Controversial British TV shows that got axed - Roseanne Barr has been cancelled, literally. The American comedian just had her self-named sitcom, 'Roseanne', cancelled by broadcaster ABC. Take a look at the British shows that were also axed by their producers.

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‘Utopia’ - This drama series first hit screens in January 2013. The show follows a group of people who discover a mysterious graphic novel. Welsh actress Alexandra Roach starred as Becky.

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‘Utopia’ - Adeel Akhtar and Paul Higgins starred in the thriller. The show was pretty controversial, with scenes depicting torture and school shootings.

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‘Utopia’ - Channel Four canned ‘Utopia’ in August 2014. “It’s always painful to say goodbye to shows we love, but it’s a necessary part of being able to commission new drama”, an official statement said.

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‘Lip Service’ - ‘Lip Service’ hit screens back in 2010. The drama followed a group of Glaswegian lesbians. It starred Laura Fraser, Ruta Gedmintas, and Fiona Button.

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‘Lip Service’ - ‘Lip Service’ lasted just two series, with 12 episodes in total. It was directed by renowned filmmaker John McKay.

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‘Lip Service’ - The show’s creator, Harriet Braun, announced that it was cancelled on Twitter. ”Sadly BBC Three have confirmed there won't be a 3rd series of Lip Service. A huge, huge thank you to all the fans for all your support xx”, she wrote.

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‘The Fades’ - This sci-fi drama series starred Iain De Caestecker as Paul, a teenager who can see dead spirits wandering the earth.

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‘The Fades’ - ‘Get Out’ star Daniel Kaluuya also appeared in ‘The Fades’. He played Paul’s best friend, Michael.

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‘The Fades’ - ‘The Fades’ even won the BAFTA award for Best Drama in 2012. According to Rife magazine, the show was cancelled to make room for ‘Being Human’, another sci-fi series on BBC Three.

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‘Sugar Rush’ - This rom-com series first hit screens in 2005. The show centred on Kim (played by Olivia Hallinan), a 15-year-old discovering her sexuality.

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‘Sugar Rush’ - Lenora Crichlow starred as Sugar, Kim’s best friend and the object of her desire.

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‘Sugar Rush’ - Despite being popular with viewers, ‘Sugar Rush’ was cancelled. It’s not even available to watch on 4 on Demand.

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‘Torchwood’ - ‘Doctor Who’ spinoff ‘Torchwood’ took an indefinite hiatus back in 2011. It hasn’t returned since.

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‘Torchwood’ - The show focused on Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), a man who battles aliens with the Torchwood Institute.

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‘Torchwood’ - ‘Torchwood’ also started Eve Myles and Burn Gorman. Speaking with Graham Norton, writer Russell T. Davies left the door open when he commented that the show could “come back in ten or 20 years time”.

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‘White Van Man’ - ‘White Van Man’ was a sitcom starring Will Mellor. It focused on Ollie, a man who takes over his father’s handyman business.

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‘White Van Man’ - The show ran for just two series, with just 12 episodes in total.

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‘White Van Man’ - BBC Three cancelled ‘White Van Man’ in 2012.

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‘Nearly Famous’ - This E4 show followed a group of teenagers getting up to no good. It starred a young Aaron Taylor-Johnson as a musician with a dark past.

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‘Nearly Famous’ - The show also starred Talulah Riley as a young writer with a dysfunctional family.

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‘Nearly Famous’ - ‘Nearly Famous’ aired in November 2007 and ended just one month later. There were just six episodes in total.

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‘Merlin’ - ‘Merlin’ took viewers by storm back in 2008. Colin Morgan starred as the titular character.

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‘Merlin’ - Bradley James played King Arthur in the show. He starts the series as a self-obsessed boy, but eventually matures and takes the throne.

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‘Merlin’ - The show lasted for an impressive five series, gaining viewers over the years. But producers axed the programme after its sixth series in 2012.

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‘People Just Do Nothing’ - This smart mockumentary series first aired on BBC Three in July 2014. It was created and performed by Allan Mustafa, Steve Stamp, Asim Chaudhry, and Hugo Chegwin.

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‘People Just Do Nothing’ - The show followed the exploits of DJs at a pirate radio station. It ran for four series, and came to a close last year.

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‘People Just Do Nothing’ - In 2017, ‘People Just Do Nothing’ won the BAFTA Award for Best Scripted Comedy. This year, Asim Chaudhry lost out in the Best Male Comedy Performance category.

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‘Porridge’ - ‘Porridge’ is a sequel to the 1974 series of the same name. It starred Kevin Bishop and Dave Hill.

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‘Porridge’ - Bishop starred as the grandson of Norman Baker (Ronnie Baker), a character in the original show.

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‘Porridge’ -  The sitcom lasted just one series.

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