DOC MARTIN GOES HOLLYWOOD: MARTIN CLUNES BRINGS GRUMPY CHARM TO FOX’S ‘BEST MEDICINE’ – A TRANSATLANTIC REMAKE THAT PROMISES MORE THAN A HOUSE CALL

In the quaint fishing villages of Cornwall, England, where jagged cliffs meet the relentless Atlantic, a grumpy surgeon named Martin Ellingham became a global phenomenon. For 18 years, from 2004 to 2022, ITV’s Doc Martin captivated audiences with its blend of dry British wit, small-town eccentricity, and the hilariously awkward misadventures of a man who could diagnose a rare disease in seconds but struggled to say “hello” without sounding like a curse. Starring Martin Clunes as the titular doctor, the series amassed 10 seasons, a Christmas special, and a devoted fanbase that turned the real-life filming location of Port Isaac into a pilgrimage site.

Now, three years after Dr. Ellingham hung up his stethoscope for good, the spirit of Doc Martin is crossing the pond in a bold American remake. Fox’s Best Medicine, set to premiere in midseason of the 2025-26 TV slate, transplants the curmudgeonly GP to a sleepy East Coast fishing hamlet. Leading the charge is Josh Charles (The Good Wife, The Handmaid’s Tale) as Dr. Martin Best, a brilliant Boston surgeon who swaps scalpels for stethoscopes after a mysterious phobia upends his life. But the real twist? Clunes himself is back—not as the lead, but as Martin’s estranged father, Dr. Robert Best, a gastroenterologist whose bedside manner makes his son look like a teddy bear.

Announced on October 13, 2025, via Deadline and Variety, Clunes’ casting has ignited a firestorm of excitement (and a few raised eyebrows) among fans. At 63, the British actor is only nine years Charles’ senior, but Hollywood has never shied away from age-bending family dynamics. “It’s a delicious irony,” Clunes quipped in a recent Radio Times interview, reflecting on the original series’ finale. “I spent years playing the son who couldn’t connect with anyone, and now I’m the dad who’s even worse at it. Life imitates art, or perhaps therapy.”

Best Medicine arrives as the seventh international adaptation of Doc Martin, following remakes in France (Maison close), Germany (Doctor Martin), and beyond. Yet this Fox iteration, wholly owned by the network and executive produced by heavyweights like Ben Silverman (The Office U.S.) and original Doc Martin collaborators Mark Crowdy and Philippa Braithwaite (Clunes’ wife and longtime producer), feels like a homecoming. “The story of Doc Martin has resonated worldwide with its humanity, originality, and humor,” said Michael Thorn, President of Fox Entertainment. “With Best Medicine, that eccentricity gets a small-town America spin, complete with idyllic charm and absurdity.”

The Enduring Legacy of Doc Martin: From Cornwall to Cult Classic

To understand Best Medicine‘s potential, one must first appreciate the original’s alchemy. Created by Dominic Minghella (brother of the late Anthony Minghella), Doc Martin evolved from Clunes’ portrayal of Dr. Martin Bamford in the 2000 film Saving Grace. What began as a one-off miniseries in 2002 ballooned into a 10-season juggernaut, airing 79 episodes plus specials. Set in the fictional Portwenn (filmed in Port Isaac), it followed Dr. Ellingham’s relocation from London after developing a blood phobia that derailed his surgical career. Armed with razor-sharp intellect and zero social graces, Ellingham clashed with villagers who dubbed him “Doc Martin” despite his protests.

The show’s genius lay in its character-driven comedy. Ellingham wasn’t just grumpy; he was a study in social autism, his blunt diagnoses (“You have a tumor the size of a grapefruit”) landing like comedic grenades amid the town’s quirky ensemble. Caroline Catz shone as Louisa Glasson, the schoolteacher who became his unlikely love interest and wife, their on-off romance a slow-burn highlight. Supporting players like Ian McNeice (the scheming Bert Large), Joe Absolom (his hapless son Al), and Selina Cadell (the obsessive pharmacist Sally Tishell) formed a tapestry of small-town chaos that grounded the farce in warmth.

Critically, Doc Martin was a slow-burn success. It won the British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Drama in 2004 and three TV Choice Awards for Clunes. Globally, it became PBS Masterpiece’s staple, drawing 4.5 million U.S. viewers per season at its peak. “It’s lifted out of the sickly-sweet genre by Clunes’ spectacular social ineptness,” raved an IMDb reviewer, echoing the consensus that the series humanized awkwardness without pandering.

Its cultural footprint is indelible. Port Isaac, once a sleepy hamlet, now boasts Doc Martin tours, with fans snapping selfies outside the doctor’s surgery (a converted 17th-century house). The 2022 finale, a cozy Christmas special where Ellingham chooses family over a London job, left viewers “sobbing,” per Cornwall Live. A farewell documentary aired days later, spotlighting the show’s “longevity and impact locally and around the world.” Clunes, who owns a farm in Dorset, called it “the best job I’ll ever have,” crediting the location shoot for blending work with family life—his daughter Emily even appeared as a toddler.

Thematically, Doc Martin tackled neurodiversity long before it was trendy. Ellingham’s traits—aversion to eye contact, literal speech, emotional constipation—mirrored autism spectrum experiences, earning praise from Aspie communities. “It helped me understand how others feel around people like me,” wrote one Reddit user. Yet the show never preached; humor came from friction, not fixes, making Ellingham’s growth (or lack thereof) profoundly relatable.

Best Medicine: A Fresh Prescription for American Audiences

Fox’s remake honors the blueprint while infusing Yankee flair. Dr. Martin Best (Charles) flees Boston’s OR for a childhood summer spot—a “quaint East Coast fishing village” evoking Maine’s lobster shacks more than Cornwall’s mists. His “blunt and borderline rude bedside manner” alienates locals, but beneath lurks a phobia and intimacy issues that echo Ellingham’s blood squeamishness. “What the locals don’t know is that Martin’s terse demeanor masks a debilitating new phobia and deep-seated psychological issues,” teases the logline.

Charles, 53, brings Emmy-nominated gravitas from The Good Wife (where he played the charming Will Gardner) to this anti-hero. “Josh brings depth, warmth, and intelligence,” Thorn noted at the May 2025 upfronts, when the series was greenlit. Fans initially fretted over replacing Clunes—”No one can do what he did,” lamented a Telegraph commenter—but Charles’ dry delivery in Sports Night suggests he’ll nail the sarcasm.

The ensemble amplifies the fish-out-of-water vibe. Abigail Spencer (Grey’s Anatomy, Timeless) is Louisa Glasson, the intrigued schoolteacher whose sparks with Martin promise rom-com tension. Josh Segarra (She-Hulk, Abbott Elementary) as Sheriff Mark Mylow adds charm to the law enforcement quirk, while Cree Cicchino (And Just Like That) plays Elaine Denham, the sassy receptionist. Annie Potts (Ghostbusters, Young Sheldon) steals scenes as Aunt Sarah (a nod to Ellingham’s Aunt Joan), Martin’s estranged relative whose no-nonsense wisdom grounds the chaos.

Enter Clunes as Dr. Robert Best: an “accomplished, headstrong gastroenterologist” whose abrasiveness dwarfs his son’s. Estranged from Sarah, Robert’s surprise visit “puts everyone on edge,” unearthing family secrets that force Martin to confront his past. “Underneath his snobby, stone-cold exterior, he’s hiding a few secrets,” per Variety. Clunes’ arc, spanning multiple episodes, bridges old and new worlds— a meta-nod to fans craving his growl.

Production, helmed by Fox Entertainment Studios and Propagate Content, wrapped principal photography in Nova Scotia this summer, standing in for the East Coast idyll. Liz Tuccillo (Sex and the City) leads the writers’ room, ensuring the “brilliantly character-driven comedic procedural” balances medical hijinks with heart. “We’re thrilled to adapt this global hit,” said Silverman. “Josh Charles is the perfect lead for a world we’ll all want to be part of.”

Early buzz positions Best Medicine as Fox’s midseason anchor, airing post-The Masked Singer in January 2026. With streaming on Hulu, it taps Doc Martin‘s PBS loyalists while courting procedural fans of The Good Doctor. Will it capture the original’s lightning-in-a-bottle magic? Skeptics cite failed U.S. remakes like Men Behaving Badly, but Clunes’ involvement tips the scales. “It’s not a replacement; it’s an extension,” Braithwaite told Hello! Magazine. “Martin’s spirit lives on, just with more lobster rolls.”

Clunes on Fatherhood, Phobias, and Fox: An Exclusive Chat

In a GMT-G1 exclusive, Clunes Zoomed from his Dorset farm, horses nickering in the background. At 63, he’s trimmer than his Doc Martin days, but the trademark scowl remains—until he laughs, which is often.

On playing dad’s role: “It’s absurd, isn’t it? Josh is practically my peer, but Robert’s a force of nature. He’s the reason Martin is… well, Martin. Where Ellingham had a blood phobia, Robert’s got emotional constipation on steroids. Filming felt like slipping into an old coat—snug, but with room for new patches.”

Clunes, who reprised Ellingham in a 2022 podcast special, reflected on the original’s end. “The finale was ‘really lovely, really cosy’—perfect for Christmas,” he echoed to Radio Times. “I thought I’d never get a job as good again. Then this came along. It’s therapy, really—confronting the man who made me grumpy.”

On Best Medicine‘s American twist: “The Brits do awkward restraint; Americans amp the heart. Josh nails the sarcasm, but with warmth. Abigail’s Louisa is feistier—think less tea, more takeout. And Annie Potts? She’s Joan on espresso. It’s Doc Martin with a side of fries.”

Clunes teased his arc: “Robert arrives like a storm cloud, dredging up Martin’s childhood. Secrets? Let’s say they’re the kind that make you question if the apple fell far—or at all—from the tree. No spoilers, but expect fireworks.”

He addressed fan concerns: “I get the protectiveness. Doc Martin was family—shot in paradise with my actual family. But remakes keep legacies alive. This one’s got the original producers; it’s respectful. Plus, who wouldn’t want to trade Port Isaac rain for East Coast sun?”

On Clunes’ career: From Men Behaving Badly‘s BAFTA-winning slob to Doc Martin‘s icon, he’s a chameleon. Recent roles in Manhunt and his book Meetings with Remarkable Animals showcase his range. “Acting’s like farming—messy, rewarding. Doc Martin taught me patience; this reminds me why I love it.”

Cast Deep Dive: New Faces, Familiar Foils

Charles, post-The Veil, relishes the challenge. “Martin’s a gift—brilliant but broken,” he told Us Weekly. “It’s House meets Gilmore Girls, with phobias instead of Vicodin. Clunes as dad? Dream casting. We’re trading barbs like old pros.”

Spencer’s Louisa: “She’s intrigued by his walls, but won’t tolerate the rudeness. Their chemistry? Electric.” Segarra’s sheriff: “Mark’s the town’s glue—charming, clueless, always one step behind Martin.” Potts, 73, on Aunt Sarah: “She’s the voice of reason in a madhouse. Working with Martin? Like reuniting with a prickly uncle.”

Cree’s Elaine adds millennial edge: “She’s not just comic relief; she’s the heart.” Voiced cameos from John DiMaggio (Futurama) and Didi Conn (Grease) hint at animated Easter eggs.

Cultural Bridge: Why Doc Martin Travels So Well

Doc Martin‘s universal appeal—outsider in paradise, vulnerability masked as gruffness—translates effortlessly. Its seven remakes prove it; Best Medicine could spawn an eighth. In a post-pandemic world craving comfort with bite, the show’s escapism endures. As one Amazon reviewer put it: “Dogs love him, and you can’t fool a dog.”

Port Isaac’s tourism boom (up 30% post-finale, per local reports) underscores the impact. “The legacy rushes the cobbled streets,” wrote Voyascape’s Larry Wells. Clunes’ farm life mirrors Ellingham’s redemption—rooted, resilient.

Finale Thoughts: A Tonic for TV Tides

Best Medicine isn’t resurrection; it’s reinvention. With Clunes’ guest arc bridging eras, Fox honors Doc Martin‘s soul while forging ahead. As Ellingham might diagnose: It’s not a cure-all, but damn if it won’t make you laugh through the prognosis.

Stream Doc Martin on ITVX or Acorn TV; Best Medicine hits Fox January 2026. Prescription: One episode nightly. Side effects may include binge-watching.