Adrian Lester has admitted he isn't upset about his TV show Hustle coming to an end.

The actor, who plays chief grifter Mickey Stone, said he only agreed to appear in the eighth series when he found out it would be the last.

"My feeling was that if it was going to go on and on, then it was time for me to bow out. But I didn't want to miss the chance to be in the final series," he explained.

Hustle's demise coincides with the end of other popular long-running series, such as Spooks and Waking The Dead, but Lester is optimistic about what it means for television.

"I don't think it's an end of an era at all," said the 43-year-old.

"Drama is always changing, and think how many young writers, actors and cameramen haven't had a lucky break in the eight years that Hustle has been on. There's so much more to come out of this country, but they'll never get the chance unless there's some space cleared for them."

The actor said the last episode will be "a good send-off" - but he kept quiet about the details.

"There are so many ways it could end," he teased. "Some people think they should say, 'Hang on, I've got an idea', and they go off and you never see them again, or we could just walk off into the sunset... Who knows?"

:: The last episode of Hustle is on BBC One on Friday, February 17.