The BBC’s long-running Film series has been cancelled as the broadcaster seeks an alternative format for movie reviews as part of an overhaul of its arts coverage.

The programme, which was renamed annually to reflect its year of broadcast, was screened nationally for 46 years. It is most closely associated with Barry Norman, who was its presenter for 26 years, followed by Jonathan Ross for 11 years, and Claudia Winkleman, who took over for a six-year stint in 2010. Since then it has been presented by various famous faces including Zoë Ball and Charlie Brooker.

Without a permanent host the show had a low profile and slipped into a later and later time slot. Film 2018, which went off air in March, had a run of just five weekly episodes, meaning it only covered a handful of the major movies released this year. The final programme was hosted by the comedian Al Murray, with the critic Ellen E Jones.

“It didn’t seem well matched to the contemporary cinema landscape,” said the filmmaker Charlie Lyne, who has appeared on the programme.

In recent years other BBC movie programming has had a higher profile, including Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode’s BBC Radio 5 Live film review programme, which will continue every Friday despite Mayo leaving his daily Radio 2 show.

A BBC spokeswoman said a replacement for the Film programme would be unveiled in due course, with a focus on ensuring it broadcasts on a regular basis: “We are constantly looking at how we present the arts to ensure we are serving all audiences in the best way possible.

“In 2019, we will be creating an enhanced offer for lovers of film both on television and online which will be a more consistent approach across the year and will replace the Film Show.”