Nigella Lawson's US TV show axed

Nigella Lawson's US cookery show The Taste has been axed by TV network ABC after two series, following a dramatic ratings slump.

The cooking competition lost more than half its viewers, falling from highs of seven million to less than three million viewers on New Year's Day.

Channel 4 axed the UK version of The Taste last year after just one series.

British TV chef Nigella Lawson. Photo: AFP

Other shows cancelled by ABC include Forever, supernatural drama Resurrection and new sitcom Cristela.

Industry website Deadline had warned earlier this year that the future of The Taste was "up in the air".

Starring alongside Lawson were chefs Anthony Bourdain, Ludo Lefebvre and Marcus Samuelsson. The show saw cooks trying to impress the experts with spoonfuls of food.

Lawson's UK TV cookery career remains intact however - BBC Two recently confirmed she would return for new series Simply Nigella later this year, her first on the channel since 2012's Nigellissima.