Santa Clarita Diet cancelled: Netflix 'zom com' starring Drew Barrymore to end after three seasons

'Of all of the characters I’ve ever been, Sheila Hammond is one of my favourites,' Barrymore said in a statement

Netflix has cancelled its popular "zom com" Santa Clarita Diet after just three seasons.

The Vitor Fresco-created sitcom stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as parents struggling to deal with Barrymore's new appetite for human flesh.

News of the show's cancellation comes just a month after the third series debuted last month. Fresco noted at the time that he wasn't certain whether the show would be brought back for a fourth season.

The Hollywood Reporter recently speculated that Netflix has re-strategised the way it orders shows, and suggested that three seasons is the current ideal for its platform.

“The world had never known a 'zom-com' until Santa Clarita Diet, and we're indebted to creator Victor Fresco for bringing this idea to Netflix,” Netflix said in a statement.

“To their endless credit, the incredible Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant were totally game, with an uncanny knack for comedy that brought Sheila and Joel Hammond to vibrant life, even though one of them was undead.

"We're grateful to Victor, Drew, and Timothy, along with fellow executive producers Tracy Katsky, Aaron Kaplan, Chris Miller and Ember Truesdell and the terrific cast, including Liv Hewson and Skyler Gisondo, and crew for three hilarious seasons for Netflix members to discover for years to come.”

Barrymore, who also served as executive producer on the show, said: “Of all of the characters I’ve ever been, Sheila Hammond is one of my favourites.

“She and Joel were an amazing couple, who had shared goals. And i am lucky to have worked along side Tim Olyphant. It was an honour to get to do something so delightful. Sheila lives forever in me. And I am grateful to Victor Fresco, who created a world so unique.”

Olyphant added: “I loved working on this show. I’m going to continue coming in and doing scenes. If they don’t want to film it, that’s up to them.”