The ABC will discontinue its current affairs talk show Q+A after 18 years to fund other shows and documentaries.

The weekly panel, which was first launched in 2008 and most recently hosted by Patricia Karvelas, will not return after going on hiatus last month.

ABC news director Justin Stevens said the axing would allow the public broadcaster to invest in other projects that reflect modern audiences.

“Discontinuing the program at this point is no reflection on anyone on the show,” he said.

“We always need to keep innovating and renewing, and in the two decades since Q+A began the world has changed.

“It’s time to rethink how audiences want to interact and to evolve how we can engage with the public to include as many Australians as possible in national conversations.”

Karvelas will continue hosting Afternoon Briefing and the Politics Now podcast.

She will also do more work for Four Corners, which she recently became involved in.

An ABC spokesperson said consultation with the remaining Q+A staff is underway, but would not comment on whether there will be any redundancies.

“Many extremely talented and dedicated people have worked on Q+A, as presenters and behind the scenes,” Stevens said.

“I sincerely thank them all, and everyone who has contributed as audience members and panellists.”

The ABC will instead invest in making Your Say permanent, after the federal election forum series resulted in almost 30,000 online submissions and thousands of talkback calls on local and regional radio, and producing more news documentaries.

Q+A first hit television in May 2008 as Q&A under host Tony Jones.

He hosted the show for more than a decade before resigning in 2019.

He was replaced by three rotating hosts, including Stan Grant, before Grant took over solely in 2022. 

Grant stepped down from the role a year later after being subjected to racist abuse during his coverage of King Charles’ coronation.

The show was renamed Q+A from Q&A in 2020.

Karvelas had been hosting the flagship talk show until it took a break after the federal election last month.

Q+A had previously been scheduled to return in August. 

Earlier this week, Channel 10 also announced it will shut its nightly show The Project after almost 16 years later this month.