Editing Doctors (2000 TV series) (section)

==Reception==
===Awards and nominations===
{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Doctors}}
In 2003, ''Doctors'' was nominated for [[Best British Soap]] at the British Soap Awards for the first time, where it has been nominated annually since.<ref>{{cite news |title=Street sweeps soap awards |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3017361.stm |url-status=live |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=2 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207223839/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3017361.stm |archive-date=7 December 2019}}</ref> The next year, ''Doctors'' won their first award at the [[2004 British Soap Awards]], when they won Best Single Episode for "Say A Little Prayer".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a14385/british-soap-awards-2004-winners-list/|title=British Soap Awards 2004 – winners list|publisher=Digital Spy|access-date=2 November 2020|archive-date=19 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219045550/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a14385/british-soap-awards-2004-winners-list/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2005, [[Andrea Green]] won the [[British Soap Award for Best Newcomer]] for her role as [[Sarah Finch]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4526191.stm|title=The winners: British Soap Awards|work=[[BBC Online]]|accessdate=5 July 2010|date=8 May 2005|archive-date=5 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005013006/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4526191.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[2009 British Soap Awards]], Vivien's rape won the award for Best Storyline; Carey also won the award for [[Best Female Dramatic Performance]] for her role in the storyline.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a154689/british-soap-awards-2009-the-winners.html|title=British Soap Awards 2009: The Winners|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|last1=Green|first1=Kris|last2=Kilkelly|first2=Daniel|date=10 May 2009|access-date=20 May 2012|archive-date=16 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016051744/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a154689/british-soap-awards-2009-the-winners.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The storyline was nominated again at the [[2018 British Soap Awards|2018 ceremony]] in the category of Greatest Moment.<ref name="2018 BSAs">{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/british-soap-awards-2018-winners-list-coronation-street-eastenders-a8381081.html?amp|title=British Soap Awards 2018 winners list in full: Coronation Street named best soap|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=5 February 2020|archive-date=19 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219222137/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/british-soap-awards-2018-winners-list-coronation-street-eastenders-a8381081.html?amp|url-status=live}}</ref> Also at the 2018 ceremony, ''Doctors'' won a shared award with fellow BBC soap ''[[EastEnders]]''. Both soaps won the award for Scene of the Year; this marked the first time two soaps won a singular award.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/doctors/doctors-news/eastenders-doctors-win-big-at-british-soap-awards-189872/|title=EastEnders, Doctors win big at British Soap Awards|work=[[What's on TV]]|access-date=10 February 2020|archive-date=17 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117200759/https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/doctors/doctors-news/eastenders-doctors-win-big-at-british-soap-awards-189872/|url-status=live}}</ref> At the 2018 ceremony, Ian Midlane won the [[British Soap Award for Best Comedy Performance|Best Comedy Performance]] accolade for his role as Al;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/british-soap-awards-2018-winners-list-coronation-street-eastenders-a8381081.html?amp|title=British Soap Awards 2018 winners list in full: Coronation Street named best soap|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=5 February 2020|archive-date=19 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219222137/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/british-soap-awards-2018-winners-list-coronation-street-eastenders-a8381081.html?amp|url-status=live}}</ref> Sarah Moyle received the award a year later for her portrayal of Valerie.<ref name="Comedy">{{cite news |last=Rockson |first=Gabrielle |title=BBC Doctors: Sarah Moyle's role on Emmerdale you totally forgot about |url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/celebs/bbc-doctors-sarah-moyles-role-21689364 |access-date=27 January 2022 |work=[[MyLondon]] |publisher=([[Reach plc]]) |date=28 September 2021 |archive-date=27 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127160243/https://www.mylondon.news/news/celebs/bbc-doctors-sarah-moyles-role-21689364 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Doctors'' won Best Single Episode once again in 2022 for "[[Three Consultations and a Funeral]]", with the panel stating that if the episode had aired in a primetime slot, it could have won a [[British Academy Television Awards|BAFTA Award]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kilkelly |first1=Daniel |last2=Warner |first2=Sam |title=British Soap Awards 2022 winners list - updated live |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a40251617/british-soap-awards-2022-winners/ |access-date=13 June 2022 |publisher=Digital Spy |date=11 June 2022 |archive-date=12 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220612171029/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a40251617/british-soap-awards-2022-winners/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2023, Jan Pearson and Chris Walker won the [[Best On-Screen Partnership]] accolade for a second time, after winning it previously in 2010.<ref>{{cite news |title=The British Soap Awards 2023 - Winners list |url=https://www.itv.com/presscentre/media-releases/british-soap-awards-2023-winners-list |access-date=22 June 2023 |publisher=[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] |archive-date=27 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827115959/https://www.itv.com/presscentre/media-releases/british-soap-awards-2023-winners-list |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Doctors'' is nominated annually at the [[Inside Soap Awards|''Inside Soap'' Awards]]. Laidlaw won the award for Best Daytime Star for her role as Mrs Tembe in 2017,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/inside-soap-awards-2017-nominations-list_uk_599c1811e4b04c532f444815|title=The ''Inside Soap'' Awards 2017 Longlist Is In! Find Out Who's Nominated|last=McGrath|first=Rachel|date=22 August 2017|website=[[Huffington Post]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927101902/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/inside-soap-awards-2017-nominations-list_uk_599c1811e4b04c532f444815|archive-date=27 September 2017|access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref> while the soap itself won Best Daytime Soap the following year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a862268/inside-soap-awards-2018-full-longlist-coronation-street-eastenders-emmerdale-hollyoaks/|title=''Inside Soap'' Awards 2018 full longlist revealed|last=Davies|first=Megan|date=23 July 2018|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|language=en-GB|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709164211/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a862268/inside-soap-awards-2018-full-longlist-coronation-street-eastenders-emmerdale-hollyoaks/|archive-date=9 July 2019|access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref> The soap has also received annual longlist nominations from the [[National Television Awards]], with Walsh having two nominations for her role as Zara Carmichael.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/nta-nominations-2020-shortlist-nominees-vote-national-television-awards-ntas-when-date-1357347?amp|title=NTA nominations 2020: the full shortlist of National Television Awards nominees, and how to vote for the NTAs|work=[[i (British newspaper)|i]]|access-date=28 January 2020|archive-date=17 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117223531/https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/nta-nominations-2020-national-television-awards-shortlist-nominees-vote-ntas-when-date-time-382485/amp|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/national-television-awards/a868526/national-tv-awards-2019-longlist-nominations/|title=Here are all the nominees for the National TV Awards 2019, including Strictly, Doctor Who and Ant & Dec|publisher=Digital Spy|date=16 October 2019|last=Harp|first=Justin|access-date=7 April 2020|archive-date=30 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830040756/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/national-television-awards/a868526/national-tv-awards-2019-longlist-nominations/|url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[Royal Television Society|Royal Television Society Midlands Awards]], Miles has won the award for Acting Performance of the Year twice, in 2013 and 2017. ''Doctors'' has also won the Drama award three times at the ceremony.<ref name="RTS">{{cite web|url=http://www.rts.org.uk/awards-midlands|title=Awards -- Midlands|publisher=[[Royal Television Society]]|access-date=18 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019123836/http://www.rts.org.uk/awards-midlands|archive-date=19 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/rts-midlands-awards.html|title=Doctors|publisher=BBC|access-date=18 October 2013|archive-date=18 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018164554/http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/rts-midlands-awards.html|url-status=live}}</ref> At the 2021 ceremony, [[Lucy Benjamin]] won the Acting Performance award for her role as [[List of Doctors characters (2021)#Jan Fisher|Jan Fisher]] in the episode "Three Consultations and a Funeral", which also won the award in the Scripted category.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-midlands-awards-2021|title=RTS Midlands 2021|work=[[Royal Television Society]]|access-date=7 December 2021|archive-date=4 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204193818/https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-midlands-awards-2021|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, the [[Writers' Guild of Great Britain]] awarded the soap for Best Long Running TV Series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://writersguild.org.uk/writers-guild-award-winners-2017/|title=Writers' Guild Award winners 2017|publisher=[[Writers' Guild of Great Britain]]|date=23 January 2017|access-date=24 January 2017|archive-date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731081115/https://writersguild.org.uk/writers-guild-award-winners-2017/|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that year, script editor Ahmed won the Services to Media award at the [[British Muslim Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1234992706583871&id=359997144083436|title=British Muslim Awards|publisher=[[British Muslim Awards]]|date=25 January 2017|accessdate=26 January 2017|archive-date=17 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117223530/https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1234992706583871&id=359997144083436|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Critical reception===
Kathryn Hearn of ''[[The Guardian]]'' opined that ''Doctors'' is the best show on television. She appreciated the "rich, three-dimensional characters" in the series, as well as the storylines taken from real life, noting the storyline that saw a paedophile ring exposed.<ref name="Hearn">{{cite news |last=Hearn |first=Kathryn |title=Got the end-of-summer blues? Take a dose of Doctors, the best show on telly |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/sep/03/summer-blues-doctors-daytime-tv |access-date=23 September 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=3 September 2018 |archive-date=31 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831084657/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/sep/03/summer-blues-doctors-daytime-tv |url-status=live}}</ref> Hearn applauded the writers for tackling issue-led storylines which she always found to be accurate, noting their representation of immigration, underage sex, [[upskirting]], mental health and homelessness. Hearn also appreciated the casting on the series. She felt that unlike other soaps, the characters "look ordinary" and are realistic to life.<ref name="Hearn" /> She hoped that more people would begin watching the soap as she felt it was "treated as the bridesmaid, never the bride".<ref name="Hearn" /> Ammar Kalia, another ''Guardian'' writer, praised ''Doctors'' on its 20th anniversary. He described it as "the perfect medicine" during the COVID-19 pandemic and found it to be the best offering of the British daytime schedule.<ref name="Kalia">{{cite news |last=Kalia |first=Ammar |title=Joe Pasquale and aborted vasectomies: BBC's Doctors is 20 and as weird as ever |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/mar/26/bbcs-doctors-20-weird-as-ever |access-date=23 September 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=26 March 2020 |archive-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415103225/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/mar/26/bbcs-doctors-20-weird-as-ever |url-status=live}}</ref> he hoped that due to most of the UK public staying at home during the pandemic, the series would pick up more viewers and that it would continue long past its 20th anniversary.<ref name="Kalia" /> Roz Laws, writing for the ''[[Birmingham Mail]]'', complimented ''Doctors'' for its ability to mix comedy with serious stories. Laws also felt that the soap's diversity was ahead of other soaps, noting particularly that its first gay wedding was years before any of the others.<ref>{{cite news |last=Laws |first=Roz |title=Seven reasons why you should watch BBC1's Doctors |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/seven-reasons-you-should-watch-9412802 |access-date=24 September 2022 |work=[[Birmingham Mail]] |publisher=([[Reach plc]]) |date=8 June 2015 |archive-date=24 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924093413/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/seven-reasons-you-should-watch-9412802 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The storylines have also received praise from health professionals. Paul Daverson, a mental health nurse, was impressed with how accurately ''Doctors'' covered mental health. He found that the soap covered the issues sensitively and accurately and it gave Daverson hope for the depiction of mental health issues on television. He noted Jimmi Clay's (Morgan) counselling sessions and Ruth Pearce's (Chilton) psychotic breakdown were especially accurate. He praised the latter for being a brave depiction since it aired in the 2000s, a time he felt it was rare for mental health to be portrayed correctly. He noted that the series had always been progressive, particularly for a daytime series, and that as well as covering mental health issues, ''Doctors'' was also great at covering LGBTQ+ topics. He highlighted [[Simon Bond (Doctors)|Simon Bond]] ([[David Sturzaker]]), a gay doctor, whose character he found not to be completely focused on his sexuality and "who just happened to be gay".<ref name="Daverson">{{cite news |last1=Daverson |first1=Paul |title=As a medical professional, I couldn't be more impressed with how Doctors handles mental health storylines |url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/03/07/as-a-medical-professional-im-impressed-with-how-doctors-covers-mental-health-16229843/ |access-date=23 September 2022 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |publisher=([[DMG Media]]) |date=7 March 2022 |archive-date=13 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513125738/https://metro.co.uk/2022/03/07/as-a-medical-professional-im-impressed-with-how-doctors-covers-mental-health-16229843/amp/ |url-status=live}}</ref> He was also appreciative of ''Doctors'' for covering Marina Bonnaire (McLoughlin) abusing Heston Carter (Brenman), the first time he had seen a woman abusing a man on television.<ref name="Daverson" />

===Response to cancellation===
News of ''Doctors''{{'}} cancellation was met with universal criticism. Ellie Peers, the general secretary of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain, said the end of the soap was "a terrible loss to the UK writing community" as it had long been considered a "training show" for writers.<ref name="Peers">{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Rachel |title=BBC is cancelling Doctors soap after 23 years on air |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/oct/18/bbc-is-cancelling-doctors-soap-after-23-years-on-air |access-date=5 February 2025 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=18 October 2023 |archive-date=1 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101053941/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/oct/18/bbc-is-cancelling-doctors-soap-after-23-years-on-air |url-status=live }}</ref> She added: "it is essential in an increasingly global market that the UK continues to provide distinctive content and opportunities for our writers. It is therefore of real concern that this is the second long-running drama series to be scrapped by the BBC in the last two years, the first being ''Holby City''. The closure of another drama series leaves a big hole in the drama slate, and in the pockets of ''Doctors'' writers, many of whom have written for the show for years."<ref name="Peers" /> ''Doctors'' screenwriter Philip Ralph echoed Peers' comments about the cancellation leaving a hole in the industry. He explained: "there is no other show in the UK industry that offers such variety of storytelling – everything from high drama and tragedy, to farce, dream sequences, stand-alone single plays, themed weeks on important subjects, you name it, we wrote it."<ref name="Ralph">{{cite news |last1=Frost |first1=Caroline |title=Screenwriter Slams "Disastrous" Decision To Axe Long-Running BBC Medical Drama 'Doctors' |url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/doctors-cancellation-bbc-disastrous-decision-says-screenwriter-1235837419/ |access-date=5 February 2025 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=2 March 2024 |archive-date=4 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304100953/https://deadline.com/2024/03/doctors-cancellation-bbc-disastrous-decision-says-screenwriter-1235837419/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Ralph also accredited the decision to increasing the unemployment rate in the creative industry, which at the time of ''Doctors''{{'}}s cancellation, 68% of the [[Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union]]'s were unemployed.<ref name="Ralph" />

''[[The i Paper]]'' found ''Doctors''{{'}} cancellation to be worrying for the future of [[British soap operas]], something that scared writer Michael Hogan due to soaps providing awareness for social issues.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hogan |first1=Michael |title=The Doctors cancellation is another sign British soap operas are in crisis |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/the-doctors-cancellation-is-another-sign-british-soap-operas-are-in-crisis-2698809?srsltid=AfmBOoqdE3BgJ-vK3Jv_V32KZ-G1b4sTPCq-KQk1H1B5KazBR9HRRaYJ |access-date=5 February 2025 |work=[[The i Paper]] |date=19 October 2023}}</ref> The ''Metro''{{'}}s Chris Hallam also criticised the decision, one he described as a "big TV moment".<ref name="Moment">{{cite news |last1=Hallam |first1=Chris |title=Why Doctors will be a huge loss as BBC TV series ends after 24 years |url=https://metro.co.uk/2024/11/14/doctors-will-a-huge-loss-bbc-tv-series-ends-24-years-21985657/ |access-date=5 February 2025 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |date=14 November 2024}}</ref> He said the series deserved credit for "providing invaluable career changing opportunities for many talented people but also for its efforts in promoting equality of opportunity for people of all races, genders and abilities in both its casting and storylines".<ref name="Moment" /> Hallam also found the cancellation to be a blow to the large base of viewers who continued to watch episodes until the finale. He stressed that the BBC had not cancelled it for low ratings, but instead for a desire to cut costs, which he found problematic.<ref name="Moment" /> A fan of the series launched a petition in an attempt to reverse the decision.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Benton |first1=Rachel |title='Axing Doctors after 24 years is the end of an era' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yxqq89j89o |access-date=5 February 2025 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=14 November 2024}}</ref>

[[Equity (British trade union)|Equity]] were disappointed and concerned with the decisions of the BBC to cancel ''Doctors'', particularly within 18 months of cancelling ''Holby City''. They regarded the series a "vital step" in the life of a British actor, with a large amount of their members' first credit being on the soap.<ref name="Equity">{{cite news |title=Equity statement on the cancellation of Doctors |url=https://www.equity.org.uk/news/2023/equity-statement-on-the-cancellation-of-doctors |access-date=5 February 2025 |publisher=[[Equity (British trade union)|Equity]] |date=18 October 2023 |archive-date=25 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125131213/https://www.equity.org.uk/news/2023/equity-statement-on-the-cancellation-of-doctors |url-status=live }}</ref> Equity have become infamous for protesting to retain the [[licence fee]] in the UK, since it supports the creative industry within the BBC. They confirmed they would still support the licence fee, but urged the BBC "to do better to represent and serve the Midlands region".<ref name="Equity" /> Equity also called on the BBC to have talks with them to go through how ''Doctors''{{'}} funding will be reinvested.<ref name="Equity" /> The [[Royal Television Society]] echoed their concern for the [[Midlands]]' funding, writing: "''Doctors'' has been an engine for growth in the under-resourced Midlands and a way for so much talent on both sides of the camera to find a footing in drama before, hopefully, graduating to bigger things".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Khaila |first1=Kully |title=Our Friend in the Midlands: Kully Khaila on the cancellation of Doctors |url=https://rts.org.uk/article/our-friend-midlands-kully-khaila-cancellation-doctors |access-date=5 February 2025 |publisher=[[Royal Television Society]] |date=5 February 2024}}</ref> ''[[Broadcast (magazine)|Broadcast]]'' wrote that the BBC's decision had put "a generation of talent at risk" and urged the reinvestment of funding into the Midlands.<ref>{{cite news |title=Doctors cancellation puts a generation of talent at risk |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/drama/alexander-jacob-doctors-cancellation-puts-a-generation-of-talent-at-risk/5187065.article |access-date=5 February 2025 |work=[[Broadcast (magazine)|Broadcast]] |date=19 October 2023}}</ref>