BBC Doctors ends after 24 years with brutal dig at the channel that axed it

After delighting lunchtime viewers for 24 years, the beloved soap Doctors has sadly reached its conclusion and it did so in a remarkably impactful manner. The enduring soap, a mainstay of UK daytime TV for over two decades, was controversially cancelled by the BBC last year, despite steady viewership and a devoted audience.

"We have taken the very difficult decision to bring daytime drama Doctors to an end after 23 years," a spokesperson expressed at the time of the cancellation. "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.

"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."

READ MORE: ITV The Chase's 'best ever player' shares real reason he was 'fired' from quiz show

READ MORE: Tommy Fury drops 'perfect gentleman' act live on ITV Loose Women after being quizzed about Molly-Mae

Read more Doctors airing last episode ever - what will replace it?

The final episode saw the team at the Mill rally after Graham Elton (Alex Avery) the problematic new partner at the surgery declared war on everything that the practice represented. His homophobic comments and treatment of his staff left several of the show's key characters fuming, with the second to last episode seeing Zara Carmichael (Elizabeth Dermot Walsh) assuring Scarlett Kerr (Kia Pegg) that their battle was far from over.

Scarlett had confided in Zara, revealing that Graham had cornered her after hours at the Mill and grabbed her wrist. Jimmi Clay (Adrian Lewis) and Al Haskel (Ian Midline), on the other hand, had both submitted their resignations due to Graham's actions which they felt had 'ripped the heart' out of the practice.

The stage was set for a final showdown as the doctors rallied to regain control of their beloved Mill, hoping to oust Graham once and for all. Zara rejected his partnership offer and delivered a powerful speech about how the Mill is at the heart of the community.

She said: "The Mill hHalth Centre is at the heart of this community. It has been built up by hard-working people over years of dedication and there is no way I am going to let you ruin it."