Anke Engelke Takes Her Final Bow

After just five months, Germany's high priestess of comedy Anke Engelke wished the nation good night for the last time Thursday after declining viewer figures prompted private television station Sat 1 to cancel her much-trumpeted chat show. While 2.5 million viewers tuned in for the premiere of Anke Late Night in May, the figure had sunk to a modest 650,000 by early October. "We won't be exploring the format any further," said a spokesperson for the channel. The fast-talking comedian had her work cut out for her as the successor to Germany's cult talkshow host Harald Schmidt. It's not all bad news for Engelke, who's said she'll be taking a "creative break". At least she managed to auction off the show's trademark white chair on ebay for over €1500 ($1900) .