Television broadcasting company The CW has announced that the show's upcoming eighth season will be its last and stars including Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, who play vampire brothers Damon and Stefan Salvatore, have paid tribute to the show, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Somerhalder said in a statement: "The sun, the moon and stars aligned for me one day in March when I got the official call that I had been cast in this very special role as Damon Salvatore."

"I'm so very grateful to those who fought for me to have this opportunity (you know who you are), for those that have worked so hard to make this show happen, and to those that have loyally watched it, making it part of their lives," he added.

Wesley said that being part of the show "changed the trajectory of my life, to say the very least".

"I'm beyond fortunate for the experiences I've had and lessons I've learned over the last seven years," he added.

The final 16 episodes will begin on October 21 in the US.

(Source: IANS)