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The BBC has axed yet another program in a savage cull.
Champion, which launched last year, was canceled after just one series and writer Candice Carty-Williams announced the decision on Wednesday.
The series followed the lives of siblings Vita (Déja J Bowens) and Bosco (played by Malcolm Kamulete) as they struggled to make it in the UK music industry.
It featured hits from So Solid Crew, Sugababes, grime rapper Ghetts and Ray BLK, who starred in the show as Vita’s best friend Honey.
In an update shared on Instagram, Candice wrote: “The good news is that Champion was seen by (now I’ve seen the numbers) millions of you, he was in the top 10 in many black majority countries.”
Champion has been canceled after just one series and writer Candice Carty-Williams announced the decision on Wednesday (Déja J Bowens pictured in the show).
The series followed the lives of siblings Vita (Déja J Bowens) and Bosco (played by Malcolm Kamulete) as they struggled to make it in the UK music industry.
He continued: “It was the number one show on Netflix in Jamaica, Guadeloupe and Martinique (!), and earned a majority of 5 stars across the board…
‘The champion was for us and by us, and it was a success! He reached many of us at home and around the world. Thanks to the BBC and Netflix for making this happen…
‘The sad news is that Champion will not return.
“I’m grateful to each and every one of you who watched the show, posted about it, listened to the soundtrack, shouted at me in the street because the soundtrack wasn’t available outside the UK (we’re working on it), send messages direct about their favorite characters; Yes to #JusticeForLennox and I know, Beres is evil, songs, moments and he threatened me for a season 2.
‘A great eternal and infinite gratitude to the cast and crew for bringing this story and these characters to life.
“I hadn’t planned on writing or hosting a second season because there are other things to do, but I wanted to leave you with something because I believe in closing certain chapters properly.”
The latest cancellation comes after the BBC canceled soap opera Doctors, which has been broadcast for more than two decades, with its final episode due to air this year.
The BBC is trying to save £500m in the face of high inflation and a two-year freeze on the price of a television licence, which provides most of its funding.
In an update, Candice wrote: “The good news is that Champion was watched by (now I’ve seen the numbers) millions of you, it was in the top 10 in many majority black countries.”
He concluded: “A huge, eternal and endless thank you to the cast and crew for bringing this story and these characters to life” (from left to right John Ogunmuyiwa, Deja J Bowens, Malcolm Kamulete, Ray BLK and Candice in June 2023).
The BBC isn’t the only broadcaster struggling, with Channel 4 also canceling several shows, from Steph’s Packed Lunch to The Big Narstie Show.
Bosses were therefore furious when it was announced that the television license fee would increase by £10.50 instead of the £15 they were demanding.
Instead, ministers pushed to settle for an increase in line with September’s 6.7 percent inflation rate.
Previously, MailOnline reported that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was about to block the largest increase in license fees in 40 years.