Diehard fans of The Big Bang Theory will be saddened to learn that this new upcoming season starting in September will be its last, it has just been confirmed.

The 12th and final season will premiere in the USA on 24 September and it will go out with a big bang with the final episode in May 2019.

The final episode will bring it up to a total of 279 episodes. The Big Bang Theory first aired all the way back in 2007, winning a total of 10 Emmy awards during its 11-year run. It's the longest running multi-camera series in TV history.

"We are forever grateful to our fans for their support of The Big Bang Theory during the past twelve seasons," Warner Bros. Television, CBS and Chuck Lorre Productions announced in a joint statement.

"We, along with the cast, writers and crew, are extremely appreciative of the show’s success and aim to deliver a final season, and series finale, that will bring The Big Bang Theory to an epic creative close."

Actor Johnny Galecki, aka Leonard, says he's happy for the show to end after 12 seasons. “I think, at this point, everyone’s very comfortable with 12 seasons being a good time to go home and see our families,” he said.

“The only manner in which the cast has discussed wrapping [the show] has been that we’re all going to be very sad when that day comes.”

Fans had ben hoping that there would be a 13th season. It was even suggested earlier this month that it could've been on the cards. “We don’t believe it’s the final year. We are in preliminary talks to renew the show [for a 13th season]," CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl had said earlier this month.

But it sadly wasn't to be...

“We are forever grateful to our fans for their support of The #BigBangTheory during the past twelve seasons..." pic.twitter.com/OWIHsICi6e

— The Big Bang Theory (@bigbangtheory) August 22, 2018