Channel 4 viewers beg bosses to bring back popular comedy after it was brutally axed in shock U-turn

CHANNEL 4 viewers have made desperate pleas for one of its comedy series to be recommissioned.

Matt Berry's Victorian era comedy crime series Year of the Rabbit was a hit with a huge blow after its second series commission was pulled by Channel 4 in a shock U turn.

The show stars Berry as a detective in Victorian London, who fights crime alongside his hapless partner, played by Freddie Fox, and the country’s first female police officer, performed by Susan Wokoma.

Recommissioned by Channel 4 in February last year, it was written by Berry and Emmy-winners Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil.

The broadcaster was funding series two alongside Objective Media Group (OMG) and AMC-owned U.S. cable network IFC.

However OMG is now left looking for another partner to try and make the second series of the show happen.

OMG chief executive Layla Smith : "Year Of The Rabbit is a victim of the devastating effects of Covid.

"IFC are very committed to the show, but we will need to find another partner — and we’re working on that."

Viewers have been left devastated, as one wrote on Reddit: "Matt Berry is in imperious form and supported by a supremely talented cast. It's a shame it only got one season."

Another shared: "Loved the show. One of the funniest i have seen. Anyone spot the Taika Waititi cameo?

"Genuinely laughed at some of the quips Matt Berry came out with."

"Loved it. Way better than it needed to be - the plotting and period texture actually added to the comedy instead of detracting from it. Genuinely sad it only got 1 series," said a third.

Another posted: "Agreed. One season wasn’t enough. I will watch anything with Matt Berry. Luckily he’s had no shortage of work since this so it’s not all bad."

A Channel 4 spokeswoman said: "We’re hugely proud of this hilarious and fearless comedy series, but as result of the impact of Covid on our schedules we have made the difficult decision not to enter into a second series with a heavy heart."

Year Of The Rabbit isn't the first programme Channel 4 has pulled back from, but is now the second OMG show Channel 4 has withdrawn from.

Channel 4 also tapped out of the second season of Canadian comedian Mae Martin’s Feel Good, leaving Netflix to produce it alone.

Whilst a second series of Year of the Rabbit isn't happening, Berry is said to be working on a new series of his BAFTA-winning comedy Toast Of London.

Arthur Mathews, who co-writes the series with Berry, has previously suggested that the fourth season could see viewers follow eccentric actor Toast as he works in the U.S.

Smith added: "The best thing I can imagine is Toast in his black suit, completely unchanged, in the midst of America."