ITV’s Victoria ‘has been axed after three series following disappointing ratings’

ITV have reportedly axed Victoria following three seasons.

According to reports from The Sun on Friday, the period drama had disappointing ratings for its most recent series, which aired in 2019 and reportedly drew in around 2.8million viewers weekly, despite having a primetime Sunday night slot.

The show stars former couple Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes in the lead roles of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and the pair parted ways in July 2020 after four years together.

The end? ITV’s Victoria (pictured) ‘has been axed after three series following disappointing ratings’ it was reported on Friday, amid lead stars Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes split 

A source speaking to the publication about the show claimed: ‘When it first launched five years ago it was getting seven million in the ratings and beat the BBC’s Sunday night period epic, Poldark.

‘But there are so many challenges facing bosses who’ve been weighing up a fourth series — not least the availability of their central star who’s now one of the country’s most in-demand actors.’

An ITV spokesperson also told the publication: ‘There are no plans presently to film Victoria, but that’s not to say we won’t revisit the series with the production team at a later date.’

MailOnline has contacted ITV for further comment.

Split: The show stars Jenna and Tom as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and the former couple parted ways in July 2020 after four years together (pictured in 2016)

 Split: The show stars Jenna and Tom as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and the former couple parted ways in July 2020 after four years together (pictured in 2016)

Jenna had previously claimed that there would be a break between the third and fourth seasons, if there was on, as she said: ‘It’s definitely going to take a break, a bit of a breather.’

At the time of Jenna and Tom’s split, an insider told The Sun that the pair had since met up in an attempt to keep things ‘as friendly and civil as possible.’ 

The source said: ‘They are trying to salvage a friendship but obviously these are trying times, and it’s not easy. 

Dip: A source claimed: 'when [Victoria] first launched five years ago it was getting seven million in the ratings', but the most recent is said to have drawn just 2.8 million viewers a week

Dip: A source claimed: ‘when [Victoria] first launched five years ago it was getting seven million in the ratings’, but the most recent is said to have drawn just 2.8 million viewers a week

‘Both Tom and Jenna are terribly sad, but the relationship ran its course. There was no third party involved. 

‘Jenna’s career is going from strength to strength, she’s being offered increasingly more roles abroad, especially Los Angeles, and she wants to focus on this while she’s still young.’ 

MailOnline contacted Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes’ representatives for comment at the time. 

In 2019, the Dr Who actress revealed she and her now-former beau Tom never took their characters from Victoria home with them when the cameras turn off.

Not for now: An ITV spokesperson said: 'There are no plans presently to film Victoria, but that's not to say we won't revisit the series with the production team at a later date'

Not for now: An ITV spokesperson said: ‘There are no plans presently to film Victoria, but that’s not to say we won’t revisit the series with the production team at a later date’

Their romance was a case of life imitating art for the pair who began dating in 2016 after they met on set. 

Speaking to The Telegraph, the thespian said: ‘No, I definitely do not go home and play Queen Victoria, I want to make that clear.

‘But I really enjoy the company of her, if that makes sense. There’s a lovely familiarity, and getting to know them as a couple has been a real joy.’

Quizzed whether Tom kept up his German accent around the house, Jenna looked horrified and exclaimed, ‘No… No, no.’ 

Jenna and Tom’s romance almost never happened, as the actress revealed she turned down the role of the iconic monarch twice before finally accepting the part.

Speaking to Radio Times, Jenna said of the near-miss: ‘I had just finished doing nearly four years on Doctor Who and I didn’t want to do another long TV project. 

‘I wanted to do lots of different things, but now I’m doing Victoria, I find her quite addictive.’ 

Prior to dating Tom, Jenna’s last high-profile relationship was with Bodyguard actor Richard Madden, 34, with the pair dating on and off for four years before ending things for good in 2015.   

Parting ways: At the time of Jenna and Tom's split, a source said the pair wanted to keep things 'as friendly and civil as possible' after the 'relationship ran its course' (pictured in 2017)

Parting ways: At the time of Jenna and Tom’s split, a source said the pair wanted to keep things ‘as friendly and civil as possible’ after the ‘relationship ran its course’ (pictured in 2017)