'Desperate Housewives' Cast In Denial Over Axing

PRESS ASSOCIATION -- Marcia Cross has revealed her Desperate Housewives co-stars were in denial about the show being axed.

The 49-year-old actress - who plays Bree Van der Kamp in the Channel 4 show - claimed it was left to her to break the news to Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria and Felicity Huffman that US network ABC had decided to bring the show to an end.

Cross told Digital Spy: "I said to all the girls, 'they are making an announcement about the show and they don't make an announcement unless there is something to announce'. I don't know why, but everybody else was in denial.

"I immediately texted Felicity Huffman as soon as it was confirmed.

"She found out the news through my text."

The actress admitted she would miss the series after eight seasons and and seven years making the show.

She said: "I will miss Bree immensely. We've been through so much together. We've tackled marriages, babies, deaths, cancer.

"It's been a long, interesting journey on Desperate Housewives so it is going to be difficult to say goodbye."

Desperate Housewives made a pop-culture and ratings splash when it hit TV screens in 2004 but has since seen its audience dwindle.

Creator Marc Cherry is not returning to produce the ninth and final season of the soap opera and former cast member Nicollette Sheridan is suing over her departure.