BBC soap Doctors is set for a major schedule shake-up ahead of Holby City axe.
The medical drama, which has been a regular feature since 2000, will be given a brand new primetime slot.
BBC bosses will repeat the daytime show from Monday to Thursday on BBC2 at 7pm.
It comes after Beeb bosses confirmed last year that medical drama Holby City would be cancelled after 23 years on screen.
BBC Studios’ continuing drama chief Kate Oates told the Mirror that new time slot “gives a whole new audience chance to enjoy the drama in Leatherbridge.”
It comes after EastEnders and Emmerdale will go head-to-head after a scheduling shake-up that will see the BBC soap dropped from Fridays.
It is bringing in a “simplified schedule” that will see it air at 7.30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The move – which starts from March 7 – will see it go head to head with ITV’s Emmerdale.
The countryside soap is moving to a 7.30pm slot as part of ITV’s own soap shake-up.
It will see hour-long episodes of Coronation Street on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm.
EastEnders said the new schedules would kick off with what it called a “hugely exciting” week of plots that will include killer Gray Atkins finally being exposed.
Broadcasters used to go to great lengths to avoid their soaps clashing, but it is thought to be far less of an issue in the era of on-demand TV.
BBC’s head of continuing drama added: “We’re delighted that, from 7th March, there will be new regular time slots for EastEnders on BBC1, and Doctors on BBC2.
“Both shows have a loyal following; and this new simplified schedule means it’s even easier for viewers to get their fix, as well as being able to watch whenever and wherever they choose on iPlayer.
“A 7pm time slot gives a whole new audience chance to enjoy the drama in Leatherbridge; while EastEnders’ new 7.30pm slot begins with a hugely exciting week, as killer Gray Atkins is finally exposed.”
Fans are still distraught that Holby City has been axed.
A petition begging the BBC not to cancel Holby City has already racked up over 40,000 signatures.
Final episodes of the soap will air in March 2022.
The much-loved show, created as a spin-off from BBC’s Casualty by Tony McHale and Mal Young, premiered in 1999.
It became a huge hit with fans as it followed the drama of the staff who work in Holby City Hospital.
In a press release published at the time of the announcement, the BBC stated: “We are incredibly proud of Holby City but it’s with great sadness that we are announcing that after 23 years, the show will end on screen in March of next year.
“We sometimes have to make difficult decisions to make room for new opportunities and as part of the BBC’s commitment to make more programmes across the UK, we have taken the difficult decision to bring the show to a close in order to reshape the BBC’s drama slate to better reflect, represent and serve all parts of the country.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the amazing team at BBC Studios and all the cast and crew who have been involved in the show since 1999.
“Holby has been a stalwart with audiences, delighting millions of viewers each week and winning hundreds of awards with a compelling mix of cutting edge medical stories and explosive personal stories.
“We look forward to working with the team over the coming months to ensure that when it ends, Holby goes out on a high.”
