The BBC has decided not to renew Catherine Tate's comedy series Queen of Oz, which followed the antics of a rebellious royal who was sent to Australia by her father, the King.
The show, which aired for six episodes on BBC One, starred Tate as Princess Georgina, a notorious party girl who was constantly in the headlines for her scandals and mishaps. In a bid to reform her, the King abdicated the throne and made her the Queen of Oz, hoping that the responsibility would make her grow up.
However, the plan backfired, as Georgina continued to cause chaos in her new country, from starting bushfires with her cigarettes, to killing a kangaroo with her car, to printing the wrong face on the money.
The show received mixed reviews from critics and viewers, with some praising Tate's comedic skills and others finding the premise too far-fetched and offensive. The ratings also declined over the course of the series, with the finale attracting only 2.3 million viewers.
A BBC spokesperson confirmed that the show would not be returning for a second series, saying: "We are very proud of Queen of Oz and the talented team behind it, but we have decided not to commission another series. We thank Catherine and everyone involved for their hard work and creativity."
Tate, who is best known for her sketch show The Catherine Tate Show and her role as Donna Noble in Doctor Who, has not commented on the cancellation yet. She previously expressed her gratitude to the BBC for allowing her to make a comedy about the royals, especially in the year of King Charles' coronation.
She told Variety: "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.'"
She also insisted that her character was not based on any real-life royal, but rather an "entirely fictitious creation." She added: "It must be awful to be constantly looked at and constantly scrutinise. I can imagine nothing worse than having to dedicate your life to the public.”
This is not the first time that Tate has faced disappointment from a streaming service. Last year, her prison comedy Hard Cell, which she wrote and starred in, was axed by Netflix after one season. She slammed the platform for being "rude" and not informing her of the decision personally.
She said: "They had a change of staff and, as happens when someone who has commissioned the show and then leaves, often they want to start afresh. I kind of understand but it would’ve been nice for them to have told me."
Tate's fans have expressed their sadness and anger over the cancellation of Queen of Oz, with some calling it a "brilliant" and "hilarious" show, and others urging the BBC to reconsider. Some have also suggested that another network or platform should pick up the show and give it a second chance.
One fan tweeted: "Queen of Oz was the funniest thing I've seen in ages. Catherine Tate is a genius. How can the BBC cancel it? #SaveQueenOfOz"
Another wrote: "I can't believe the BBC have axed Queen of Oz. It was such a clever and original comedy. Catherine Tate deserves better. #BringBackQueenOfOz"
A third commented: "Queen of Oz was a breath of fresh air. It was so witty and outrageous. Catherine Tate was amazing as Georgina. I hope someone else will give it a second series. #QueenOfOz"
