Friday Night Dinner creator confirms end of show after Paul Ritter’s death with no more new episodes
FRIDAY Night Dinner has officially ended - with no new episodes in the pipeline, the show’s creator has confirmed.
The news comes just a month after the death of leading man, Paul Ritter, who died in April at the age of 54 from a brain tumour.
Speaking out after the loss, creator Robert Popper has said he has no plans to continue the show without him, and felt the show had reached its natural end anyway.
He : “I was thinking this will be the end, because I didn't want to do a series where they had kids and babies, and Jim would have seven dogs, also, like, the world's weirdest dog that you couldn't find seven of.
"So that was going to be the end, yeah."
Friday Night Dinner followed the weekly Shabbat dinner of middle class Jewish family, the Goodmans - and the antics that came during each family meal.
Ritter played father Martin, with Tamsin Greig playing his wife Jackie.
Simon Bird and Tom Rosenthal played squabbling brothers Jonny and Adam, with Mark Heap making frequent visits as the strange but lonely next door neighbour, Jim.
The Channel 4 comedy series ended on a high note in May 2020 with the reveal that both Adam and Jonny’s girlfriends were pregnant.
Considering the announcements a good stopping point, Robert explained he felt it was time to let the series go.
A special celebrating the anniversary of Friday Night Dinner is set to air this Friday evening, and will feature the last interview of Ritter, alongside his cast members.
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Tamsin Greig confirmed his participation was done despite his ailing health, and : "Sadly at the time of making the documentary, Paul was pretty unwell and to be honest – and don’t tell the producers this – but I did try and persuade him not to do the interview.
"But it is testament to Paul’s courage and generosity and dignity and complete lack of vanity that he wanted to participate in the documentary, to do an interview, and to really celebrate this little world that he’s been a part of and that he’s enjoyed so much over the years."