Lightning host Zoe Lyons reveals the BBC Two quiz show has been axed

‘Sadly everything must come to an end’: Lightning host Zoe Lyons reveals the BBC Two quiz show has been axed – leaving viewers ‘gutted’

Fans were left ‘gutted’ on Wednesday when it was revealed that the popular BBC quiz show Lightning had been axed after two series. 

Host Zoe Lyons, 50, took to Twitter to reveal her heartbreak as she shared a snap of her sequinned blazer, which she wore on the show, hanging up at home.

She wrote: ‘Sadly all good quizzes must come to an end but I can’t tell you what a joy it was to work on @lightningquiz for @bbc2’.

‘Sadly everything must come to an end’: Viewers were left ‘gutted’ as Lightning host Zoe Lyons revealed the BBC Two quiz show has been axed

‘We made 2 cracking series and I loved every second of working with my pals a Belfast. Every contestant was a star and you can still catch up on @BBCiPlayer.’

The show saw players battle it out to win £3,000 as they pass a light from themselves to a rival by correctly answering question.

The player who is left in the light when the timer runs out is eliminated losing their chance at grabbing the jackpot. 

End of an era: The show saw players battle it out to win £3,000 as they pass a light from themselves to a rival by correctly answering question (Zoe pictured on the show)

End of an era: The show saw players battle it out to win £3,000 as they pass a light from themselves to a rival by correctly answering question (Zoe pictured on the show)

A BBC spokesperson said: ‘Lightning has had two great series but we need to make room for new opportunities. We’d like to thank Zoe and the team for all their hard work.’   

Disappointed viewers rushed to Twitter with one writing: ‘Gutted it won’t be retuning, our household loved it and you were a great host of the quiz too’.

And a second added: ‘So disappointed you are a ray of sunshine for us’.

Sad: Zoe took to Twitter to reveal her heartbreak as she shared a snap of her sequinned blazer, which she wore on the show, hanging up at home

Sad: Zoe took to Twitter to reveal her heartbreak as she shared a snap of her sequinned blazer, which she wore on the show, hanging up at home

While another commented: ‘And a third added: ‘Ahhh gutted, it was fab and you were brilliant!’. 

The news comes as the broadcaster is expected to announce that arts channel BBC4 faces being shut down to save money.

Sources say Corporation bosses are to unveil swingeing cuts to other parts of its output today as well as major job losses.

Gutted: Viewers rushed to Twitter to air their disappointment at the popular shows sudden axing

Gutted: Viewers rushed to Twitter to air their disappointment at the popular shows sudden axing

The moves are designed to cope with the two-year licence fee freeze announced in January, which BBC chiefs say will create a £285million funding gap by 2027.

The Corporation is expected to focus more and boost spending on its iPlayer service in a bid to take on US streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Bosses are expected to take an axe to programme spending, resulting in fewer new shows and many more repeats.

Streamline: The BBC is looking to focus on their streaming service BBC iplayer to compete with US rival streaming services (pictured: BBC4 TV programme The Thick of it)

Streamline: The BBC is looking to focus on their streaming service BBC iplayer to compete with US rival streaming services (pictured: BBC4 TV programme The Thick of it)  

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