Doctor (novel series) explained

The Doctor novels are a series of 19 comic novels by British physician Richard Gordon, covering the antics of a group of young doctors.^[1] They were published between 1952 and 1999.^[2]

Adaptations

Films

See main article: Doctor (film series). The seven Doctor films were developed from the books, directed by Ralph Thomas and produced by Betty Box.^[3] The early films featured Dirk Bogarde in the lead as Doctor Sparrow and Donald Sinden as Benskin.^[4] Later films starred Leslie Phillips.^[5] The first film came in 1954 and the last in 1970.^{[6] [7]}

Television series

See main article: Doctor in the House (franchise). The films inspired in turn to seven different Doctor television series between 1969 and 1991, totalling 157 thirty-minute episodes:

• Doctor in the House, which first ran on ITV from July 1969 to July 1970, with a total of 26 thirty-minute episodes.^[8]
• Doctor at Large, which first ran on ITV from February to September 1971, with a total of 29 thirty-minute episodes.^[9]
• Doctor in Charge, which first ran on ITV from April 1972 to December 1973, with a total of 43 thirty-minute episodes.^[10]
• Doctor at Sea, which first ran on ITV from April to July 1974, with a total of 13 thirty-minute episodes.^[11]
• Doctor on the Go, which first ran on ITV from April 1975 to April 1977, with a total of 26 thirty-minute episodes.^[12]
• Doctor Down Under, which first ran on Australian Channel Seven from February to May 1979, with a total of 13 thirty-minute episodes.^[13]
• Doctor at the Top, which first ran on BBC 1 from February to April 1991, with a total of 7 thirty-minute episodes.^[14]

Radio series

• Doctor in the House, a 13 part BBC Radio 4 adaptation began in September 1968, starring Richard Briers as Simon Sparrow and Geoffrey Sumner as Sir Lancelot Spratt.^[15]
• Doctor at Large, a 13 part BBC Radio 4 series started in June 1969, with Briers and Sumner reprising their roles.^[16]

See also

• Dr. Kildare, an American dramatic comedy series of novels, films, and serialized radio and television programs.
• List of fictional doctors

Notes and References

1. Web site: Doctor in the House author dies aged 95. 14 August 2017. www.bbc.co.uk.
2. Book: Gordon, Richard. Doctor At Large. 30 September 2012. House of Stratus. 9780755130986. Google Books.
3. Web site: BFI Screenonline: Thomas, Ralph (1915-2001) Biography. www.screenonline.org.uk.
4. Web site: BFI Screenonline: Doctor in the House (1954). www.screenonline.org.uk.
5. Web site: Leslie Phillips. https://web.archive.org/web/20170425184707/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f5e1afb. dead. 25 April 2017. BFI.
6. Web site: BFI Screenonline: Box, Betty (1915-1999) Biography. www.screenonline.org.uk.
7. Stephen. Vagg. Filmink. 11 August 2025. 11 August 2025. Forgotten British Film Studios: The Rank Organisation, 1965 to 1967.
8. Web site: Doctor in the House | Nostalgia Central.
9. Web site: Doctor at Large - S1 - Episode 29: Situation Full of Promise. Radio Times.
10. Web site: Doctor In Charge | Nostalgia Central.
11. Web site: Doctor At Sea | Nostalgia Central.
12. Web site: Doctor On The Go - ITV Sitcom. British Comedy. Guide. British Comedy Guide.
13. Web site: The Dismissal to Dynasty | Memorable TV Australian Shows. 7 March 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110307010404/http://www.memorabletv.com/australia/tvad2.htm. 7 March 2011.
14. Web site: Doctor At The Top. 16 March 2019.
15. Web site: Doctor in the House. https://web.archive.org/web/20170820225935/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/9c6985f5abd14f71844037babb775c11. dead. 20 August 2017. September 17, 1968. 2340. 29. BBC Genome.
16. Web site: Doctor at Large. 17 June 1969. 2379. 25. BBC Genome.