In spite of near universal critical acclaim, a strong cult following and a planned US remake from David Fincher, Utopia has been axed by Channel 4.

The sci-fi drama only saw two series, debuting in January 2013 and concluding this summer.

Channel 4 said it was sad to see the show go, but needed to make room for new commissions (you couldn't just bump off Deal or No Deal?)

"Utopia is truly channel-defining: strikingly original, powered by Dennis Kelly's extraordinary voice and brought to life in all its technicolor glory through Marc Munden's undeniable creative flair and vision, the team at Kudos delivered a series which has achieved fervent cult status over two brilliantly warped and nail-biting series," a C4 spokesperson told Den of Geek.

"It also has the honour of ensuring audiences will never look at a spoon in the same way again. It's always painful to say goodbye to shows we love, but it's a necessary part of being able to commission new drama, a raft of which are launching on the channel throughout 2015."

Showrunner Dennis Kelly had plans for a third and fourth series, but despite the reverence for it the show struggled with ratings.

Fans of the series will at least be able to enjoy the upcoming US remake from HBO, which is in the safe hands of Fight Club director David Fincher and Gone Girl writer Gillian Flynn.