Five axes Family Affairs

Five has axed home-grown soap Family Affairs, which is believed to be the last surviving show from its launch schedule in March 1997.

The long running soap, which is made by Talkback Thames, will come off air at the end of the year, after eight- and three-quarter years on Five.

Axing Family Affairs will provide Five with a saving of more than £10m a year to invest in other programming.

But its director of programmes, Dan Chambers, will have to find other programming to run in Family Affairs' 6.30pm weekday slot and midday repeat berth.

The Family Affairs crew, based in Merton, south London, were told about the decision last night.

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