'Doctors' has been axed by the BBC after 23 years.
'Doctors' has been axed after 23 years
The broadcaster says that the daytime soap had been affected by "super inflation in drama production" which means the show has become too expensive to make.
The final episode will air in December 2024 and the BBC said it will be working to give the show "the finale it deserves".
'Doctors' follows the lives of staff and patients at a Midlands GP practice in the fictional town of Letherbridge and first aired back in 2000.
A number of A-list actors have featured in the programme early on in their careers – including Eddie Redmayne, Claire Foy and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
The BBC said it faced a decision on whether to reinvest in the Birmingham site where the show is made or finance new projects in the West Midlands.
A statement said: "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 final episode will screen in December 2024 and we are working closely with BBC Studios to give it the finale it deserves."
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