BBC axe The Magicians after ratings dropped but Channel 4 are launching The Lab

BBC axe The Magicians after ratings dropped but Channel 4 are launching The Lab

The Beeb has canned The Magicians after two series because ratings dropped following the departure of original host Lenny Henry.

Bosses revamped the show â€" which sees professional magicians teach celebrities tricks â€" from a pre-recorded series to a live spectacular last year in a bid to boost ratings.

But Lenny was unable to host it because he had committed to appearing in Shakespeare’s Comedy Of Errors in the West End.

So producers brought in unknown Scot Darren McMullen, who had worked on MTV in Australia and NBC in the US. But viewers failed to warm to him.

Darren said at the time: “It’s going to be much bigger and better this time around â€" the idea is to appeal to younger viewers.

“I know nothing about magic but I’m willing to learn. This is hugely exciting for me, I’ve always wanted to work in Britain.”

But ratings fell from a high of seven million for the first run to around five million and now bosses have decided against a third series.

A BBC spokesman said: “We can confirm that a third series of The Magicians will not be commissioned by the BBC.”

ITV also confirmed that its Jonathan Ross-fronted magic show Penn Teller: Fool Us won’t return.

Despite the lack of success with magic on the other channels, Channel 4 is having a go with The Lab, billed as a “magic based entertainment show” featuring “awe inspiring tricks and high impact stunts”.

An insider said: “After a long period away from TV, magic shows became the hot thing last year, but this didn’t last long on BBC and ITV.

“But Channel 4 still has faith in the genre and hopes The Lab will be a big success.”