'Porridge' has reportedly been axed.

Kevin Bishop

Kevin Bishop

The BBC are said to have shelved the revamped series after just one season - which aired last autumn - after fans failed to take to the programme, according to The Sun newspaper.

Kevin Bishop starred as Nigel, the grandson of Ronnie Barker's legendary Norman Fletcher character, who was in prison - or "doing porridge" - for cyber hacking.

Porridge's original writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais wrote a one-off episode for the BBC's 2016 Landmark Comedy Season and a full six-episode series was commissioned after positive feedback.

Kevin admitted last year he was nervous about joining the reboot off the back of the original being so well liked.

Speaking in September 2017, he said: "I think it's something that people hold very close to their hearts, and when you see something so good and you remember it so fondly.

"That's why I was slightly reticent to jump on board at first because I thought, if it isn't good, as an audience member I would completely slate it. And we've pulled it off I think."

Kevin imagined British TV legend Ronnie - who died of heart failure in 2005 - was there during filming to improve his performance.

He previously said: "My feeling doing this way always, 'If Ronnie were watching this, would he be thinking it's done well?'

"It's big shoes to fill. I thought a revival might not be a good idea.

"But since it's written by the original writers, if you like 'Porridge' you should like this."

The original 'Porridge' series aired for three series from 1974 to 1977 and also starred Sir David Jason, Richard Beckinsale, Brian Wilde, Christopher Biggins and Fulton Mackay.

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