British television hit “Doc Martin” has arrived in the United States for the first time in the form of new adaptation “Best Medicine.” Starring “The Good Wife” actor Josh Charles, the series is the latest version of the successful medical drama based on the original show, which starred Martin Clunes as a top surgeon who develops a fear of blood and relocates to a small community to act as a practice doctor.
‘Best Medicine’ is a U.S. Adaptation of the British Series ‘Doc Martin’
Launching as one of Fox’s major scripted shows in early 2026, “Best Medicine” takes the premise from the original British series. Charles takes on the role of Dr. Martin Best, who moves to a small fishing village in Maine after developing blood phobia, meaning he can no longer perform as a surgeon.
“Doc Martin” proved to be one of ITV’s highest-rated television shows throughout its run. The first episode aired in 2004 and the show ran for 10 seasons up to 2022. It has since been exported around the world and adapted by foreign networks for their own audiences. There are versions of the show in the likes of the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Spain.
Other cast members who are part of “Best Medicine” include Abigail Spencer, Josh Segarra, Cree, Annie Potts, and Stephen Spinella.
The series began airing on Fox on January 4, 2026, with the next episode due to be broadcast on January 13, 2026. So far, it holds a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 63%.
Josh Charles Reveals His Feelings Towards ‘Best Medicine’
In an interview with The Daily Beast, actor Charles gave some insight into what he likes about the series and what drew him to the character of Dr. Martin Best.
“What was intriguing to me was just wanting to be in some lighter air,” he says. “The show leads with a lot of heart and a lot of comedy and a lot of quirkiness and characters that I think you grow to be invested in.”
He continues, “It was compelling to me because I’ve been doing a lot of darker stuff lately, and I really was wanting to live in a sort of even sillier world.”
However, Charles also made sure to explain that this isn’t a shot-for-shot remake of the original and had been altered for an American audience.
“Watching the British show, as much as I liked it, for me, it was hard to connect,” Charles reveals. “I had to find my own way into my version of this character because we’re American; we’re not making a British show. ”
