Channel 4 has pulled the plug on Rosie Jones's trailblazing comedy Pushers, despite the series earning a BAFTA nomination and widespread critical acclaim.
The broadcaster confirmed on Wednesday that the sitcom, which made history as the first British comedy to feature a predominantly disabled cast, will not return for a second run.
Critics had praised the show as a "madcap triumph" when it debuted last summer, with reviewers highlighting its blend of outright comedy and sharp social commentary about attitudes towards disability.
Ms Jones herself received a nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy at this year's Bafta TV Awards for her performance in the series.
Channel 4 has pulled the plug on Rosie Jones's comedy Pushers
|GETTY
The cancellation comes as part of Channel 4's ongoing programming review, which the broadcaster says requires making tough choices about which shows continue.
In the series, Ms Jones portrayed Emily, a young woman living with cerebral palsy who makes the dramatic decision to become a drug dealer after her disability benefits are slashed.
The character recruits fellow disabled individuals to join her operation, using their conditions to avoid police detection while running their enterprise from a charitable organisation where Emily works.
Joining Ms Jones on screen were actors Jon Furlong, Rhiannon Clements and Ruben Reuter, making Pushers a landmark production for disabled representation on British television.
Rosie Jones and Peter Fellows in Pushers
|CHANNEL 4
Speaking about the casting approach when the show launched, Jones expressed frustration with how disability is typically handled on screen.
"I get so annoyed with TV shows and films that have one disabled character," she said. "You just know that the creator and the writer have gone, 'Great! We've got one! Move on.'"
A Channel 4 spokesperson expressed pride in the production while confirming its conclusion.
"We're so proud of Pushers and would like to thank Rosie Jones, Peter Fellows, 2LE Media and Merman Television for their brilliant and dedicated work on the series," the statement read.
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The broadcaster indicated that collaborations with the creative team would continue in other forms.
"We look forward to working together on future projects," the spokesperson added.
Ms Jones also broke her silence about the news, writing on Instagram: "With a heavy heart and a bag full of fake drugs, I can announce that Pushers is not coming back for a second series.
"I can’t begin to tell you what this show means to me and I am immensely proud of what we accomplished in just one series, not only in terms of disability representation both behind and in front of the camera, but in terms of creating a proper, good, northern, working class comedy.
"The Pushers family have a place in my inner rectum (sanctum) for ever more. Thank you to Channel 4, Merman, 2LE, but mostly thank you to Peter Fellows, my director/cowriter/cocreater/partner in crime/Wagamamas buddy. Please keep watching it and enjoying it, you’re making Pushers live on."
The concept originated with Jones, who developed it alongside co-writer Mr Fellows back in 2018.
| CHANNEL 4
When her BAFTA nomination was announced in March, Ms Jones shared her excitement on Instagram.
"Spitting out my drink because I'm officially a BAFTA nominated actress baby!" she wrote.
"I'm honoured to be part of this list amongst my comedy heroes."
At Sunday's ceremony, the award went to Katherine Parkinson for her role in Here We Go. Jones took the loss in good spirits, posting afterwards that despite missing out, she had claimed the title of "most latex worn on a red carpet."