There is a must-watch drama for fans of ITV's Doc Martin, and it even features a cameo from Martin Clunes himself.
The Legacy of Doc Martin
Doc Martin first premiered on ITV in the UK back in 2004. The beloved medical comedy-drama, starring Martin Clunes as the grumpy, blood-phobic Dr. Martin Ellingham, ran for 10 seasons before concluding with a Christmas special in 2022. Expressing that after over a decade it felt like the right time to conclude the hit show, Martin and producer Philippa Braithwaite said in a statement: "When we launched the series in 2004 we could never have imagined how much our loyal viewers would take to the grumpy Doc like they have. The series has avid fans both in the UK and throughout the world and we are thrilled that Doc Martin has topped the ratings every time. However, after sixteen years we now feel that the time has come to say goodbye to Portwenn. We will be making the tenth and final series in 2021 and we are very much looking forward to returning to Cornwall to film it."
During an interview on Lorraine, Martin added: "I mean it is sad, but it's not really. It's the right time. I think everyone will probably appreciate it is time to finish. But it feels like a really good time to finish."
Martin Clunes' Recent Roles
Since the ending of Doc Martin, Clunes went on to star as a Welsh farmer dealing with county lines drug gangs in the ITV drama Out There and Mr. Earnshaw in the recent adaptation of Wuthering Heights. He also recently portrayed Huw Edwards in Channel 5's Power: The Downfall of Huw.
Best Medicine: The American Adaptation
However, fans of the series and of the actor himself can watch the American version of the popular series over on Sky on June 16. Best Medicine stars The Good Wife's Josh Charles as Martin Best, a physician, who decides to move from busy Boston to the coastal fishing town of Port Wenn, Maine. The synopsis continues: "Soon he's introduced to Port Wenn's community, filled with quirky but loving characters with no end of ailments for him to figure out and diagnose. However, as someone who is quite introverted and likes to keep himself to himself, he struggles with the adjustment. He's also got a huge blood phobia – which doesn't help his abilities as a doctor who may need to tend to wounds from time to time. But behind his brusque attitude and no-nonsense approach to a bedside manner, Dr Martin hides his own personal pain that he is hiding from the world which explains why he is the way he is. Will this little town bring him out of his shell?"
Fans of the original who are missing Doc Martin on their screens should definitely check it out, and Martin Clunes makes a special appearance in episode nine as Josh's on-screen father, Robert Best.
Where to Watch Best Medicine
Best Medicine first premiered in the UK on 9 June on Sky. The series is available on Sky One with episode one airing on June 16 and the series can also be viewed on NOW in the UK.
Fan Reactions and Renewal
After confirmation that it will be renewed for a second series, viewers on a Reddit thread praised the show. u/marklovesbb wrote: "Love this show. It's a pure comfort watch, and that's totally fine. We all can use some escapism." u/desikarma524 added: "I loved the original series Doc Martin so much and I didn't even know Best Medicine was an American adaptation until the opening scenes of the show. I thought it looked familiar so I googled it. I think we need more comfort shows like this. I'm so happy for the cast and crew that the show is getting renewed."
