The ''Doctor'' novels are a series of 18

comic novel A comic novel is a Novel, novel-length work of humorous fiction. Many well-known authors have written comic novels, including P. G. Wodehouse, Henry Fielding, Mark Twain, and John Kennedy Toole. Comic novels are often defined by the author's liter ...

s by British physician Richard Gordon, covering the antics of a group of young doctors. They were published between 1952 and 1986.

Novels

Adaptations

Films

The seven ''Doctor'' films were developed from the books, directed by

Ralph Thomas Ralph Philip Thomas (10 August 1915 – 17 March 2001) was an English film director who directed the Doctor (film series), ''Doctor'' film series. Thomas cast the actor James Robertson Justice in many of his films. He often worked with the pr ...

and produced by

Betty Box Betty Evelyn Box (25 September 1915 – 15 January 1999) was a British film producer, usually credited as Betty E. Box. Early life and career Born in Beckenham, Kent, England, Betty Box initially planned to be a commercial artist or journalist. ...

. The early films featured

Dirk Bogarde Sir Dirk Bogarde (born Derek Jules Gaspard Ulric Niven van den Bogaerde; 28 March 1921 – 8 May 1999) was an English actor, novelist and screenwriter. Initially a matinée idol in films such as ''Doctor in the House (film), Doctor in the Hous ...

in the lead as Doctor Sparrow and

Donald Sinden Sir Donald Alfred Sinden (9 October 1923 – 12 September 2014) was an English actor. Sinden featured in the film ''Mogambo'' (1953), and achieved early fame as a Rank Organisation film star in the 1950s in films including '' The Cruel Sea'' ( ...

as Benskin. Later films starred

Leslie Phillips Leslie Samuel Phillips (20 April 1924 – 7 November 2022) was an English actor. He achieved prominence in the 1950s, playing smooth, upper-class comic roles utilising his "Ding dong" and "Hello" catchphrases. He appeared in the '' Carry On'' ...

. The first film came in 1954 and the last in 1970.

Television series

The films inspired in turn to seven different ''Doctor'' television series between 1969 and 1991, totalling 157 thirty-minute episodes: * ''

Doctor in the House Doctor in the House may refer to: * Doctor in the House (novel), ''Doctor in the House'' (novel), a 1952 novel by Richard Gordon ** Doctor in the House (film), ''Doctor in the House'' (film), a 1954 British film adaptation of the novel *** Doctor i ...

'', which first ran on

ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: Television TV stations/networks/channels ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network and company, including: **ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network in the United Kingd ...

from July 1969 to July 1970, with a total of 26 thirty-minute episodes. * '' Doctor at Large'', which first ran on ITV from February to September 1971, with a total of 29 thirty-minute episodes. * ''

Doctor in Charge ''Doctor in Charge'' is a British television comedy series, the third of seven series in a franchise that began with ''Doctor in the House'' and was inspired by the "Doctor" books by Richard Gordon. The series follows directly from its predec ...

'', which first ran on ITV from April 1972 to December 1973, with a total of 43 thirty-minute episodes. * '' Doctor at Sea'', which first ran on ITV from April to July 1974, with a total of 13 thirty-minute episodes. * '' Doctor on the Go'', which first ran on ITV from April 1975 to April 1977, with a total of 26 thirty-minute episodes. * ''

Doctor Down Under ''Doctor Down Under'' is a 1979 13-episode Australian television comedy series. It was the sixth of seven series in an otherwise British TV franchise that began with ''Doctor in the House'' and was inspired by the "Doctor" books by Richard ...

'', which first ran on Australian Channel Seven from February to May 1979, with a total of 13 thirty-minute episodes. * '' Doctor at the Top'', which first ran on

BBC 1 BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's oldest and Flagship (broadcasting), flagship channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includ ...

from February to April 1991, with a total of 7 thirty-minute episodes.

Radio series

*''Doctor in the House'', a 13 part

BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station replaced the BBC Home Service on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasti ...

adaptation began in September 1968, starring

Richard Briers Richard David Briers (14 January 1934 – 17 February 2013) was an English actor whose five-decade career encompassed film, radio, stage and television. Briers first came to prominence as George Starling in '' Marriage Lines'' (1961–66), but ...

as Simon Sparrow and

Geoffrey Sumner Geoffrey Sumner (20 November 1908 – 29 September 1989) was a British actor. As well as appearing in a number of films, he was also a commentator for British Movietone News., His parents were Edmund and Kathleen Marion (Brook). He married Gwen ...

as Sir Lancelot Spratt. *''Doctor at Large'', a 13 part BBC Radio 4 series started in June 1969, with Briers and Sumner reprising their roles.

References