The BBC has announced that long-running medical drama Holby City will end next year after 23 years on the air.
The news of the Casualty spinoff's demise comes as the BBC looks to cut costs across the board in the coming years.
The final episode of the show, which has featured the likes of Patsy Kensit, Ade Edmondson and Robert Powell as cast members over the years, will be broadcast in March 2022.
In a statement, the corporation said: "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."
The future of Casualty, which has been on the air since 1986, is not thought to be in question.
Neil Wilkes
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