Editing Doctors (2000 TV series) (section)

===2023–2024: Cancellation===
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|quote    = "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. 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."
|source   = BBC's statement after cancelling ''Doctors''.<ref name="Axe" />
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On 18 October 2023, the BBC announced that ''Doctors'' had been cancelled. The decision was made due to the financial strain of moving the set from Selly Oak to Digbeth as part of BBC Birmingham's ventures to create a new base for their productions. The BBC confirmed that it would be giving the soap a grand finale and was "working closely with BBC Studios to give it the finale it deserves".<ref name="Axe">{{cite news |last=Warner |first=Sam |title=Doctors axed by BBC after 23 years |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/doctors/a45570567/doctors-axed-bbc-23-years/ |publisher=Digital Spy |date=18 October 2023 |access-date=18 October 2023 |archive-date=18 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018124356/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/doctors/a45570567/doctors-axed-bbc-23-years/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Filming was to be wrapped in March 2024, with the final episode scheduled to air in December 2024.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=DOCTORS AXED! |magazine=[[Inside Soap]] |date=24-30 October 2023 |page=17}}</ref><ref name="Reeling">{{cite news |last=Allday |first=Jasmine |title=BBC Doctors legend says cast are 'reeling and devastated' by soap axe after 23 years |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/bbc-doctors-legend-says-cast-31225388 |work=[[Daily Mirror]] |date=19 October 2023 |access-date=20 October 2023}}</ref>

Amidst false news reports of ''Doctors'' being cancelled for low ratings, the production team took to social media to debunk them. At the time of its cancellation, ''Doctors'' was receiving an average of 1.6 million live viewers and was consistently the most watched programme in its timeslot. Their social media team posted the statement: "we would like to clarify that the decision to cancel the show is not based on low figures, as we have consistently enjoyed a strong viewership, and we are deeply grateful for the enduring support of our dedicated audience."<ref>{{cite news |last=Anderton |first=Joe |title=Doctors hits back at reports of low ratings in first statement since show axe |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/doctors/a45582989/doctors-axed-low-ratings-response/ |access-date=20 October 2023 |publisher=Digital Spy}}</ref>

Cast member [[Elisabeth Dermot Walsh]] appeared on ''[[Good Morning Britain (2014 TV programme)|Good Morning Britain]]'' to discuss the cancellation, where she said that the whole team were "reeling" from the decision, which had come as a shock to them.<ref name="Reeling" /> Co-star [[Kia Pegg]] wrote a piece on social media about the "dystopian" experience of the team being informed of the cancellation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dooney |first1=Emma |title=BBC Doctors star reveals 'dystopian' moment cast were told of soap's axe |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/bbc-doctors-star-reveals-dystopian-31239694 |access-date=22 October 2023 |work=[[Daily Mirror]] |date=20 October 2023}}</ref> She revealed that external people knew of the decision prior to them and was angry that they had been informed before them.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kitson |first1=Calli |title=Doctors star Kia Pegg reveals heartbreaking moment cast were told the show has been axed |url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/10/20/doctors-kia-pegg-moment-cast-were-told-show-axed-19693791/ |access-date=20 October 2023 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |date=20 October 2023 |archive-date=20 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020091814/https://metro.co.uk/2023/10/20/doctors-kia-pegg-moment-cast-were-told-show-axed-19693791/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[#Response to cancellation|response to ''Doctors''{{'}} cancellation]] was universally critical. Viewers launched a petition to save the soap, suggesting that another network could buy the rights to the series to continue making it.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hibbs |first=James |title=Doctors fans petition to save cancelled soap – writers' union backs bid |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/doctors-cancelled-fans-union-petition-newsupdate/ |access-date=20 October 2023 |work=[[Radio Times]]}}</ref> The show's final episode was filmed in March 2024 and was originally to be screened in December 2024,<ref>{{cite news |last=Price |first=Richard |title=Doctors' fans sadness as filming of TV series ends |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj7vk9g9184o |publisher=Digital Spy |date=3 March 2024 |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref> but this was later revised to November 2024, due to a scheduling break not going ahead as planned, with the final episode screened on 14 November.<ref name="Final Episode">{{cite news |last=Adams |first=Michael |title=Date of beloved axed soap's final episode revealed – and it's sooner than you thought|url=https://metro.co.uk/2024/10/11/date-beloved-axed-soaps-final-episode-revealed-soon-21780170/ |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |date=11 October 2024}}</ref>