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The programme, which tracks the lives of members of a Women's Guild in the fictional West Country village Clatterford St Mary, will not return for a fourth series despite rising ratings.

The gentle BBC One comedy put on viewers between its second and third series, attracting an audience of 4.1 million last autumn despite unfavourable scheduling.

The demise of the show threatens to bring Saunders' 24-year working partnership with fellow comedian Dawn French to a close.

As well as co-writing the scripts Saunders played the middle-class matriarch Caroline Martin, with French appearing as factory worker Rosie Bales.

Pauline McLynn, who played Tip Haddem in the show, said she had been left heartbroken by its cancellation and urged viewers to lobby the BBC to reconsider.

"For those of you wondering, it was the BBC's decision not Jen's - she loved writing that series as much as we loved being in it," she wrote on her website.

"I think it would be great if you all complained to the BBC."

A BBC spokesman confirmed that it was not expecting Jam & Jerusalem back on screens.

"Audiences have enjoyed three series of Jam & Jersualem and the time felt right to make way for different ideas," he said.

"We are already discussing new projects with Jennifer Saunders and eagerly anticipate Roger and Val starring Dawn French and Alfred Molina on BBC Two in the New Year."

French and Saunders broke into television in 1982 with their comedy troupe The Comic Strip, and went on to appear in the sitcom Girls On Top before becoming household names through the French & Saunders sketch show.