BBC Doctors axed: Union claims the Midlands is worst served BBC region in the country

The BBC has faced criticism from creative industry unions and fans since announcing the cancellation of daytime soap Doctors - which is filmed in Birmingham.

A creative industry union said the Midlands is the worst served BBC region in the country and despite contributing a quarter of the licence payers fee, gets only 2% back in network TV spend.

A petition was launched to save the show filmed at the BBC Drama Village in Selly Oak, Birmingham. More than 3,800 people signed the petition so far to save the show set in the fictional Midlands town of Letherbridge. The daytime soap follows the staff and their families of a doctor’s surgery.

Directors of the show have raised concerns that the cancellation would remove a significant platform for young talent in the country. Many stars, for whom Doctors was a launchpad, have made it big in Hollywood.

After the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) - a trade union representing professional writers in TV, film, theatre, radio, books, comedy, poetry, animation and videogame - another creative industry union - Musicians Union - have spoken against the BBC’s decision to cancel the show.

What the Musicians Union (MU) Midlands Regional Committee said

The MU said: “The Musicians Union Midlands Regional Committee is concerned by the BBC’s decision to end the Doctors series which is filmed in the Midlands Region. In the light of this cut, we call on the BBC to provide equal or greater employment opportunities to Creative Industries workers in the Midlands. We call on the BBC to increase its Midlands production investment to reflect the 25% licence fee gain from this region.”

Stephen Brown, Midlands TUC Chair of Creative & Leisure Industries Committee, and MU Regional Organiser added: “The Musicians’ Union Midlands Region is offering its solidarity to both Equity and BECTU in their campaign to save both employed and freelance jobs at the BBC following its decision to axe ‘Doctors’.

“The Midlands is the worst served BBC region in the country and despite contributing a quarter of the licence payers fee, gets only 2% back in network TV spend. The BBC really has to do better in the Midlands and we urge them to meet with representatives of Equity and BECTU to resolve this issue and save the jobs of their members.

“The BBC also need to invest more in programme making in the Region as part of a wider plan to ensure our creative industries are protected, and to abide by their Charter to ensure our creative sector and its workers in this Region have a future. The Region cannot afford such a loss of work in the creative sector when its workers are already struggling to sustain a career.”

What the BBC said when announcing cancellation of Doctors

The BBC said on October 18: “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. 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 final episode will screen in December 2024 and we are working closely with BBC Studios to give it the finale it deserves.”

What the BBC said in response to the MU

A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC is investing heavily in the West Midlands -  with two prime time shows moving to the region from 2024, Radio 1’s Newsbeat and Asian Network News are now in Birmingham with the rest of the Asian Network to follow; 1Xtra have three shows coming from the city; and Birmingham remains the home for The Archers and local services.

The network TV production figure does not reflect the full extent of the BBC’s investment and presence in the region because it doesn’t include radio, local and regional services, but it will increase as more shows go into production. All of the Doctors spend will be retained in the West Midlands and reinvested into new programming in the region.”

You can add your signature to the petition launched by Carys Ashby here: The petition to save Save Doctors at Change.org.