1 week Ago By [email protected] (Dan Laurie)
After more than two decades on the air, BBC's beloved daytime drama Doctors is set to hang up its stethoscope - but speculation of a revival echo the fate of fellow soap Neighbours. Doctors is centred around a bustling GP surgery in the fabricated Midlands town of Letherbridge and has faithfully chronicled the trials and tribulations of its medics and patients for 24 years. In October last year, the BBC delivered the blow that due to dramatic "super inflation in drama production", the costs had soared too high, and Doctors would be facing the axe.
In the face of this bombshell, die-hard super-fan Carys Ashby rallied the troops with a petition garnering over 9,000 signatures in an effort to save the daytime staple. Despite her earnest campaign, as the curtain falls on what are the final scenes of over 4,500 episodes, she concedes, recognising the shows finale as the "end of an era". But all may not be lost; as viewers tune in for their last appointment on Thursday (November 14), showbiz specialist Kayley Cornelius offered a glimmer of returning life to 'Doctors, reports Birmingham Live .
Representing Betfred Lotto , Kayley sheds light on the changing TV landscape: "Traditional broadcasters are locked in an ongoing battle with streaming services, as more people turn to subscriptions like Disney+, Netflix , and Amazon Prime." She expounded on the scenario, remarking that the lure of cheaper, mostly ad-free viewing on demand poses a clear threat to conventional channels, leading to cult favourites such as 'Doctors' being discontinued as production expenses mount amidst the cost of living crisis and audience numbers dwindle with the shift towards streaming platforms. "However, for a show to run for 24 years with over 4,500 episodes is a testament to its popularity, and producers won't ignore the thousands of devastated fans hoping for it to continue.
"With next year marking the show's 25th anniversary, it's entirely possible that a platform like Netflix or Amazon Prime-which previously revived Channel 5's Neighbours-might step in. These platforms have the budget to develop the series and could launch an anniversary special as a trial to gauge demand and assess its long-term potential. "She added: "That said, while Doctors could indeed be poised for a comeback, it may come with significant changes to the cast, scripts, and settings to refresh the format and appeal to a broader audience.
So, while some core elements may remain, this is likely the end of Doctors as we currently know it. Soap enthusiasts will recall that Australian serial drama Neighbours was previously cancelled by executives but was later resurrected just months later by Amazon Freevee. The final episode of Doctors airs Thursday, November 14 at 2pm.
