'Taggart' series axed after almost 28 years

Long-running crime drama 'Taggart' has been axed by ITV after almost 28 years.

The show - which survived the death of its original star and continued for a further 17 years - will no longer be screened by the broadcaster.

However programme-makers are hoping it may live on by transferring to a different channel.

The show - which has run for 27 series - has been dropped to allow for investment in "new and original drama".

Millions of viewers have seen DCI Matt Burke - played by Alex Norton - and his team probing crimes in Glasgow.

The series launched in September 1983 with Mark McManus as the dour, eponymous DCI Taggart. He died in 1994 from pneumonia, but programme bosses took the decision to let the popular series live on without him.

It is said to have been the world's longest running crime drama.

The decision to end 'Taggart' on ITV after 110 episodes follows the axing of another long-running crime drama - 'The Bill' - last year.

The programme was close to the chop two years ago but survived after a co-production deal was struck.

STV, which makes 'Taggart', is now exploring ways of continuing with the series on other channels.

ITV and STV had been in a legal dispute over programme fees, although they had reached a settlement. This involved STV paying ITV £18m (€20.5m).

A spokeswoman for STV confirmed that ITV had decided not to commission any further series of the drama.

She said: "STV is exploring a range of options for Taggart with a number of broadcasters.

"We are committed to the brand and recognise the continuing popularity of this long-running series."

A spokesman for the show's distributor, DRG, said: "Taggart is a hugely-popular series internationally.

"For example, it is aired across three different TV channels in Australia and the most recent seasons have achieved their best reception yet.

"It's our shared ambition to return Taggart to UK screens and we can confirm we're currently working closely with STV as we explore options to achieve this."

Also among the main crime team who have solved a lengthy series of "murrrderrrs" over the years have been Blythe Duff (DS Jackie Reid) and John Michie (DI Robbie Ross). Michie is next month to star as the new landlord of the Rovers Return in Coronation Street.

Other stars who have appeared in 'Taggart' over the years are Robert Carlyle, Alan Cumming, Celia Imrie and John Hannah.

An ITV spokesman said: "We have decided not to commission any further series of Taggart for the ITV network.

"Since it was first broadcast in 1983, 'Taggart' has been one of ITV's most enduring dramas but, reflecting the demands of our audience and as part of the ongoing creative renewal of the ITV1 schedule, our priority is to invest in new and original drama for the channel.

"ITV1 broadcast five out of the top 10 new dramas on any channel last year, including the most popular new drama in over five years, Downton Abbey.

"A broad range of new drama series premiering on ITV1 over 2011 includes 'Marchlands', 'Vera', 'Kidnap And Ransom', 'Monroe', 'Injustice', 'Scott & Bailey', 'The Jury' and 'DCI Banks'."