Furious fans react to BBC axing daytime drama Doctors after 23 years on air

Virgin Radio

18 Oct 2023, 16:11

The BBC has pulled the plug on long-running soap, Doctors. The much-loved daytime drama will be closing its medical door after over two decades due to 'financing issues' and will air its final episode in December 2024.

Based in a Midlands GP practice in the fictional town of Letherbridge, the show debuted on the small screen in 2000. News of the soap's demise hasn't gone down well with viewers. The shock TV news follows on 18 months from the end of hospital-based soap Holby City in March 2022.

Confirmed in a statement, the BBC explained: "We have taken the very difficult decision to bring daytime drama Doctors to an end after 23 years.

"With super inflation in drama production, the cost of the programme 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 licence-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 BBC confirmed that they are 'working closely with BBC Studios to give it the finale it deserves'.

One fan wrote on Twitter (now X): "Almost any British actor from the last twenty years has a Doctors credit on their IMDb, this is trash."

A second added: "This show could have been so much more than it was. Back in the day it was brilliant. It's always been on my TV my whole life while I have watched it. Not surprised by shocked the writers and BBC could not get enough good storylines. Shame."

A third penned: "Seriously can’t believe BBC have axed. Doctors. Mrs Tembe was a true icon and was just perfect. I would’ve walked over hot coals for that legend. Unfortunately I did stop watching when she left."

Over the years, the drama has featured actors including Eddie Redmayne, Sheridan Smith, Nicholas Hoult and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

The Writers' Guild called the decision 'a terrible loss to the UK writing community and to audiences'.