Holby City axed by BBC after 23 years
Watch: Holby City is being axed after 23 years
Holby City has been axed after 23 years on the BBC.
The long-running medical drama - a spin-off of Accident and Emergency show Casualty - launched in 1999 starring Ian Curtis, Lisa Faulkner, Michael French, Angela Griffin and Phyllis Logan and has run for 22 series.
The BBC said in a statement: “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’re very sorry to bring you the sad news that Holby City will come to an end in March next year, after 23 amazing years. We are so very grateful to all of Holby’s wonderful cast, crew, writers, producers - and to our millions of loyal viewers and fans for being part of our show
— BBC Holby City (@BBCHolbyCity) June 2, 2021
“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.
Read more: Leslie Ash to reprise 'Holby City' role in 'Casualty' guest appearance
“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.”
Over its past 22 series the Holby cast has included Leslie Ash, Jeremy Sheffield, Lee Mead, Amanda Mealing, Tina Hobley and Dennis Lawson.
Many actors have made appearances as patients in the show over the years before they hit the big time - including Killing Eve star Jodie Comer.
When the medical drama first launched in 1999 - set in the fictional town of Holby's general hospital it included crossover storylines with Saturday night drama Casualty.
Holby City currently stars Guy Henry as consultant surgeon Henrik Hannssen, Jo Martin as neurosurgeon Max McGerry, Hugh Quarshie as medical director Ric Griffin and Alex Walkinshaw as nursing director Adrian "Fletch" Fletcher.
Read more: 'Holby City' star Belinda Owusu is expecting her first child – just like her TV character
The hospital drama will continue to air on BBC One on Tuesday evenings until it comes to an end in March 2022.
Watch: Holby City stars discuss filming in the pandemic
