Doc Martin star Martin Clunes is making his debut as Josh Charles‘ father on the Fox remake Best Medicine.
In Us Weekly‘s exclusive clip from the Tuesday, March 3, episode of the new series, Robert (Clunes) and wife Vanessa (Judith Ivey) have an awkward breakfast with Aunt Sarah (Annie Potts) and their son, Martin (Charles).
“I can’t imagine you both growing up in Port Wenn,” Martin tells his parents. Vanessa clarifies that certain traditions such as the Blueberry Festival were after their time, adding, “After we left, we never looked back.”
Robert is in agreement about not focusing on his time in the small town. His sister, Sarah, isn’t thrilled with his outlook.
“Better just to sweep it all under the rug, right?” she asks, to which Vanessa replies, “Sarah, your tough act does not mask your deep regret and shame about your life choices. If anything, it emphasizes it.”
Martin interrupts the argument to ask why Robert and Vanessa are in town. It turns out they are planning to sell their house — where Sarah currently lives.
“So you’re off on a safari, looking at the zebras while I’m back here, living on the street and licking donuts out of a dumpster,” Sarah fires back. “How would I pay [to buy the house]? In lobsters?”
Sarah acknowledges that she knows her brother has “had it harder than most,” referring to his daughter’s death, adding, “But that doesn’t give you an excuse to be cruel.” Robert, however, is outraged that Sarah would bring up his late daughter.
Clunes’ appearance on Best Medicine, which has already been renewed for a second season, marks the first appearance from an OG Doc Martin. The ITV series aired from 2004 to 2022 and was created by Dominic Minghella, who developed the character of Dr. Martin Bamford from the 2000 film Saving Grace.
Best Medicine, meanwhile, follows a doctor who moves from Boston to a small practice in the East Coast fishing village where he vacationed as a child. In addition to Charles, the cast includes Josh Segarra, Abigail Spencer, Cree Cicchino, Annie Potts, Didi Conn, Clea Lewis, Stephen Spinella, Jason Veasey, Cindy De La Cru, John DiMaggio, Carter Shimp and dog Wattson.
“The way that [executive producer] Liz Tuccillo has structured the show, every episode we have a great star come on and they get to do something delightful — and maybe something you’ve never seen them do before,” Spencer, 44, exclusively told Us Weekly in January. “I would say what I particularly loved about the show was that it is a great opportunity for some of our more seasoned actors in the community.”
She continued: “There’s a lot of roles across ages where I’m like, ‘God, we could get so many great actors to come.’ I loved that.”
Best Medicine airs on Fox Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
