The BBC has confirmed that it has cancelled comedy series The Power of Parker after two seasons, with no plans for a third despite season 2 ending on a big cliffhanger.
News of the show’s cancellation was first reported by The Sun, with a source telling the publication: “Losing any series will feel like a crime for its fans. But for the two million who watched The Power Of Parker, its axe with so many loose ends is a major felony.
“The ratings just didn’t deliver enough bang for buck and it was decided the series would be chopped to make way for new formats.”
A spokesperson for the BBC confirmed in a statement to: “There are no plans for a third series of The Power of Parker. We’d like to thank Paul Coleman, Sian Gibson and the team at Boffola Pictures for bringing the show to our screens.”
The Power of Parker first debuted in July 2023, and starred Conleth Hill (Game of Thrones), Sian Gibson (Peter Kay’s Car Share) and Rosie Cavaliero (Kaos).
Hill played Martin Parker, an entrepreneur and local Z-lister who faced comeuppance when his mistress Kath (Gibson) and wife Diane (Cavaliero) teamed up to bring him down, in a series set in 1990.
A second season aired in May 2025, and was set two years later in 1992.
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The synopsis for season 2 said: “It’s 1992, the queen is in the midst of her annus horribilis, John Major is the new PM, and Whitney’s I Will Always Love You is stuck at number one. Up in Stockport, Kath, Martin and Diane are just trying their best to get along.
“Martin Parker has hit rock bottom and is desperate to get his reputation back, Diane is adjusting to single life and running a business, while Kath is getting her happily ever after with her man by her side and is working on rekindling a relationship with her sister.
“She’s on a mission to sort things out for her sister and her man, but her interfering does the opposite and jeopardises everything. They will need to depend on each other now more than ever, but who do they trust?”
The series ended on a cliffhanger, with detective Ash, played by Navin Chowdhry (EastEnders), discovering a photo which showed Martin fleeing an armed robbery at a factory run by his former boss.
The Power of Parker seasons 1-2 are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
