of the apocalypse.’
Dawn French praised: ‘May I just say…. PHWOAR!’
‘I have never been so shook by a hair cut. Suits you, but also now questioning my entire existence. Who even am I without Bill Bailey’s long hair,’ @makeitupmammy laughed.
The beloved comedian became the oldest winner in Strictly Come Dancing history at the age of 55.
Years later, he spoke about how the effects of the show still linger.
‘I walk down the street and some people clock me and they just go dun dun dun,’ he told Lorraine Kelly on her ITV programme last year.
‘When you learn those routines, they are right in there and they don’t leave you,’ he added.
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Bring The Drama is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.