The end of Doctors means a significant change to the afternoons on BBC One.
For the first time since a proper daytime service started on BBC One in 1986 there will be no continuing daytime drama or soap.
Initially the 2pm slot will be filled by Scam Interceptors.
Soaps and serials were often a staple of the two main channels’ daytime schedules.
Now there are none on either of them.
When ITV started regular afternoon broadcasting in 1972, Emmerdale Farm, Crown Court and General Hospital were the spine of the schedule.
Later came the likes of Take the High Road and countless Australian soaps.
When BBC daytime started in 1986, Neighbours anchored the lunchtime schedule. But the corporation did not have the money to produce any daytime drama of its own.
That changed in 2000 with Doctors.
It should be noted that the programme had clear public service values on and off-screen.
Off-screen it played a significant part in Birmingham’s TV industry and gave a break to many new writers and directors.
Although ratings have fallen, in line with wider trends, this is not the reason the axe has fallen. Make no mistake – this is the effect of the squeeze on BBC funding.
There will no doubt be a bit of experimenting to see just what works in the 2pm slot going forward.
The extended News at One has been a success – the last part of the programme usually attracts more than 1.5m viewers which is roughly three times the number watching the ITV Lunchtime News. The recent extensions to Breakfast and Morning Live have also worked.
As a general rule, BBC One is the most popular channel until about 3pm.
ITV’s late-afternoon quiz shows, however, get more viewers than the likes of Antiques Road Trip and Pointless.
Could some rejigging now be in order?
There is also the wider question of the role of soaps and continuing dramas on BBC Television.
Holby City has been axed and Casualty’s episode count has fallen.
In Scotland, River City is now shown in three batches each year with breaks of a few weeks between seasons.
We have pondered over the long-term future of EastEnders in its current form before.
ITV has recently started dropping Emmerdale and Coronation Street online early. There are occasions when the overnight ratings for the shows on ITV 1 dip below 3m although there is no doubt that they still do the business.
BBC One is different though. It is a public service. Continuing dramas and soaps tie up finite resources. They can only be justified if they help bring audiences to other parts of the output.
The loss of Doctors though is a blow to Birmingham and it will be missed by viewers.
So will BBC daytime manage without it?
And does it offer a foretaste of things to come unless the new government relieves some of the pressure on BBC funding?
Acknowledgements
PICTURED: Doctors opening titles. COPYRIGHT: BBC.