The Big Bang Theory is halfway through its twelfth and final season, with the iconic sitcom set to end its experiments after 279 episodes. But why is the show finishing now? Jim Parson has explained in a new interview.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Parsons  (who plays Dr Sheldon Cooper in the show, and lends his voice to the Young Sheldon spinoff) offered this take on why The Big Bang Theory is ending after twelve seasons, despite the fact it is still incredibly popular:

“There’s no negative reason to stop doing Big Bang. It’s both as complex and as simple as that it just felt innately that it was time. We’ve gotten to do so many things you know? And I think we could keep telling stories but it doesn’t have that, it feels like we’ve really gotten to chew all the meat off this bone, as it were.”

And, as for what he wants to see in the final episode, Parsons offered this sure-to-be-fan-pleasing suggestion:

“The elevator, definitely. That’s one of my wishes for the final episode. The elevator gets fixed, at least for a minute, and then we all get stuck in it.”

We’ll just have to wait and watch to see if his idea makes it into the episode. The show’s final instalment will be season 12, episode 24.

We’ll bring you more news as it happens.