DUBAI — It’s TV’s longest-running multicamera comedy in history with a whopping 279 episodes to date, but the end of the road is near for The Big Bang Theory, with Season 12 being its last.

Crowned the world’s most popular sitcom and a solid performer in international ratings since its debut in 2007, The Big Bang Theory – which has earned an outstanding 52 Emmy nominations with 10 wins during its run – is the brainchild of Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, and a defining comedy of its generation.

It’s not all sad news, though – STARZ PLAY, the region’s most popular video-on-demand streaming site – has recently added all 11 seasons to its box set portfolio, meaning eager fans can laugh along to all its classic episodes, for the first time ever in the region, before the grand finale launch – and we predict you won’t be leaving your sofa for quite some time!

Renowned for flying the flag for geek culture, The Big Bang Theory focuses on the lives of Californian Institute of Technology scientists Sheldon Cooper, Leonard Hofstadter, Rajeesh ‘Raj’ Koothrappali and Howard Wolowitz, as well as the women in their lives Penny, Bernadette and Amy.

America’s most popular sitcom is also renowned for its many guest appearances from some of the most beloved icons in physics, computing and fantasy – including Star Wars, Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica.

From Bob Newhart and the late Stephen Hawking (who became recurring characters on the comedy show) to Charlie Sheen, Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer and Buzz Aldrin, the final season promises to host an even greater pool of stars, as Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye once again join the cast.

Even Bob Newhart will be back, and given that the professor was killed off in Season 7, we can’t wait to see how they’ll pull this one off!

That’s not all fans have to look forward to from the final season, either — main stars Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Amy (Mayim Bialik), Bernadette (Melissa Rauch), Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Penny (Kaley Cuoco) have all committed to the final season, while Keith Carradine will also be reprising his role as Penny’s dad Wyatt.

With Sheldon and Amy’s honeymoon and baby plans on the cards, as well as the possibility of Sheldon’s revelation of the theory of ‘super asymmetry’ allowing him to make even more of a name for himself in the science community, this really is one show we expect to go out with a bang. — SG