Hugh Laurie of House.

House is condemned. There will be no renovations.

It doesn’t come as a completely out-of-the-blue surprise, but it still marked the end of an era on Wednesday when the executive producers of House - including star Hugh Laurie - issued a joint statement saying that this season, the eighth, will be the last.

House has been a staple on Fox and Global, but it was clear in the last year or two that, thematically speaking, the show was nearing its end. Laurie had begun to hint that he probably was ready to move on.

“The decision to end the show now, or ever, is a painful one,” said the joint statement from Laurie, David Shore and Katie Jacobs. “The show itself has been a source of great pride to everyone involved.

“The producers have always imagined House as an enigmatic creature. He should never be the last one to leave the party. How much better to disappear before the music stops, while there is still some promise and mystique in the air.”

The eighth season is due to wrap up in April. By then House will have aired 177 episodes.