Editing Doctors (2000 TV series) (section)

==Production==
===Series overview===
<onlyinclude>
{{#invoke:Series overview|main
| color1    = #F3F781
| link1     = Doctors series 1
| episodes1 = 41
| start1    = {{Start date|2000|3|26|df=y}}
| end1      = {{End date|2000|5|19|df=y}}

| color2    = #81F781
| link2     = Doctors series 2
| episodes2 = 116
| start2    = {{Start date|2000|10|2|df=y}}
| end2      = {{End date|2001|6|1|df=y}}

| color3    = #F5A9D0
| link3     = Doctors series 3
| episodes3 = 129
| start3    = {{Start date|2001|9|3|df=y}}
| end3      = {{End date|2002|5|22|df=y}}

| color4    = #58ACFA
| link4     = Doctors series 4
| episodes4 = 154
| start4    = {{Start date|2002|9|2|df=y}}
| end4      = {{End date|2003|6|13|df=y}}

| color5    = #D8BFD8
| link5     = Doctors series 5
| episodes5 = 182
| start5    = {{Start date|2003|9|1|df=y}}
| end5      = {{End date|2004|6|14|df=y}}

| color6    = #FF7377
| link6     = Doctors series 6
| episodes6 = 139
| start6    = {{Start date|2004|9|6|df=y}}
| end6      = {{End date|2005|4|6|df=y}}

| color7    = #FFCD9B
| link7     = Doctors series 7
| episodes7 = 185
| start7    = {{Start date|2005|4|18|df=y}}
| end7      = {{End date|2006|4|13|df=y}}

| color8    = #CDB8A6
| link8     = Doctors series 8
| episodes8 = 185
| start8    = {{Start date|2006|4|24|df=y}}
| end8      = {{End date|2007|4|13|df=y}}

| color9    = #34DE98
| link9     = Doctors series 9
| episodes9 = 212
| start9    = {{Start date|2007|4|23|df=y}}
| end9      = {{End date|2008|3|20|df=y}}

| color10    = #FC82B6
| link10     = Doctors series 10
| episodes10 = 223
| start10    = {{Start date|2008|3|31|df=y}}
| end10      = {{End date|2009|3|27|df=y}}

| color11    = #bae0cf
| episodes11 = 234
| start11    = {{Start date|2009|3|30|df=y}}
| end11      = {{End date|2010|3|30|df=y}}

| color12    = #bebae0
| episodes12 = 230
| start12    = {{Start date|2010|4|1|df=y}}
| end12      = {{End date|2011|3|30|df=y}}

| color13    = #6b3c4d
| episodes13 = 231
| start13    = {{Start date|2011|3|31|df=y}}
| end13      = {{End date|2012|3|30|df=y}}

| color14    = #3c6b55
| episodes14 = 221
| start14    = {{Start date|2012|4|2|df=y}}
| end14      = {{End date|2013|3|28|df=y}}

| color15    = #5a3c6b
| episodes15 = 222
| start15    = {{Start date|2013|4|2|df=y}}
| end15      = {{End date|2014|3|31|df=y}}

| color16    = #636b3c
| episodes16 = 219
| start16    = {{Start date|2014|4|1|df=y}}
| end16      = {{End date|2015|3|27|df=y}}

| color17    = #25e6df
| episodes17 = 217
| start17    = {{Start date|2015|4|13|df=y}}
| end17      = {{End date|2016|4|1|df=y}}

| color18    = #9525e6
| episodes18 = 187
| start18    = {{Start date|2016|4|4|df=y}}
| end18      = {{End date|2017|4|14|df=y}}

| color19    = #e62595
| episodes19 = 289
| start19    = {{Start date|2017|4|17|df=y}}
| end19      = {{End date|2018|11|2|df=y}}

| color20    = #9fe625
| episodes20 = 195
| start20    = {{Start date|2018|11|5|df=y}}
| end20      = {{End date|2019|11|6|df=y}}

| color21    = #2545e6
| episodes21 = 176
| start21    = {{Start date|2019|11|7|df=y}}
| end21      = {{End date|2021|2|15|df=y}}

| color22    = #e62538
| episodes22 = 141
| start22    = {{Start date|2021|2|16|df=y}}
| end22      = {{End date|2022|2|10|df=y}}

| color23    = #8c25e6
| link23     = Doctors series 23
| episodes23 = 148
| start23    = {{Start date|2022|2|14|df=y}}
| end23      = {{End date|2023|1|9|df=y}}

| color24    = #1fb7c4
| link24     = Doctors series 24
| episodes24 = 276
| start24    = {{Start date|2023|1|10|df=y}}
| end24      = {{End date|2024|11|14|df=y}}
}}</onlyinclude>

===Creation and time slot===
''Doctors'' was produced by [[BBC Birmingham]] and was screened on [[BBC One]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Doctors: Letting Go |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2c4368cf31cc442ea1d06525601466b3 |date=23 March 2000 |work=[[Radio Times]] |access-date=23 November 2019 |issue=3970 |pages=84 |issn=0033-8060 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105062525/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2c4368cf31cc442ea1d06525601466b3 |archive-date=5 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> It was created by Chris Murray,<ref>{{cite news |last=Parker |first=Robin |title=Doctors creator pens Cannes procedural |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/drama/doctors-creator-pens-cannes-procedural/5138411.article |access-date=22 March 2021 |work=[[Broadcast (magazine)|Broadcast]] |date=8 April 2019 |archive-date=22 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322123731/https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/drama/doctors-creator-pens-cannes-procedural/5138411.article |url-status=live}}</ref> with [[Mal Young]] as the original executive producer.<ref>{{cite news |title=Soap opera showrunner Mal Young gives a masterclass in drama production |url=https://rts.org.uk/article/soap-opera-showrunner-mal-young-gives-masterclass-drama-production |access-date=22 March 2021 |publisher=[[Royal Television Society]] |archive-date=22 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322123735/https://rts.org.uk/article/soap-opera-showrunner-mal-young-gives-masterclass-drama-production |url-status=live}}</ref> Musician [[Paul Hemmings]] was hired to compose the theme music for the opening and closing titles.<ref>{{cite web |title=12 Questions with musician Paul Hemmings |url=https://newsoundgeneration.co.uk/12-questions-with-musician-paul-hemmings/ |date=19 January 2021 |access-date=28 September 2021 |archive-date=28 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928125516/https://newsoundgeneration.co.uk/12-questions-with-musician-paul-hemmings/ |url-status=live}}</ref> When the series premiered, Jane Lush, the BBC's head of daytime programming, felt that commissioning ''Doctors'' was an ambitious move. She thought that the series offered something new and that viewers would not realise they would want a series like ''Doctors'' until they had seen it. Lush noted that despite its serial element, the premise of the programme meant that people could "dip in and out" since the core cast would stay the same and the episodes would be self-contained with a "story of the day".<ref name="Press">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/688406.stm |title=Doctors go on call |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=23 March 2000 |access-date=26 December 2017 |archive-date=16 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216032453/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/688406.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> Young echoed Lush's comments and had wanted to create a daytime drama series long before his involvement with ''Doctors''. Young felt that the previously unfilled daytime slot would be good due to there being an increase of [[remote work]]ers in 2000.<ref name="Press" /> ''Doctors'' was originally shown at 12:30 pm as a lead-in to ''BBC News at One''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Doctors – BBC One London – 26 March 2000 |url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2c4368cf31cc442ea1d06525601466b3 |date=26 March 2000 |publisher=BBC Genome |access-date=13 January 2018 |archive-date=1 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901205837/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2c4368cf31cc442ea1d06525601466b3 |url-status=live}}</ref> For a brief trial period in mid-2000, certain episodes from the [[Doctors (series 1)|first series]] were shown on Fridays at 7:00 pm, but due to rival soap ''[[Emmerdale]]'' being transmitted at the same time, they suffered from low ratings, and were instead trialled in a 2:10 pm time slot.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.evans-crittens.com/2019/04/visiting-the-bbc-one-doctors-set-soapland.html|title=Visiting the BBC One Doctors Set #Soapland|work=Diary of the Evans Crittens|date=10 April 2019|access-date=17 March 2020|archive-date=17 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317215259/https://www.evans-crittens.com/2019/04/visiting-the-bbc-one-doctors-set-soapland.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The series later moved into a 1:45 pm timeslot in 2008.<ref name="2015R">{{cite news|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a676647/uk-tv-ratings-coronation-street-tops-fridays-ratings-with-garys-heartbreak/|title=UK TV ratings: Coronation Street tops Friday's ratings with Gary's heartbreak|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=17 March 2020|archive-date=17 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317215405/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a676647/uk-tv-ratings-coronation-street-tops-fridays-ratings-with-garys-heartbreak/|url-status=live}}</ref> In its final year of transmission, the timeslot was changed to 2:00 pm.<ref>{{cite news |title=BBC Doctors airing last episode ever - what will replace it? |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/bbc-doctors-airing-last-episode-30365150 |access-date=25 February 2025 |work=[[Birmingham Mail]] |archive-date=25 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250225122437/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/bbc-doctors-airing-last-episode-30365150 |url-status=live }}</ref> Cast member [[Diane Keen]] opined that ''Doctors'' should be broadcast in a primetime slot,<ref name="Primetime">{{cite news|url=https://www.business-live.co.uk/retail-consumer/diane-keen-calls-bbc-drama-3933619.amp|title=Diane Keen calls for BBC drama Doctors to be given primetime slot|work=BusinessLive|access-date=17 March 2020|archive-date=17 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117200756/https://www.business-live.co.uk/retail-consumer/diane-keen-calls-bbc-drama-3933619.amp|url-status=live}}</ref> but Liam Keelan, controller of BBC Daytime schedules, commented: "its true home will always be as a hugely appreciated early afternoon drama".<ref name="Primetime" />

In a 2010 review of BBC continuing dramas, it was reported by [[Digital Spy]] that ''Doctors'' regularly won the largest share in its time slot, and attracted consistent audience numbers,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/doctors/a214275/doctors-team-nervous-over-bbc-review/|title='Doctors' team 'nervous over BBC review' |publisher=Digital Spy|date=12 April 2010|access-date=27 March 2020|archive-date=17 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317213821/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/doctors/a214275/doctors-team-nervous-over-bbc-review/|url-status=live}}</ref> with an average of 2 million viewers per episode.<ref name="Primetime" /> In 2020, executive producer [[Mike Hobson]] was asked by Allison Jones of ''[[Inside Soap]]'' if he would consider a late-night time slot, to which he commented: "for our audience, we sit quite nicely".<ref name="20mag">{{cite magazine|last=Jones|first=Alison|date=17 March 2020|title=Just what the Doctors ordered!|magazine=[[Inside Soap]] |access-date=17 March 2020|url=https://www.insidesoap.co.uk/interviews/coming-back-has-been-heaven-says-diane-keen-as-julia-returns-to-doctors/|archive-date=17 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317214920/https://www.insidesoap.co.uk/interviews/coming-back-has-been-heaven-says-diane-keen-as-julia-returns-to-doctors/|url-status=live}}</ref> He felt that if the soap was shown at night, producers would "still tackle all the powerful subject matters [they do now], and that seeing more sexual or swearing scenes would not add to the quality of the programme".<ref name="20mag" /> In February 2022, it was announced that alongside its afternoon transmission on BBC One, episodes would be repeated at 7:00 pm on [[BBC Two]]. [[Kate Oates]], head of continuing drama at the BBC, said that her motivation to give ''Doctors'' a primetime evening slot was to give the programme a push for a new audience. The change took place from 7 March 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last=Methven |first=Nicola |title=BBC soap Doctors goes prime time as hit day show gets push for new audience |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/bbc-soap-doctors-goes-prime-26293690.amp |access-date=21 February 2022 |work=[[Daily Mirror]] |publisher=([[Reach plc]]) |date=21 February 2022 |archive-date=21 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221212137/https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/bbc-soap-doctors-goes-prime-26293690.amp |url-status=live}}</ref> Despite being billed as a permanent change,<ref>{{cite news |last=Colderick |first=Stephanie |title=Doctors gets new BBC Two 7pm timeslot |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/doctors-gets-new-bbc-two-23177083 |access-date=9 May 2022 |work=[[Wales Online]] |publisher=([[Reach plc]]) |date=22 February 2022 |archive-date=9 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509204608/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/doctors-gets-new-bbc-two-23177083 |url-status=live}}</ref> the BBC Two repeats were dropped from the schedule after two months.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kitson |first=Calli |title=BBC axes Doctors from prime time slot after just eight weeks |url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/04/29/bbc-axes-doctors-from-prime-time-slot-after-just-8-weeks-16559931/ |access-date=9 May 2022 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |publisher=([[DMG Media]]) |date=29 April 2022 |archive-date=9 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509204608/https://metro.co.uk/2022/04/29/bbc-axes-doctors-from-prime-time-slot-after-just-8-weeks-16559931/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Classic episodes of ''Doctors'' were screened on [[Gold (British TV channel)|Gold]] in 2005, but the screenings eventually ceased. Demand garnered for the classic episodes to return, and in 2023, Gold's sister channel, [[Drama (British TV channel)|Drama]], attained the rights for them. They have been airing two ''Classic Doctors'' episodes every weekday at 8:00 am from 14 August 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=Classic Doctors comes to Drama Channel from August |url=https://eastieoaks.com/2023/07/22/classic-doctors-comes-to-drama-channel-from-august/ |access-date=22 July 2023 |work=EastieOaks |date=22 July 2023}}</ref>

===Filming and locations===
''Doctors'' filmed episodes three months in advance of their broadcast.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1240218690718760961|title=Confirmed: EastEnders and Doctors temporarily halt production due to Coronavirus...EastEnders will air on just Monday's and Tuesday's with immediate effect... Doctors film three months in advance meaning more episodes are stockpiled #EastEnders #Doctors|user=SoapAwards|date=18 March 2020}}</ref> The episodes were filmed from January to November, and due to the effect weather had on the output, producers implemented "seasonal episodes" to give the impression that the soap was set in real time.<ref name="FAQ">{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3mSV324kcG1HsxTDJKhXCDW/frequently-asked-questions |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=22 March 2021 |archive-date=22 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322123712/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3mSV324kcG1HsxTDJKhXCDW/frequently-asked-questions |url-status=live}}</ref> Episodes were filmed in groups of three, described as a "block". Each group of three episodes had the same production crew and it typically took seven days to shoot each block. Usually, two blocks are filmed at once, although, there were many instances where three blocks were filmed at once. In these instances, regular cast members would be filming from nine to twelve episodes within the same period of time.<ref name="FAQ" /> In 2002, in the wake of the [[death of the Queen Mother]], ''Doctors'' was pulled from the schedule to report on her death. However, the episode had been self-contained and focused completely on the "story of the day", meaning it could be transmitted at any point in the series. Crew member Peter Eryl Lloyd said that led to the invention of "lifesavers", a "story of the day"-led episode that could be transmitted at any given point.<ref name="Lloyd">{{cite web |title=With Guest Peter Eryl Lloyd (Series Producer, Doctors) |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/7wIoHPHgrJZVn45GXGx25l?si=b466a1e3600e4630 |website=Chicken Soap for the Soul |publisher=[[Spotify]] |access-date=25 February 2025}}</ref>

On his experience on the soap, cast member [[Christopher Timothy]] said: "The budget was a joke and the pressure more intense than anything I'd ever experienced. But it was six years of great fun".<ref name="Casting">{{cite news |last=Palmer |first=Bex |title=How to Get Cast on the BBC Soap 'Doctors' |url=https://www.backstage.com/uk/magazine/article/how-to-get-cast-on-bbc-soap-doctors-74633/ |access-date=22 February 2022 |work=[[Backstage (magazine)|Backstage]] |date=1 February 2022 |archive-date=22 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222123614/https://www.backstage.com/uk/magazine/article/how-to-get-cast-on-bbc-soap-doctors-74633/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Each of the regular cast members were allocated a private dressing room, while guests and recurring cast were given a shared dressing room behind the wardrobe department.<ref name="Hear">{{cite podcast |url=https://shows.acast.com/hear-she-is-here-she-is/episodes/hear-she-is-doctors-exclusive |title=Doctors exclusive |publisher=Hear She Is |host=Timmy Ward |date=6 August 2022 |access-date=8 August 2022 |archive-date=8 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808075648/https://shows.acast.com/hear-she-is-here-she-is/episodes/hear-she-is-doctors-exclusive |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:BBC Pebble Mill, Birmingham.jpg|180px|thumb|left|''Doctors'' was filmed at the [[Pebble Mill Studios]] until 2004.]]
From 2000 to 2004, ''Doctors'' was filmed at the BBC's [[Pebble Mill]] studios in [[Edgbaston]].<ref name="tvstudiohistory1">{{cite web |last=Kempton |first=Martin |title=The rest of Britain – today (more or less) |url=https://tvstudiohistory.co.uk/studio-category/the-rest-of-the-uk-today/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061934/http://www.tvstudiohistory.co.uk/rest%20of%20britain.htm |archive-date=25 January 2012 |website=TV Studio History}}</ref> The series used space originally occupied by ''[[Pebble Mill at One]]''.<ref name="tvstudiohistory1" /> A set was built especially for the series, with the BBC hoping that the series would become a "fixture of daytime schedules" like fellow BBC soap ''[[Neighbours]]''.<ref name="Press" /> After the closure of Pebble Mill, BBC Birmingham moved to a smaller production base in [[Birmingham city centre]] which had no studio space for the show.<ref name="tvstudiohistory1" /> In 2004, production moved again to the [[BBC Drama Village]] development in [[Selly Oak]].<ref name="tvstudiohistory1" /> To explain the transition between locations on screen, the soap featured a storyline in which the Riverside Health Centre is destroyed by an explosion, prompting the move to the Mill Health Centre, named after the series' original production home.<ref name="CancelledTour" />

Alongside the Mill, which was filmed in Melville House, other regular locations included Letherbridge Police Station and the Icon Bar (filmed in Barrow-Cadbury House), the University of Letherbridge's Campus Surgery (filmed in Archibald House), St. Phils Hospital (filmed outside of the Orchard Learning Resources Centre), HMP Letherbank Prison, various interior and exterior locations (filmed at [[21 Yateley Road, Edgbaston]]) and Sutton Vale surgery (filmed in Wallis House/St Andrew's Hall).<ref name="CancelledTour" /><ref>{{cite web |title=BBC - Birmingham - About Birmingham - BBC Birmingham Television Drama Village |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2005/02/17/bbc_birmingham_drama_village_feature.shtml |access-date=14 April 2022 |publisher=BBC |archive-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131053144/http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2005/02/17/bbc_birmingham_drama_village_feature.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Evans |first=Claire |date=10 April 2019 |title=Visiting the BBC One Doctors Set #Soapland |url=https://www.evans-crittens.com/2019/04/visiting-the-bbc-one-doctors-set-soapland.html |access-date=14 April 2022 |website=Diary of the Evans-Crittens |language=en-GB |archive-date=17 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317215259/https://www.evans-crittens.com/2019/04/visiting-the-bbc-one-doctors-set-soapland.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2022, BBC Birmingham announced that its base and all of its productions would eventually be moving from Selly Oak to [[Digbeth]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2022/broadcast-centre-birmingham|title=BBC Midlands moving to new broadcast centre in Birmingham|publisher=BBC|date=3 August 2022|access-date=9 August 2022|archive-date=5 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805211126/https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2022/broadcast-centre-birmingham|url-status=live}}</ref> However, due to the BBC deciding not to fund a move for the ''Doctors'' set, the series was cancelled and they concluded their filming on the Selly Oak site in 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last=Daly |first=Helen |title=Doctors axed after 23 years by the BBC |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/doctors-axed-bbc-newsupdate/ |work=[[Radio Times]] |date=18 October 2023 |access-date=18 October 2023}}</ref><ref>Giddings, A. (2023). BBC’s Doctors TV series cancelled after 23 years. BBC News. [online] 18 Oct Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-67133791 [Accessed 29 December 2023].</ref>

===Annual breaks===
''Doctors'' took three holiday-related annual breaks: at Easter, during the [[Academic term#England and Wales|British school summer holidays]] and at Christmas.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/22/when-is-doctors-back-on-tv-after-the-2019-easter-break-9283251/|title=When is Doctors back on TV after the 2019 Easter break?|work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]|date=22 April 2019|last=Abgarian|first=Almara|access-date=26 March 2021|archive-date=23 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423145847/https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/22/when-is-doctors-back-on-tv-after-the-2019-easter-break-9283251/amp/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/events/doctors-is-on-a-christmas-break/|title=Doctors is on a Christmas break!|work=[[What's on TV]]|date=27 November 2015|last=Markwardt|first=Ellen|publisher=[[Future plc]]|access-date=26 March 2021|archive-date=7 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507104226/https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/events/doctors-is-on-a-christmas-break/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 4 June 2016, it was confirmed that ''Doctors'' was to take a three-month transmission break from 10 June 2016; the first long break since 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-06-03/doctors-is-taking-an-extra-long-summer-break-and-fans-are-not-happy/amp/|title=Doctors is taking an extra long summer break and fans are NOT happy|work=[[Radio Times]]|access-date=14 June 2019|archive-date=4 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604193441/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-06-03/doctors-is-taking-an-extra-long-summer-break-and-fans-are-not-happy/amp/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was replaced by coverage of [[UEFA Euro 2016]], [[2016 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]] and the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] along with Irish drama ''[[Red Rock (TV series)|Red Rock]]''. The series returned on 30 August 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/bbc-doctors-taken-air-fans-8110992|title=BBC Doctors taken off air and fans are outraged|last=Walker|first=Danny|date=3 June 2016|work=[[Daily Mirror]]|access-date=6 June 2020|archive-date=22 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622140208/https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/bbc-doctors-taken-air-fans-8110992|url-status=live}}</ref> It then took annual breaks during the summer until its ending in 2024.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/events/doctors-spoilers-special-lockdown-episode/|title=Doctors spoilers: Don't miss a special LOCKDOWN episode!|work=[[What's on TV]]|last=Timblick|first=Simon|access-date=4 June 2020|archive-date=15 January 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210115212451/https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/events/doctors-spoilers-special-lockdown-episode/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was later explained that the break was implemented due to the small budget given by the BBC to the programme, meaning they could not transmit episodes year-round. It also allowed the cast and crew to produce episodes through the summer to catch up with the pace of production.<ref name="Hear" />