Fans have expressed their dismay over the surprise ending of long-running variety show Rove after 10 years on television. Photo / Supplied

Fans have expressed their dismay over the surprise ending of long-running variety show Rove after 10 years on television. Photo / Supplied

Fans have expressed their dismay over the surprise ending of long-running variety show Rove after 10 years on television.

Host Rove McManus shocked viewers on Sunday night, announcing the show would be the last.

Fans and celebrities took to social networking site Twitter, with Rove stalwart, comedian Peter Helliar leading tributes to the program and McManus.

"Rove McManus is the most talented, generous, humble, hilarious, encouraging, inspiring, kindest and loyal man I have met," Helliar posted on Twitter.

Viewers expressed their disappointment, with one writing: "awww im going to miss rove.. how sad..." while another said "So sad about the show, i have been watching you for so many yrs! Ur like a part of the furniture! Thanks for all the laughs rove!!"

But not all were upset: "Very happy that Rove is over, his show went five years too long".

McManus, a three time Gold Logie winner, said the decision had come after discussions with Network Ten recently.

But he's set to continue on at the network, with his production company responsible for Before the Game and The 7pm Project.

It's not yet clear whether his other program, Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader will be back.

"It is very short notice, I do realise that. But it's only a decision that I came up with very recently," McManus said on his show.

"And to be honest I didn't want a whole lot of fuss going into tonight as I don't going out the other end as well."

With guests such as actor Sam Worthington, Rove went out in ordinary fashion, with just 760,000 across the five major cities.

It was far down from its ratings heyday when it was pulling in well over a million viewers each week.

This year there's been erratic ratings and talent changes, with Dave Hughes and Carrie Bickmore moving to The 7pm Project.

TV expert Vincent O'Donnell said it was the end of an era as three time Gold Logie winning McManus departed, saying he was one of the best performers of the last decade.

"He has a relationship with the camera that enables him to speak to his audience as though he is speaking to each individually and that is special," O'Donnell told AAP.