A TV show which saw two comedians attempting to try their hand at being regional journalists has been axed after two series.

Hold the Front Page aired on Sky and featured Nish Kumar and Josh Widdicombe travelling round UK newsrooms undertaking ‘work experience’ at various regional titles.

The first series in 2023 saw the comics visiting a series of National World titles incuding The Scotsman, The Yorkshire Post and the West Sussex Gazette.

It was followed by a second series last year which focused on Newsquest titles, including Bradford’s Telegraph & Argus where the pair reported on items such as extra hot curries and the area’s opera scene.

Josh Widdicombe and Nish Kumar with the West Sussex Gazette team in 2023

However Sky executives have now pulled the plug after the second season apparently received disappointing viewing figures.

News of the cancellation was initially carried in The Sun and subsequently confirmed by a comedy news website, Chortle.

Widdicombe, who studied journalism before going into comedy, had previously hailed the show as highlighting the importance of proper reporting.

He said: “The papers we worked on are at the centre of their communities and rightly take it very seriously. It seems good to show this at a time when social media has done a lot of damage to the idea of journalism.

“You are always nervous before a new show goes out on air, but I’m not sure I’ve ever had such a positive reaction. I think it is because people can see it has its heart in the right place.”

Meanwhile HoldtheFrontPage (one word) continues into its 26th year, having originally been launched in February 2000.