Frankie Boyle's New World Order has been axed, with the comic suggesting that the show is a victim of heightened political sensitivities at the BBC.

Taking to Twitter, he wrote: "Ah well, there's to be no more New World Order on the BBC. Not surprising in the current climate, I suppose. Just very grateful to have had six series of working with the funniest people in the business."

A BBC spokesperson told British Comedy Guide: "We would like to thank Frankie Boyle and all those involved for six great series of New World Order, and we look forward to seeing what he does next on the BBC."

Airing since 2017, New World Order has showcased a more diverse line-up of comics than are usually featured on mainstream television, and follows Mock The Week and The Mash Report in being cancelled by BBC Two in recent years.

Speaking on the Channel 4 daytime show Steph's Packed Lunch yesterday, Rachel Parris, who graduated to hosting The Mash Report's successor on the Dave channel, Late Night Mash, shared her frustration at the disappearing number of television shows on which new acts can establish themselves.

"There were things like Mock The Week and The Mash Report and Late Night Mash," she said, "and basically, bit by bit, shows are being shut down. So there needs to be jumping off points for new comedians still. We've got so few paths now and I think they're closing things down instead of opening things up."

Made by Zeppotron (The Ranganation, Would I Lie To You?) and nominated for a BAFTA in 2020, regular panellists on New World Order have included Miles Jupp, Sara Pascoe and Katherine Ryan.

However, it has also featured less-established acts such as Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Jamali Maddix, Desiree Burch, Susie McCabe, Ahir Shah and Sophie Duker, whose throwaway "kill whitey" line on the show in 2021 attracted 1,300 complaints. Often taken out of context, it has repeatedly been used to criticise the show by "anti-woke" commentators since.

With the BBC's impartiality and relationship with the Government in the spotlight after recent fallout from a tweet by football presenter Gary Lineker about migration policy, New World Order is Boyle's second recent show to be pulled from television recently. His Channel 4 special Monarchy has yet to air, following the death of The Queen just weeks before its intended broadcast.

However, it was announced today that Boyle, who will appear on the 15th series of Taskmaster beginning next week, will be taking his Lap Of Shame stand-up show back to the Edinburgh Fringe in August. He is also currently writing a follow-up to his best-selling debut novel, Meantime.