British Comedy Guide

The Family Pile axed by ITV after one series

Friday 21st April 2023, 8:23am

The Family Pile. Image shows from L to R: Yvette (Clare Calbraith), Nicole (Amanda Abbington), Stuart (Kieran O'Brien), Gaynor (Alexandra Mardell), Greg (James Nelson-Joyce), Ursula (Claire Keelan), Austin (Richard Pepple)

ITV has cancelled The Family Pile, its sitcom about four sisters who are packing up the family home to sell after their parents have died.

The six-part comedy, which aired in January and February, was described as "a comedic exploration of one of life's big milestones".

Filmed in Liverpool by Hat Trick Productions, the comedy was written by The Smoking Room creator Brian Dooley and starred Amanda Abbington, Clare Calbraith, Claire Keelan and Alexandra Mardell, with support from Kieran O'Brien, Richard Pepple and James Nelson-Joyce.

An ITV spokesman confirmed to British Comedy Guide: "There are currently no plans for a second series of The Family Pile, we would like to thank all the cast and crew for their hard work in bringing the show alive on screen."

The Sun quotes an unnamed source as explaining: "Unfortunately the ratings were lower than expected and ITV decided to concentrate on fresh comedies, rather than pin hopes on The Family Pile.

"The cast and crew are gutted as they felt it was a good sitcom and the best ones always take time to grow. But TV is a brutal industry and shows that are not instant successes rarely get a second chance. Comedy chiefs appreciate the cast are talented and liked the series, but they couldn't ignore the poor audience figures."

The series can be watched on ITVX

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