Long running panel show Never Mind the Buzzcocks – featuring Noel Fielding as a regular team captain – has been axed by BBC Two.

A BBC spokesperson told BBC News: “After 28 series we’ve decided not to bring Never Mind the Buzzcocks back to the BBC,” said a spokesperson. “This will create space for new entertainment formats in the future.

“We’d like to thank the team at Talkback, Rhod Gilbert, all the brilliant hosts over the years and of course Noel and Phill for the years of enjoyment they’ve given BBC Two viewers.”

The series, which has been on air since 1996, aired its final regular episode in December, with a series compilation back in January.

It’s 28th run last Autumn had seen the show relaunch with Rhod Gilbert as the new regular host, joined by captains Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding, following five seasons of guest hosts following in the footsteps of Mark Lamarr (1996-2005) and Simon Amstell (2006-2008).

Jupitus was team captain for all but one episode, with Noel having been preceeded by Sean Hughes (1996-2002) and Bill Bailey (2003-2008). Fielding’s first involvement with the show came as a panellist in early 2007, and he proved so popular that he later filled in for Bill Bailey when the comedian was unavailable for three weeks of the run later that year. Following a run of guest captains, Noel took over the role in 2009, and stayed with the show for the last six series.

Sadly, flagging ratings were not reignited by the pitch-perfect recruitment of Gilbert to the regular team, and now the plug has been pulled. It remains to be seen if producers Talkback will offer the series to a rival channel, but if this is the end for Buzzcocks, it leaves behind 270 episodes and almost two decades of memories to savour.