Pierce (l) has played Niles Crane since 1993

Pierce, who plays Frasier's psychiatrist brother Niles Crane, said the cast wanted to see the show go out on a high.

He revealed the show's probable fate at the Tribeca film festival in New York where he is promoting the comedy Down With Love.

"I think the indications are that it's going to end after this coming season.

"That's sort of what we've been told. We shoot one more season and that would be it. We all hate to see it go. We all love it."

He added: "We want it to go out classy."

Frasier, which stars Kelsey Grammar as the fastidious radio psychologist, has been running for 10 seasons and is considered one of US TV's most enduring comedies.

But in recent years ratings have begun to slide as production costs have spiralled.

Grammer earns $1.6m (�993,500) per episode, making him the highest paid actor on TV.

Although there have been constant rumours the show is facing the axe, Grammer recently said he was happy to continue.

'Navigating'

Grammer started playing Frasier in the sitcom Cheers two decades ago, before the character was given his own spin-off.

The show has won 31 Emmy awards and has received 96 nominations.

Pierce has won three individual Emmys.

NBC which airs Frasier said no decision had yet been made beyond season 11.

Pierce said he was "navigating away from Niles" as he accepts more film offers.

"I recognise the power of being the same character on television for a long time and I recognise that I can't just leap into something completely different and expect people to buy it," he said.