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Axed: Spirited

Claudia Karvan's Spirited will not be renewed for a third season as Foxtel's Brian Walsh announces "It’s right for Spirited to go out on a high."

Foxtel drama Spirited, starring Claudia Karvan, will not be renewed for a third season.

In a statement on its official Facebook page,  Foxtel Executive Director of Television Brian Walsh said, “Spirited was a brave and bold piece of contemporary television drama, as only Foxtel can deliver. We are enormously proud of the show and its performance over two seasons. It was an intriguing storyline, beautifully directed and performed by a stellar cast.

“Producers Claudia Karvan and Jacquelin Perske delivered a remarkable Australian series which has resonated strongly with audiences. I feel it’s right for Spirited to go out on a high with the impossible love story of Suzy and Henry resolved in a way that’s as close to a happily ever after as was ever really possible.

“We appreciate and thank you for your passionate support of Spirited and we promise to continue bringing you the best in Australian and international drama.”

The drama produced by John Edwards, Claudia Karvan and Jacqueline Perske starred Karvan as dentist Suzy Darling, who walks away from a marriage with husband Steve (Rodger Corser) and into an old apartment block inhabited by the ghost of 1980s rock star Henry Mallet (Matt King).

It had been praised by critics for its adventurous storytelling, fusing drama with fantasy and was nominated for AFI Awards, AWGIE Awards. It recently won an ASTRA Award as Pay TV’s Most Outstanding Drama.

Last month Walsh told TV Tonight, viewing numbers for the second season were down by about 8%.

“I love the show. I think it’s spot on for the channel that it plays for which is W,” he said. “It plays to that female audience. Its performance is good but not spectacular. Do we go again? When we make the decision about a further series it will be looking at the overall performance of the show combined with research that we do with our subscribers.”

But an online campaign to save the show is already underway at spirited-tv.net and on Twitter via #savespirited.

Foxtel will announce its 2012 programming highlights to advertisers and media later this month.

29 Responses

  1. Still just appalled that a network can cancel an AFI Award-nominated drama so beloved by fans with the ridiculous excuse that it’s “ended on a high note.” It has not, it has ended with Henry & Suzy hanging mid-air, with fans in an uproar, entirely dissatisfied. Your 1500 subscriber survey clearly did not elicit true response from those who truly adore this show — and love it enough to fight tooth and nail for its return for a 3rd season. Think again, Foxtel.

  2. Ross Crowley & Brian Walsh need to stop pretending with the “we have commitment to our popular shows and their viewers because it’s subscription TV and is on a different platform to other networks” line. Spirited was clever, appealing to a broad viewer range far more reaching than the anticipated “women in their forties”, & was nominated for, and won, several awards as well as being Foxtel’s most successful drama to date. It illustrates to subscribers more about these two men as individuals with personal opinions rather than a team making a good decision. Shame on them. Our “Open Letter” now has in excess of 1200 signatures in under two weeks. Start listening, gentlemen.
    spirited-tv.net/2011/10/sos-save-our-spirited/

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