BBC Doctors star shares 'dystopian' moment cast were told of soap's axe
Doctors star Kia Pegg has detailed the 'dystopian' experience of finding out the daytime drama had been axed, recalling how the cast found out via a Zoom meeting on a rainy Wednesday afternoon.
The Birmingham actress took to Twitter yesterday to address the heartbreaking news that the BBC soap would air its final episode in December, after 23 years on screen. Kia joined Doctors in March 2022 as receptionist Scarlett Kiernan, after previously appearing in CBBC's Tracey Beaker Returns and its spin-off drama, The Dumping Ground.
In a lengthy statement, she has now described the harrowing reaction to the medical show's cancellation and how she had already predicted its doomed fate before the "words were spoken out loud."
Kia Pegg plays Scarlett Kiernan on Doctors (BBC)Kia revealed to her 19k followers that the entire production had been summoned to a lunchtime Zoom meeting which was playing in every room of the building, where they were informed Doctors had been "decommissioned." She explained that the Story Producer had asked the cast not to look at him during the conference, which she described as "vaguely dystopian".
The 23-year-old also said that that the room was "lost for words" after hearing the crushing news, and that some people were even left in tears. A free lunch had then been offered, consisting of cakes and crisps from M&S that went "largely uneaten." A follow-up HR meeting was held ten minutes later, where a director stood up and asked how this decision was made. Kia also reflected on being so inundated by notifications on her phone about the show's cancellation that she had to switch off the device altogether. After an emotionally draining day, filming for the afternoon was scrapped and the cast and crew headed to the pub.
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"When your show gets cancelled you get home late and read your new scripts. They’re as good as they’ve ever been. You feel lucky again. You read your callsheet. You get into bed. You set your alarm," Kia wrote in the conclusion of her statement. "When your show gets cancelled you still have to go to work the next morning because for now, at least, there is still a show to go on."
A statement from the BBC has now shut down speculation that the award-winning show was axed over declining ratings.
"It is sad news that Doctors will come to an end in December 2024; however, we would like to clarify that the decision to cancel the show is not based on low figures, as we have consistently enjoyed a strong viewership, and we are deeply grateful for the enduring support of our dedicated audience," it read. "We are proud of the incredible work by the cast and crew over the 23 years that the audience has come to know and love."
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