Following the recent conclusion of the brilliant Breaking Bad last year, modern television is about to lose another fascinating US series.

HBO have announced that the Prohibition-era show Boardwalk Empire will come to a bittersweet end after its fifth season next year.

Creator Terence Winter, who collaborated with Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Goodfellas) and actor Mark Wahlberg (The Departed, The Fighter) on the hit series, confirmed the news yesterday and issued a short statement about the shock decision:

“After much discussion with my creative team and HBO, we’ve decided to wrap the series after such a great run and look forward to bringing it to a powerful and exciting conclusion.”

The announcement has surprised many fans (including myself) especially when you think about the amount of different storylines that have been intertwined for the now-concluding fifth series. It looks like a lot of issues will need to be seen to in these final 12-13 episodes!

The Golden Globe-winning show stars Steve Buscemi in the lead role of fictional gangster boss Nucky Thompson, who controls Atlantic City during the 1920s.

It has also boasted a remarkable and talented support cast which includes Kelly Macdonald, Shea Whigham, Michael Pitt, Michael Shannon, Michael Kenneth Williams, Stephen Graham, Jack Huston and Gretchen Mol.

Boardwalk is the latest high-profile series to be brought to an end with Mad Men and Sons of Anarchy also due to finish in the next twelve months.

The final season will air in the US later this year.