BBC confirms final episode date for Doctors as series set to end after 23 years

The last occurrence of BBC aesculapian play Doctors volition present aerial earlier than expected, the broadcaster has confirmed, arsenic the soap prepares to bow retired successful benignant aft 23 years connected screen

After 23 years connected our screens, BBC aesculapian play Doctors volition yet travel to it’s eventual decision adjacent month, with the web having confirmed the last transmission day for the past ever episode.

Although filming wrapped connected the agelong moving soap respective months ago, up until this week, galore fans had believed that the amusement would proceed to tally until the precise extremity of the year, arsenic amusement bosses had ever indicated that the finale would aerial astatine Christmas. Yet successful a astonishing twist, the BBC person since revealed that the last occurrence is present conscionable 5 weeks away, and the medics of Letherbridge volition officially bow retired for bully connected Thursday November 14.

The determination to extremity the amusement was archetypal announced successful October past year, erstwhile the BBC confirmed that with a dense heart, respective cardinal factors had influenced the determination to bring the amusement to a close.

Speaking astatine the time, the web said: "We person taken the precise hard determination to bring daytime play Doctors to an extremity aft 23 years. With ace ostentation successful play production, the outgo of the programme has accrued significantly, and further concern is besides present required to refurbish the tract wherever the amusement is made, oregon to relocate it to different home.”

READ MORE: Screenwriter hits retired astatine Doctors axing branding it 'disastrous decision' arsenic filming connected BBC soap ends

"With a level licence-fee, the BBC’s backing challenges mean we person to marque pugnacious choices successful bid to present greater value to audiences. We stay afloat committed to the West Midlands and each of the backing for Doctors volition beryllium reinvested into caller programming successful the region.

"We would similar to convey each the Doctors formed and unit who person been progressive successful the amusement since 2000. We cognize the important relation Doctors has played successful nurturing talent, and we volition enactment to make caller opportunities to enactment skills successful scripted programming. The last occurrence volition surface successful December 2024 and we are moving intimately with BBC Studios to springiness it the finale it deserves.”

Doctors was chiefly changeable successful Birmingham, with the last scenes filmed backmost successful March. Throughout it’s 2 decennary agelong run, the amusement traditionally aired connected BBC One astatine lunchtime instantly aft the news, though it did concisely bask a stint connected premier clip TV, erstwhile it moved to a 7pm slot connected BBC Two for 8 weeks successful 2022.

Originally lone 41 episodes of the bid were commissioned erstwhile deed archetypal began airing backmost successful March 2000, but the amusement proved to beryllium truthful fashionable with fans astatine home, the BBC ordered it arsenic a continuing soap opera.

Doctors is the 2nd aesculapian play to person been axed by the BBC successful caller years, pursuing the determination to scrap Holby City successful 2022. Just similar Doctors, it ran for 23 years earlier BBC bosses decided to marque the hard determination to extremity the series.

The last ever occurrence of Doctors volition aerial connected BBC One connected 14 November