Doubts Over ABC2 Content As Axe Falls On 'The Roast'

Three-year-old ABC2 comedy series The Roast has been cancelled, apparently as a victim of recent budget cuts, it has been reported.

As TV Tonight explains, with The Roast's axing comes further concern for other moderately rated shows such as Soul Mates and Back Seat Drivers. In addition, the cancellation has seen speculation that higher-profile properties such as Josh Thomas' Please Like Me and Lawrence Mooney's Dirty Laundry Live could move to the national broadcaster's primary station ABC1, or — worst-case scenario — the entire ABC2 framework could shift online.

That much is pure conjecture at this stage, but sadly for the prodigious team behind The Roast — which was Australia's only same-day news parody program — the writing is indeed on the (Facebook) wall.

In a letter addressed to their dear "fellow Team Australians", The Roast's crew explained that the show would not be returning, before going on to thank their fans for the wide-ranging support given to the program since its inception in 2011.

"We would like to thank you for all the support you’ve given us over the years. Especially those tax dollars you didn’t have a choice about giving to us," the crew wrote on Facebook. "We appreciate everyone who has watched the show, shared our videos or dropped us a line to let us know that tonight’s episode isn’t up on iView yet. We’d also like to wish young, promising comedians like Shaun Micallef and The Chaser the best of luck as we pass the torch down to them."

The Roast's team hinted that the axing may not spell total doom for the show, indicating that they will make an announcement "shortly" as to its future.

"What we can tell you now is this: we have one more week left on the ABC, and we plan to give you our best episodes yet. Or failing that, the best episode we could make that day."

The team also addressed the cancellation on Twitter.

The final episode of The Roast will screen on ABC2 tomorrow night at 7.30pm.