US series The Big Bang Theory will come to an end after the upcoming season 12 airs next year, CBS has now confirmed.
The show's final episode will air in May 2019, bringing one of the longest-running sitcoms ever to a close.
The twelfth season is set to premier next month on 24th September, running up until May 2019, proving all good things must sadly come to an end.
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Some Big Bang Theory fans might be surprised to hear that it is all over after the upcoming season, as only earlier this month, president of CBS Entertainment, Kelly Kahl, said that the network was 'hopeful' that the series would be renewed for a 13th season.
She said: "We don't believe it's the final year. We are in preliminary discussions to renew the show with Warner Bros."
CBS and Big Bang Theory's production teams have now released a joint statement, telling fans they were 'forever grateful' for their support over the years.
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"We are forever grateful to our fans for their support of The Big Bang Theory during the past 12 seasons," the statement read.
It continued: "We, along with the cast, writers and crew, are extremely appreciative of the show's success and aim to deliver a final season, and series finale, that will bring The Big Bang Theory to an epic creative close."
During its running, the series has picked up seven Emmys from an impressive 46 nominations, with Jim Parsons scooping the prize for Outstanding Lead Actor on four separate occasions. Jim portrayed Sheldon Cooper, a senior theoretical physicist, in the series from start to finish.
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Other stars of the show included Johnny Galecki as Leonard Hofstadter, Simon Helberg as Howard Wolowitz, Kunal Nayyar as Raj Koothrappali, and Kaley Cuoco as Penny Hofstadter.
The show was filmed in front of a live audience, and first centred around five characters living in California.
Physicists Leonard and Sheldon shared an apartment, and their friends aerospace engineer Howard Wolowitz and astrophysicist Raj Koothrappali would regularly come round. Penny, a waitress and aspiring actress, lived across the hall and they all formed an unlikely friendship as the series went on.
All is not lost though, as The Big Bang Theory spin-off Young Sheldon will begin its second season on the network in September of this year.
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