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| BBC's Doctors TV series cancelled after 23 years | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The long-running series was set in a Midlands GP practice | The long-running series was set in a Midlands GP practice |
| Production of daytime medical drama Doctors is to end, the BBC has announced. | Production of daytime medical drama Doctors is to end, the BBC has announced. |
| After running for 23 years, the show had been affected by "super inflation in drama production", causing costs to rise significantly, the BBC said. | After running for 23 years, the show had been affected by "super inflation in drama production", causing costs to rise significantly, the BBC said. |
| It said it had faced a choice on whether to re-invest in the Birmingham site where the show is made or finance new shows in the West Midlands. | It said it had faced a choice on whether to re-invest in the Birmingham site where the show is made or finance new shows in the West Midlands. |
| The final episode will be aired in December 2024. | The final episode will be aired in December 2024. |
| The BBC said it would be "working closely with BBC Studios to give it the finale it deserves". | The BBC said it would be "working closely with BBC Studios to give it the finale it deserves". |
| It also thanked all the cast and crew who had worked on the show, first broadcast on 26 March, 2000. | |
| 'Actors' training ground' | 'Actors' training ground' |
| The show follows the lives of staff and patients at a Midlands GP practice in the fictional town of Letherbridge. | |
| TV critic Scott Bryan, from the BBC's Must Watch podcast, said on X, formerly Twitter, that the show had "been a training ground for many actors" | TV critic Scott Bryan, from the BBC's Must Watch podcast, said on X, formerly Twitter, that the show had "been a training ground for many actors" |
| It has featured household names such as Eddie Redmayne, Sheridan Smith, Nicholas Hoult, Rustie Lee and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, he said. | |
| "For many of us, this is the show we would watch on our sick days," Mr Bryan added. | "For many of us, this is the show we would watch on our sick days," Mr Bryan added. |
| The Writers' Guild called the decision "a terrible loss to the UK writing community, and to audiences". | |
| It said it was essential the UK "continues to provide distinctive content and opportunities for our writers". | |
| The cancellation of the show,18 months after another BBC medical drama, Holby City, was axed, "leaves a big hole in the drama slate," it added. | |
| 'BBC committed to Midlands' | |
| The BBC said the Drama Village, where the show is currently made, would have needed further investment to continue operating, with the only alternative being to switch production to another site. | |
| It had been a difficult decision, but "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", the corporation said. | It had been a difficult decision, but "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", the corporation said. |
| The BBC said it remained "fully committed" to TV-production in the West Midlands. | |
| It highlighted recent announcements that Silent Witness will move to the region in 2024 and that MasterChef will be made at the new studios in Digbeth, Birmingham, which are due to open next year. | |
| "The BBC adds over £305m to the economic value of the West Midlands each year," it said, describing Birmingham as "a major hub for the BBC's activity". | |
| Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| BBC | BBC |
| Birmingham | Birmingham |