It's been one of the longest-running daytime soaps on the BBC, but 'Doctors' is being cancelled after 23 years.
The final episode of the soap, which first aired in 2000 and follows the daily goings-on of a fictional GP practice in the UK's midlands, will air in December 2024.
The reason for its cancellation, the corporation claimed, was that it had simply become too expensive to make the show.
"We have taken the very difficult decision to bring daytime drama Doctors to an end after 23 years," they said in an official statement.
"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."
It continued: "With a flat licence fee, the BBC's funding challenges mean we have to make tough choices in order to deliver greater value to audiences. 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."
The official Doctors X account clarified that ratings were not an issue in the BBC's decision.
The soap has featured guest appearances from everyone from Jodie Comer to Nicholas Hoult, Emilia Clarke and Claire Foy over the years, and was one of the shows that kick-started the career of actors include Sheridan Smith and Eddie Redmayne.
Many have slammed the BBC for their decision, including those who pointed out that it was a valuable resource for up-and-coming actors and writers to hone their craft.
