Why the BBC announced it would fire doctors after 23 years
The show has been on our television screens since it first aired in 2000, often occupying the midday slot on BBC One for 23 years.
The soap follows the staff and family at the doctor’s surgery and is set in the fictional town of Letherbridge in the Midlands, which is said to be near Birmingham.
The broadcaster said it had made the “difficult decision” to end Doctors due to “superinflation” and the cost of the show – it is expected to stop filming in March 2024.
Rob deals with a charming villain who always finds himself on the wrong side of the law. pic.twitter.com/sPMdz7wfUt
— BBC Doctors (@BBCDoctors) October 18, 2023
Viewers will be able to watch the final episode in December 2024 and the show will get “the finale it deserves.”
At the end of the day’s program the BBC would like to thank all the cast and staff of Doctors
In a statement, the BBC said: “We have made the very difficult decision to end daytime drama Doctors after 23 years.”
“With superinflation in the production of plays, the cost of the program has increased significantly and further investment is also now required to renovate or relocate the venue where the show is produced.
— BBC Doctors (@BBCDoctors) October 17, 2023
“Given the flat license fee, the BBC’s funding challenges mean we have to make difficult decisions to deliver greater value to audiences.
It added: “We remain fully committed to the West Midlands and all doctor funding will be reinvested into new programs in the region.”
“We would like to thank all the Doctors cast and crew who have been involved with the show since 2000.
“We know the critical role physicians have played in developing talent, and we will work to develop new ways to support scripting skills.”
A TV source commented on the “shocking news”. The sun: “Doctors has hovered fairly quietly around the 1.3 million viewership mark for years with no word of cancellation, but the news will still come as a shock.”
“Today there was a full cast and crew meeting to share the news and then lunch was served at the Drama Village cafe.
“Some of the cast and crew have been with the soap since its inception and it really felt like a job for life, plus the soap is a central pillar for the entire community – it employs so many contractors and freelancers and is known for that.” real career ladder for British acting talent.
“While the impact on viewers may not seem huge, this is seismic in terms of the industry.”
