BBC Cancels Doctors

BBC’s Doctors is coming to an end after 23 years.

Doctors is a long-running daytime medical drama set in a Midlands practice that follows the lives of the staff and patients.

BBC commented: “We have taken the very difficult decision to bring the daytime drama Doctors to an end after 23 years. With super-inflation in drama production, the cost of the program has increased significantly, and further investment is also now required to refurbish the site where the show is made or to relocate it to another home. With a flat license fee, the BBC’s funding challenges mean we have to make tough choices in order to deliver greater value to audiences.

“We remain fully committed to the West Midlands and all of the funding for Doctors will be reinvested into new programming in the region.”

“We would like to thank all the Doctors cast and crew who have been involved in the show since 2000. We know the crucial role Doctors has played in nurturing talent, and we will work to develop new opportunities to support skills in scripted programming,” the statement continued. “The final episode will screen in December 2024 and we are working closely with BBC Studios to give it the finale it deserves.”

The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) responded to the BBC announcement.

Ellie Peers, WGGB general secretary, said: “The closure of Doctors is a terrible loss to the U.K. writing community and to audiences. Initially considered a ‘training’ show for creatives, it has long developed into a much-loved program with fantastic stories, written by dedicated teams of scriptwriters.

“It is essential in an increasingly global market that the U.K. continues to provide distinctive content and opportunities for our writers. It is therefore of real concern that this is the second long-running drama series to be scrapped by the BBC in the last two years, the first being Holby City. The closure of another drama series leaves a big hole in the drama slate and in the pockets of Doctors writers, many of whom have written for the show for years.

“We will be continuing our conversations with the BBC on this and providing support for our members who are affected.”

Lisa Holdsworth, WGGB chair, added: “I am shocked and saddened to hear this news. I know that the Doctors writing team boasts some of the most passionate and dedicated writers working in U.K. television. Over the years they’ve generated thousands of inventive and impactful stories, often reflecting the realities of modern British life whilst still remaining entertaining and accessible to the audience. I hope the BBC and the wider industry appreciates their talent going forward.”