Viewers may vote West Wing out of TV

Actor Martin Sheen might soon be voted out of “The West Wing” as viewing figures for the White House TV drama continue to plummet, it emerged today.

The political show is about to enter its sixth series in the US, but the chances of it getting another term are now on the line.

Despite being nominated for 12 Emmys this year, the show has seen its audience figures drop from 17 million in 2001 to below 12 million last year.

It is a drop that US TV network NBC may not be able to tolerate any longer, according to the New York Times.

The West Wing has developed a cult following as viewers follow the life and work of fictional Democratic President Josiah Bartlet, played by Sheen.

Some critics have put its success down to an increased interest in the workings of the world’s most powerful administration at a time of war and terrorist threats.

But Kevin Reilly, the president of NBC Entertainment, has acknowledged that The West Wing has been “ratings challenged”.

Part of the problem was that it showed a Democratic administration in action at a time when the real White House was occupied by Republicans.

“The West Wing may have seemed out of sync at times with the real West Wing and the conservatism in the nation,” Mr Reilly admitted.