CHANNEL 4 viewers have made desperate pleas for one of its comedy series to be recommissioned.
Matt Berry’s Victorian era comedy crime series Year of the Rabbit was a hit with a huge blow after its second series commission was pulled by Channel 4 in a shock U turn.
The show stars Berry as a detective in Victorian London, who fights crime alongside his hapless partner, played by Freddie Fox, and the country’s first female police officer, performed by Susan Wokoma.
Recommissioned by Channel 4 in February last year, it was written by Berry and Emmy-winners Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil.
The broadcaster was funding series two alongside Objective Media Group (OMG) and AMC-owned U.S. cable network IFC.
However OMG is now left looking for another partner to try and make the second series of the show happen.
OMG chief executive Layla Smith told Deadline: “Year Of The Rabbit is a victim of the devastating effects of Covid.
“IFC are very committed to the show, but we will need to find another partner — and we’re working on that.”
Viewers have been left devastated, as one wrote on Reddit: “Matt Berry is in imperious form and supported by a supremely talented cast. It’s a shame it only got one season.”
Another shared: “Loved the show. One of the funniest i have seen. Anyone spot the Taika Waititi cameo?
“Genuinely laughed at some of the quips Matt Berry came out with.”
“Loved it. Way better than it needed to be – the plotting and period texture actually added to the comedy instead of detracting from it. Genuinely sad it only got 1 series,” said a third.
Another posted: “Agreed. One season wasn’t enough. I will watch anything with Matt Berry. Luckily he’s had no shortage of work since this so it’s not all bad.”
A Channel 4 spokeswoman said: “We’re hugely proud of this hilarious and fearless comedy series, but as result of the impact of Covid on our schedules we have made the difficult decision not to enter into a second series with a heavy heart.”
Year Of The Rabbit isn’t the first programme Channel 4 has pulled back from, but is now the second OMG show Channel 4 has withdrawn from.
Channel 4 also tapped out of the second season of Canadian comedian Mae Martin’s Feel Good, leaving Netflix to produce it alone.
Whilst a second series of Year of the Rabbit isn’t happening, Berry is said to be working on a new series of his BAFTA-winning comedy Toast Of London.
Arthur Mathews, who co-writes the series with Berry, has previously suggested that the fourth season could see viewers follow eccentric actor Toast as he works in the U.S.
Smith added: “The best thing I can imagine is Toast in his black suit, completely unchanged, in the midst of America.”
