As fans of Shooting Stars will know, yesterday, the BBC announced that they were canceling the show…

And ever since, furious fans have taken to internet forums to express their unhappiness at the end of the long running game show, which is of course hosted by comedy duo Vic Reeves – whose real name is Jim Moir – and Bob Mortimer.

The show first aired a pilot edition on BBC2 in 1993, and it was then commissioned as a full series, which ran from 1995 to 1997. It was later reprised and aired from January to December in 2002, and finally returned to BBC2 in 2008.

Over the course of its lifetime, the show has produced several spin-offs, including NHS video release, Shooting Stars – Unviewed and Nude, and a CD version of the game.

In 1996 came the first Shooting Stars book and another CD, this one featuring the ‘Club Singer round’, which allowed participants to play a full game of Shooting Stars in their own homes…

In March 1999 the second Shooting Stars video was released, entitled, Shooting Stars – Unviewed And Nude & Unpicked And Plucked. And in November 2009, the first Shooting Stars DVD was released, containing the complete series 6.

However, to return to the furor over the cancellation, The Sun reports that online petitions and Save Shooting Stars Facebook campaigns have begun in earnest.

Radio 1 DJ Greg James said of the axing, “Shame about Shooting Stars. Grew up with that show and made me realise what proper stupid comedy was all about.”

But all may not be lost at the paper report that Sky may be interested in buying the rights to the series.

A spokesman said, “We are open to any conversation with Vic and Bob.”

Let’s have a look at one of the show’s outtakes…