A few days ago the news came down that The Big Bang Theory is coming to an end. For fans of the show, they've still got one more season on its way, but after this twelfth series the cast and crew will be moving onto other projects.

However, the popular show has left plenty of material for re-watches, with 255 episodes already released, and 24 more on the way once the last season starts up later this year. When the last episode airs in May 2019, it will grab the #1 spot as the longest-running multi-camera comedy series in television history.

Warner Bros. Television, CBS, and Chuck Lorre Productions released a joint statement as the announcement dropped, promising to bring fans "an epic creative close":

"We are forever grateful to our fans for their support of The Big Bang Theory during the past 12 seasons.

"We, along with the cast, writers and crew, are extremely appreciative of the show's success and aim to deliver a final season, and series finale, that will bring The Big Bang Theory to an epic creative close."

But why end now, when the show is still going down so well with mainstream audiences?

Jim Parsons, who plays Sheldon on the show, was reportedly offered $50 million for two more seasons of the show. However, despite the stupendous amount of money on the table, Parsons decided to call it a day - telling executive producer Chuck Lorre that he wanted to move on, his "BAZINGA"-shouting days behind him.

Many suspected that this was the key reason for the show coming to an end, as Sheldon is essentially the face of the show, but it turns out that they could have carried on without him.

A report from Deadline, who spoke to an insider on the show, described the day the cast found out that the 12th season would be the last:

"It was a typical morning for everyone working on The Big Bang Theory on Wednesday until the entire cast was summoned to co-creator/executive producer Chuck Lorre’s office after the table read with no advance notice and no agenda.

"I hear Lorre gave the floor to star Jim Parsons, who made a tearful announcement that he would not be continuing on the series beyond the upcoming 12th season. With the entire room still reeling from the shock, I hear Lorre revealed that the series too would end with Season 12."

At the end of the day, it was Lorre's decision, and he decided that he would end the show "unless all key auspices were coming back". This means the "big three" of the show, which includes Parsons, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco. Lorre had publicly said that he would not want to continue without these original three leads.

While I'm sure twelve years is more than enough time to get your fill acting as one character, the cast will be leaving a lot of money behind. Parsons was reportedly working three-and-a-half days per week during production, and making $1 million per episode.

A few days ago the news came down that The Big Bang Theory is coming to an end. For fans of the show, they've still got one more season on its way, but after this twelfth series the cast and crew will be moving onto other projects.

However, the popular show has left plenty of material for re-watches, with 255 episodes already released, and 24 more on the way once the last season starts up later this year. When the last episode airs in May 2019, it will grab the #1 spot as the longest-running multi-camera comedy series in television history.

Warner Bros. Television, CBS, and Chuck Lorre Productions released a joint statement as the announcement dropped, promising to bring fans "an epic creative close":

"We are forever grateful to our fans for their support of The Big Bang Theory during the past 12 seasons.

"We, along with the cast, writers and crew, are extremely appreciative of the show's success and aim to deliver a final season, and series finale, that will bring The Big Bang Theory to an epic creative close."

But why end now, when the show is still going down so well with mainstream audiences?

Jim Parsons, who plays Sheldon on the show, was reportedly offered $50 million for two more seasons of the show. However, despite the stupendous amount of money on the table, Parsons decided to call it a day - telling executive producer Chuck Lorre that he wanted to move on, his "BAZINGA"-shouting days behind him.

Many suspected that this was the key reason for the show coming to an end, as Sheldon is essentially the face of the show, but it turns out that they could have carried on without him.

A report from Deadline, who spoke to an insider on the show, described the day the cast found out that the 12th season would be the last:

"It was a typical morning for everyone working on The Big Bang Theory on Wednesday until the entire cast was summoned to co-creator/executive producer Chuck Lorre’s office after the table read with no advance notice and no agenda.

"I hear Lorre gave the floor to star Jim Parsons, who made a tearful announcement that he would not be continuing on the series beyond the upcoming 12th season. With the entire room still reeling from the shock, I hear Lorre revealed that the series too would end with Season 12."

At the end of the day, it was Lorre's decision, and he decided that he would end the show "unless all key auspices were coming back". This means the "big three" of the show, which includes Parsons, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco. Lorre had publicly said that he would not want to continue without these original three leads.

While I'm sure twelve years is more than enough time to get your fill acting as one character, the cast will be leaving a lot of money behind. Parsons was reportedly working three-and-a-half days per week during production, and making $1 million per episode.