Revisiting Doc Martin’s global adaptations – remakes from Spain to Russia

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I remember when Doc Martin first showed up on ITV back in 2004 – it seemed like a charming little show, but honestly, I don’t think anyone expected it to become the phenomenon it is today. By 2017, it wasn’t just pulling in millions of viewers here in the UK, but it had sparked remakes all over the world, from Spain to Russia! It just goes to show that Martin Clunes’s character, that wonderfully grumpy doctor, really resonated with people everywhere.

After eight years, Fox is revisiting a popular concept with a new show called Best Medicine. The series stars Josh Charles (known from The Good Wife) as Dr. Martin Best, a highly skilled but socially clumsy surgeon who trades the bustle of Boston for a quiet life in a small coastal town.

Best Medicine is a funny, hour-long show with a bit of complexity. The cast includes Abigail Spencer, Annie Potts, and Josh Segarra, and Martin Clunes makes a brief appearance as Dr. Best’s dad.

I’m so excited – the new series is finally coming in January 2026! It’s been almost twenty years since we first met that brilliant, but wonderfully grumpy, doctor – the one whose skills were amazing, even if his bedside manner wasn’t always the warmest.

Let’s take another look at how the show Doc Martin became a huge international hit – and how passionate fans transformed a quiet village in Cornwall into a famous television location.

The below was first published in TopMob magazine in September 2017.

This long-running British drama on ITV consistently draws around 9 million viewers per episode in the UK since its debut in 2004, but it’s become incredibly popular worldwide.

The film has been shown in over a dozen countries, like the United States, Canada, Venezuela, Mexico, and Uruguay. It’s also been completely re-filmed with new actors in about six other countries, ranging from Russia to Spain.

I’m so excited about the Spanish version of Doc Martin! It’s called Doctor Mateo, and it’s filmed in the beautiful coastal village of Lastres, which they’ve cleverly renamed San Martin del Sella just for the show. It really adds to the charm!

There was a significant discussion for a while about Marta Kauffman, one of the creators of Friends, potentially adapting the British show Doc Martin for an American audience.

Mark Crowdy, the show’s executive producer, explains they were enthusiastic about continuing the series, but couldn’t find a way to make it work financially. They’ve already licensed the show’s format internationally. Originally, when ‘Doc Martin’ premiered in the US, only 7% of viewers tuned in. Now, thanks to its increasing popularity, that number has soared to 97% – a truly remarkable achievement.

In Cornwall, where the show is filmed, Port Isaac gets flooded with fans eager to watch Doc Martin being made. Online, a dedicated community – including a fan club all the way in Mumbai – shares helpful advice on where to find the best food, drinks, and lodging, as well as information about when filming is happening.

During my visit, I saw four American tourists excitedly gathered around a display of cheap souvenirs. They were completely absorbed in a collection of £3 fridge magnets featuring Martin Clunes as Doc Martin – a grey-suited, rather unimpressed-looking version of the character. Surprisingly, they didn’t even glance at the topless postcards of Aidan Turner from Poldark. Instead, they were focused solely on anything related to Doc Martin, including postcards, a clock, Cornish treats like clotted cream and shortbread, and even an apron showing Doc Martin looking grumpy with a baby in a sling.

According to Will, who works at the shop, mugs featuring Doc Martin’s image are consistently the most popular items.

These American women aren’t just casual fans – they proudly call themselves “Clunatics.” When asked why they adore the often-grumpy doctor, their answer is simple: “He’s refreshingly honest and straightforward!”

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Helen Haig and her son, Chris, make the almost two-hour trip from Taunton, Somerset, hoping to watch the filming of Doc Martin. They’ve even spent a whole week there without seeing any filming, but they didn’t mind at all. “It’s lovely just to be there and enjoy the atmosphere,” Helen explains. “Doc Martin is a refreshing, feel-good show, and Martin Clunes is a genuinely kind person.”

Fans of Doc Martin often find it amusing that the doctor’s last name, Ellingham, is a clever rearrangement of the letters in the show’s creator, Dominic Minghella’s, name. However, this is just a fun fact – the real draw for viewers is a sense of connection to the show and its lead actor.

People send Martin Clunes gifts almost daily – things like chocolate or pictures of him with his dogs. They’ve even created bobbleheads and Lego versions of his character! It seems audiences adore this doctor who’s known for being blunt and saying exactly what’s on his mind – things many of us wish we could say ourselves.

If the show ends after its ninth season in 2019, what will its devoted fans do? They simply say they’ll start watching it all over again from the beginning, happily collecting more merchandise along the way.

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2025-11-04 21:08