Holby City spoilers follow.
2022 is upon us and that means Holby City's time on screen is nearly over. Sob.
Whether you're aware of it or not, next week's episode will spark the beginning of the end for our Holby clan when they are given a three-month warning to turn the hospital around.
Sadly, we already know that their fate is sealed, but how will Holby actually come to an end, and when? Here's everything we know so far:
Why is Holby City ending?
It was confirmed in June last year that Holby City would be coming to an end, after 23 years on screen. The BBC medical drama will be flatlining shortly after its 24th birthday, causing mass devastation to its fans – who have desperately been trying to keep it afloat ever since the news broke.
A statement from the BBC last year, 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."
In March 2021, four months before Holby's fate was announced, it was revealed that the BBC was in the early stages of mapping out two new soap-style drama series; one based in the north to rival ITV's Coronation Street and Emmerdale, and another to be filmed – and presumably set – in one of the nations of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Waterloo Road's revival was then announced in September, hot on the heels of the news of Holby's axe.
"Our mission must be to deliver for the whole of the UK and ensure every household gets value from the BBC," BBC director general Tim Davie said in the report last year. "These plans will get us closer to audiences, create jobs and investment and develop and nurture new talent.
"Over the last year, the BBC – which has been an essential part of the UK's culture, democracy and creativity for almost a century – has helped inform, educate and entertain all four Nations, as we have collectively faced some of our toughest moments in recent history.
"Now, as we look to the future, we must play our part in supporting social and economic recovery; rebuilding the creative sector and telling the stories that need to be heard from all corners of the UK."
Holby City spoilers - how will the show end?
We've still got a few months until Holby departs our screens for good (more on that in a bit), but the beginning of the end has actually already begun with a fair few indicators on how things will eventually wrap up.
Holby City viewers will know that the hospital is currently under special measures, after the big boss Henrik Hanssen was forced to report his concerns to the CDS. Next week's episode will see Jac ignore her increasing symptoms to fight for her team's future. She gives an ardent presentation of her objectives to get the hospital out of crisis, but it's sadly still not enough to convince Regina and the board completely.
Jac, Max and Henrik are all devastated when Regina informs that her report will be advising all specialist surgical wards to be relocated to a single site – which is likely to be at St James' hospital instead.
Feeling responsible, Henrik later presents a counter argument to Regina and persuades her to give them a bit more time to get on top of the backlog; the biggest issue they are currently facing. Henrik later shares with his colleagues that they've been given a three-month trial period to turn everything around, but it's looking likely that there won't be any light at the end of the tunnel. Given that Holby City is due to finish at the end of March, we're not too hopeful that Henrik's bargaining power will be enough to save Darwin and Kellar from its inevitable fate.
Looking at this more realistically, moving the surgical wards to another hospital will allow service at Casualty to resume as normal, given Holby's sister show is centred around the ED downstairs. Casualty will then be able to continue largely unaffected, as if nothing has changed – even though everything has.
Holby City spoilers – who will be returning?
Fans should rest assured that Holby City will be going out on a high as well, with a celebratory finale episode – full of spectacular surprises and some huge character returns. While we are sworn to secrecy on who could be walking back through the hospital's revolving doors, Holby has actually started sprinkling its plethora of comebacks already, with Bernie, Ollie (and Zosia, virtually) and killer Cameron all reappearing last year. But who else will be returning for Holby's swansong? Watch this space…
Rosie Marcel, who plays Jac, said to Inside Soap: "I can't say a lot without giving too much away, but what I will say is that the finale is going to be amazing.
"We're bringing back loads of old characters, which is going to be really exciting for everyone.
"What we have planned is really spectacular. The ending is a massive nod to the NHS and to everyone making this show. We have nearly 300 people here who are losing their jobs, yet we're all soldiering on and pulling out the stops. We could have just given up and gone, 'Sod this', but we're not. Just wait and see what we can do!"
David Ames, who plays Dom, added: "It's going to be really gorgeous. We know that the audience are going to love it as well and there's lots of little mini surprises along the way."
When is Holby City ending?
Holby City finished filming just before Christmas on December 17.
As the show films approximately three months in advance, this should take us through to March, meaning there's still plenty of drama to look forward to until we say goodbye forever.
Holby City continues on Tuesday, January 11 on BBC One.
Read more Holby City spoilers on our dedicated homepage.
Deputy Soaps Editor
Sophie is an award-winning journalist with over a decade of experience as a writer. Previously at BT.com, where she had her own Reality TV column, Sophie joined the Digital Spy soaps team in 2013 and won the Unsung Hero of the Year award at the PPA Awards in 2022.
Over the years, she has written hundreds of articles about the Carters, the Dingles and even Wellard the dog, and has created a number of the site's video franchises. Sophie hosted Digital Spy's first ever podcast 'Soap Scoop' back in 2020, where she spoke to the likes of Alan Fletcher (aka Doctor Karl) and Lisa Riley, has been interviewed on on podcasts and live radio and has represented the company on the panel of the British Soap Awards.
