Fox renews ‘Best Medicine’ for Season 2 after surprise ratings surge — what we know so far
Fox has ordered another dose of 'Best Medicine,' and given a 12-episode order for the second season for the 2026-27 TV cycle, according to Deadline. The medical comedy-drama series debuted on Fox on January 4, with the renewal news coming ahead of the season finale on March 10. It is an adaptation of Dominic Minghella's British classic 'Doc Martin,' which aired on ITV from 2004 to 2022. The series is developed for U.S. audiences by Liz Tuccillo, who also serves as the executive producer alongside Mark Crowdy, Rodney Ferrell, Philippa Braithwaite, Howard T. Owens, and Propagate’s Ben Silverman.
Michael Thorn, President of Fox Television Network, said in his statement that the show's strong performance made its renewal a no-brainer. "Best Medicine quickly became a breakout for us this season, blending sharp humor with real heart. Liz Tuccillo brings a distinctive creative voice to the series, and Josh Charles leads an exceptional cast that audiences have embraced. We, along with Propagate, are excited to build on that momentum in Season 2."
The premiere episode was watched by 12.6 million viewers across platforms. Furthermore, 'Best Medicine' stands among broadcast's Top 2 highest-rated drama debuts this season among adults aged 18 to 49. Despite launching during an NFL game, the title became this season's only scripted series to grow in viewership from its debut to its second episode. Currently, it has Fox’s second-largest 7-day total multi-platform audience of the season.
Josh Charles leads the series as the brilliant, no-nonsense heart surgeon Dr. Martin Best, who has a severe phobia of blood. He quits his rewarding career in Boston and moves to the fishing village of Port Wenn in Maine, a place he has fond childhood memories of. However, the locals do not appreciate his blunt manners and keep their distance, despite him being the only doctor in town. What they don't know is that Best's childhood trauma makes it difficult for him to show affection or any kind of intimacy. However, the bond between the socially inept Best and the eccentric locals deepens as the series progresses. Cree Cicchino stars as the doctor's assistant, Elaine Denton; Abigail Spencer as the schoolteacher, Louisa Gavin; Josh Segarra as the town sheriff, Mark Mylow; and Annie Potts as his aunt, Sarah.
Furthermore, Martin Clunes, the lead star of 'Doc Martin,' is set to make a special guest appearance in episode 9, titled 'Doc Martin,' of the comedy drama series. He will appear as Martin's father, Dr. Robert Best, in the episode dropping on March 3.
