Real reason Doctors was axed by BBC after 23 years despite launching careers of Hollywood superstars

THE BBC yesterday axed daytime telly soap Doctors after 23 years — saying it could no longer afford it.

Bosses blamed “super-inflation in drama production” causing costs to spiral.

At a meeting yesterday, the lunchtime series’ cast and crew were told they would face mass redundancies.

Boss Kate Oates explained it had become impossible to balance the books.

She said: “In this modern climate, Doctors comes at a significantly higher price point than the BBC’s daytime budget now allows.”

A crew source said: “In terms of the industry, this is seismic and says a lot about the worrying state of soaps.”

Production of the soap at Birmingham’s Drama ­Village will continue until March next year, with the final ­episodes aired in December.

Doctors has traditionally occupied the lunchtime slot on BBC1 since 2000 and won 17 Baftas.

In February last year it was promoted to a 7pm slot on BBC2 following Holby City’s axing.

But after eight weeks of failing ratings it went back to a lunchtime spot — where it achieved an average of 1.3 million viewers.

Ms Oates denied that disappointing ratings were to blame for the axe.

The Beeb said: “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.”

Last month The Sun told how cuts had been made at Casualty, with the same “super-inflation” blamed for the number of episodes being slashed.

Doctors follows the lives of staff at two fictional surgeries.

The show helped launch Eddie Redmayne, Sheridan Smith and Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s careers.

Other stars to appear include The Crown’s Claire Foy.