’19 Kids and Counting’, the TV show at the center of the molestation scandal that broke over a month ago, has officially been cancelled by TLC, the network has announced.

“After thoughtful consideration, TLC and the Duggar family have decided to not move forward with '19 Kids and Counting',” the network said in a statement. “The show will no longer appear on the air. The recent attention around the Duggars has sparked a critical and important conversation about child protection.”

The announcement brings several weeks of speculation to an end about the show’s future, after Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s eldest son Josh admitted to molesting young girls when he was a teenager in 2006, before the show first aired. Later, two of Josh’s sisters came forward to identify themselves as victims.

DuggarsJosh Duggar moving out of the family home back in June

When the scandal broke back in May, TLC stopped showing re-runs and old episodes, but now the decision has been taken to call it a day. The network has also announced that it will air an hour-long documentary, free of commercials, in order to raise awareness about sexual abuse that will go out this summer.

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“Over these past weeks, TLC has consulted regularly with leading victims' rights and advocacy organizations in the US… …to discuss how to use this moment to address the issue and make a positive impact,” TLC’s statement continued.

“Unfortunately, child sexual abuse is not an isolated issue; it affects many children and families around the world. To that end, we are partnering with both organizations on a multi-platform campaign to raise awareness and educate parents and families about the issue.”

Josh, now 27, apologised publicly for “acting inexcusably” in a statement to People back in May. “I hurt others, including my family and close friends. I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation. We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life,” he said in that statement.

’19 Kids and Counting’ had been a hit since its debut in 2008. It concerns the lives of a family of devout Independent Baptists, whose nine daughters and ten sons all have names beginning with the letter ‘J’.

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