| Bgcolour: |
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| Series Number: | 5 |
| Num Episodes: | 182 |
| Network: | BBC One |
| Prev Series: | Series 4 |
| Next Series: | Series 6 |
The fifth series of the British medical soap opera Doctors originally aired between 1 September 2003 and 14 June 2004. It consisted of 182 episodes. The series saw Natalie J. Robb leave her role as Jude Carlyle after three years on the series. She was followed by original cast member Maggie Cronin, who departed from her role as Kate McGuire. It also saw the castings of two new receptionists: Akemnji Ndifornyen as Nathan Bailey), who also doubled as the estranged son of established Ben Kwarme (Ariyon Bakare), and Andrea Green as Sarah Finch. The series five episode "Say a Little Prayer" also became Doctors first win at the British Soap Awards, claiming the Best Single Episode accolade in 2004. Finch then won the British Soap Award for Best Newcomer a year later for her role as Sarah.
The fifth series saw Natalie J. Robb leave her role as Dr. Jude Carlyle after three years on Doctors. Jude's exit storyline sees her cheat on her boyfriend with his father and become pregnant with a baby with Down syndrome, moving back to Glasgow to have her family's support.[1] Original cast member Maggie Cronin also departed from her role as Kate McGuire.[2]
Two new receptionists were cast for the series: Nathan Bailey (Akemnji Ndifornyen) and Sarah Finch (Andrea Green).[3] In a shock twist, Nathan was revealed to be the estranged son of established character Ben Kwarme (Ariyon Bakare) who initially keeps his identity a secret.[4] Mac McGuire's (Christopher Timothy) also had a return stint during the series, during which he rapes Faith Walker (Eva Fontaine).[5]
At the 2004 British Academy Television Awards, Doctors was longlisted for the Award for Best Soap and Continuing Drama.[6] The episode "Say a Little Prayer", broadcast in November 2003, then won the British Soap Award for Best Single Episode at the 2004 ceremony. This was Doctors first win at the British Soap Awards. Bakare and Timothy were also both longlisted for the British Soap Award for Best Actor for their respective roles as Ben and Mac at the same ceremony.[7]
At the 2005 British Soap Awards, Finch, who debuted in this series, won the Best Newcomer accolade for her role as Sarah.[8] Doctors was also nominated in the Soap and Continuing Drama category at the 2004 RTS Programme Awards.[9]