PATRICK STEWART - STEWART BELIEVES STAR TREK SHOULD END

PATRICK STEWART believes it's time to bring the hugely popular STAR TREK franchise to a dignified close following the announcement its incarnation will be axed from American TV schedules later this year (MAY05).

The British actor, who played CAPTAIN JEAN-LUC PICARD in STAR TREK:THE NEXT GENERATION, has refused to join avid fans in the campaign to keep the seminal sci-fi series alive - he cites falling viewing figures as a less than subtle hint the show should be wrapped up.

The 64-year-old says, "I think it's probably time to wrap it all up.

"We've had a great run. Enterprise is great, but if you go on long enough the quality will be affected."