Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry has set a deadline for the hit show to come to an end - insisting the program will definitely finish in 2011.

The comedy drama first hit screens in 2004 and the fifth season is due to air later this year.

But Cherry, who also oversees the scripts, has decided that the program will end after the seventh series - because he doesn't want to see the show's popularity to wane.

He says, "I love working with these gals. But we're going to get out while people still like us."