Martin Clunes has ‘passed on the torch’ after debuting in the US remake of his show Doc Martin. Best Medicine premiered earlier this year over the pond, with Josh Charles taking on the equivalent of Clunes’s role in Martin Best.
However, it was confirmed last year that the OG star would play a key part in the new version, portraying Martin’s dad Dr Robert Best.
His episode premiered this week, with co-star Abigail Spencer (Louisa Gavin) sharing a beaming Instagram post of behind-the-scenes snaps ahead of broadcast.
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“How lucky are we? Tonight on #BestMedicineFOX with the OG!” she wrote. “What a thrill to have #MartinClunes as @mrjoshcharles Doctor Best’s father Robert Best. A total delight. And Philippa too! To pass the #DocMartin torch.”
In a behind-the-scenes video, Clunes describes his character as “horrible” as we get a showcase of the on-screen tension between father and son.
“Having Martin Clunes is a great bridge for the lovers of the original show, and I think he’s extremely charming and talented,” Charles says.
Clunes adds it has been an “absolute pleasure” to work with Charles and seeing him “facing the things” he did during his time on Doc Martin, while further joking about the “surreal” experience of seeing the name Martin in the script and it not relating to him.
Fox
Fox
Fox
A previous description for Robert revealed that “underneath his snobby, stone-cold exterior” the character “is hiding a few secrets of his own that could turn Martin’s new life upside down, and force him to confront his past”.
Doc Martin debuted in 2004 before coming to an end with a Christmas Day special in 2022, and like Best Medicine follows a doctor who develops a blood phobia and moves to a small town, where he clashes with the locals thanks to his grouchy nature.
Best Medicine airs on Fox in the US. Doc Martin streams on ITVX.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Â Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every ‘t’ and dotting every ‘i’ as a sub-editor.