Editing Doctors (2000 TV series) (section)

===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>