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The BBC has announced that daytime soap Doctors will end next year, two decades after its 2000 premiere.
The drama, which has been nominated for four BAFTA TV Awards and received several British Soap Awards, airs weekdays at 1:45pm on the channel.
The BBC released a statement explaining the decision, attributing it to “funding challenges” and “hyperinflation in drama production”.
Its official statement reads: “We have made the very difficult decision to end daytime drama Doctors after 23 years.
“With the hyperinflation in drama production, the cost of programming has increased significantly, and now additional investment is also required to refurbish the space where the show is produced, or to move it to another home.
“With the license fee flat, the BBC’s funding challenges mean we have to make difficult choices to deliver greater value to audiences.”
The statement continued: “We are fully committed to the West Midlands and all funding for Doctors will be reinvested in new programming in the region.
“We would like to thank all the cast and crew of Doctors who have been involved with the show since 2000.
“We know that Doctor Who plays a vital role in nurturing talent, and we will work to develop new opportunities to support skills in scripted programming.
The BBC signed off saying, “The final episode will air in December 2024 and we are working closely with BBC Studios to finalize it.”
Inevitably, it didn’t take long for disappointed fans to share their thoughts on the news, with one writing on And I really enjoyed filming with the team in the early 2000s. Sending all the best to the crew and current cast of #BBCDoctors.”
Another said: ‘It’s a shame, maybe bring back some cast members from the past to give a nod to the show’s history, hopefully Dr Clay will be the last one.’
Elsewhere, another said: “How do people get into the industry now? I say this as someone who hasn’t written for shows, but it was the closest I got to getting into screenwriting in the UK.”
And a fourth echoed: “Sad Times – Doctors was and continues to be a very watchable program that deals with a range of issues that affect people in daily life.”
Richard Armitage is a famous face who starred in Doctors as a young actor
getty
While a fifth commented: “This is so sad for the newbies. So sad to hear this for all the cast and crew. I learned so much directing this show. Love you all x.” (Thus)
The show has become famous for giving many household names their first steps into the world of on-screen acting.
The star-studded cameos seen by the Doctor include the likes of Eddie Redmayne, Sheridan Smith, Lisa Riley and Richard Armitage – who himself recently addressed rumors he could play the next James Bond.
