Doctor Doctor (Australian TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television drama |
| Founded | September 14, 2016 |
| Founder | Tony McNamara, Ian Collie, Alan Harris |
| Headquarters | Sydney, New South Wales , Australia |
Area served | Australia, New Zealand, United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway |
Key people | Andy Ryan (executive producer), Jo Rooney (executive producer), Ian Collie (developer), Tony McNamara (developer) |
| Products | Doctor Doctor (The Heart Guy) TV series |
| Parent | EQ Media Group, Easy Tiger Productions |
Doctor Doctor—known internationally as The Heart Guy—is an Australian drama series developed by Tony McNamara, Ian Collie, and Alan Harris. It debuted on the Nine Network on 14 September 2016 and spanned five seasons, wrapping up on 23 June 2021. The cast features Rodger Corser, Nicole da Silva, Ryan Johnson, Tina Bursill, Hayley McElhinney, and Steve Bisley. The narrative centers on Hugh Knight, a gifted and charming cardiac surgeon whose indulgent lifestyle and disregard for conventional boundaries eventually cause complications in both his personal life and career.
The show was produced by EQ Media Group (previously Essential Media & Entertainment) alongside Easy Tiger Productions, with backing from Screen NSW. Executive production duties were handled by Andy Ryan and Jo Rooney.
Doctor Doctor garnered impressive viewership figures for Nine Network, at times ranking as the top-rated drama on Australian television, with its first season peaking at 854,000 viewers. The final episode drew an audience of 516,000. Internationally, the series has been well received in countries such as New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. It earned critical praise and accumulated numerous accolades, including 15 Logie Awards nominations and three AACTA Awards nods.
Premise
Following a significant professional setback, heart surgeon Dr Hugh Knight is mandated by the Medical Tribunal to serve a year as a rural general practitioner (GP) in his hometown of Whyhope. To reclaim his medical career, he must adjust to working in a small, resource-limited hospital while managing intricate dynamics with family members, former acquaintances, colleagues, and an ex-girlfriend who has recently remarried.
Conception
Preliminary development commenced in early 2016 under executive producers Andy Ryan and Jo Rooney from Nine Network, collaborating with Ian Collie, Claudia Karvan, and Tony McNamara of Essential Media & Entertainment. Filming began in April 2016 across locations in Sydney and regional areas of New South Wales. Nine Network’s Head of Drama expressed strong enthusiasm for the show's irreverent take on family drama. The concept was inspired by McNamara’s conversations regarding the Impaired Registrants Program overseen by the Medical Council of New South Wales, which monitors doctors' ability to practice amid health issues. The first season created approximately 800 jobs and involved $11.6 million in production expenditures, supported by $300,000 in funding from Screen NSW.
The series launched on Nine Network on 14 September 2016, with post-production accelerated to meet the premiere schedule. Due to favorable viewer response, Nine renewed Doctor Doctor for a second season on 28 September 2016—prior to airing its third episode. Ian Collie attributed the show's success to its combination of emotional depth and clever storytelling. Further renewals followed: a third season announced in October 2017 for release in 2018; a fourth season confirmed in October 2018 with production commencing April 2019 but delayed until 2020 for broadcast; and on 31 March 2020, Nine commissioned a fifth season.
Production for the fifth season started on 28 September 2020 and wrapped up by mid-December that year. In June 2021, Nine declared that the series would end after its fifth installment.
Casting
Kirsty McGregor, recognized for her contributions to shows such as Modern Family and Top of the Lake, serves as the casting director for Doctor Doctor. Prior to the official announcement by the Nine Network in early 2016, Rodger Corser was confirmed as the lead actor portraying heart surgeon Hugh Knight. Corser transitioned from his role in the ABC drama The Doctor Blake Mysteries, expressing enthusiasm for exploring a different type of character. Nicole Da Silva was cast as Charlie Knight while simultaneously filming the fourth season of Wentworth, managing commitments between Sydney and Melbourne. She reunited with Rodger Corser, her former co-star from Rush. Tina Bursill joined the cast as Meryl Knight, the family matriarch, returning after a two-year break due to personal reasons. The supporting ensemble featured Ryan Johnson, Hayley McElhinney, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Chloe Bayliss, Dave Eastgate, and Steve Bisley portraying Jim Knight.
For the second season, Angus McLaren, known for his role in Packed to the Rafters, was introduced as Dr Toke, an ex-army medic returning to television after three years. New Zealand actress Brittany Scott Clark, familiar from the soap opera Shortland Street, joined as Nurse Mia Holston.
Ahead of the third season in 2018, it was disclosed that key character Jim Knight would depart; Steve Bisley made a brief return limited to the season's premiere episode.
In April 2019, Dustin Clare, Kate Jenkinson, and Robyn Nevin were incorporated into the cast for Season 4.
Season 5, announced in September 2020, welcomed new cast members including Zoe Ventoura, Lincoln Younes, Darren McMullen, John Waters, Chantelle Jamieson, Rishikesh Shukre, and Contessa Treffone.
Filming
The production predominantly takes place on location in Mudgee, situated within the Central West region of New South Wales. Hospital interior scenes are filmed in Rozelle, a suburb located in Sydney’s Inner West. Initially, scenes depicting Knight’s residence were shot in Camden in Sydney’s south-west. The regional backdrop benefits from a $100,000 grant through the Regional Filming Fund, enhancing authenticity and supporting production logistics. Following the success of Season 1, the home environment of Knight was reconstructed inside an unused section of the hospital set starting with Season 2 to overcome space constraints.
In 2017, Ian Collie departed from Essential Media to establish Easy Tiger Tiger, which assumed production responsibilities for Doctor Doctor from its second season onward; this company is predominantly owned by FremantleMedia.
Doctor Doctor became the first Australian drama series to be renewed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming for Season 5 commenced on 28 September 2020 and wrapped up in December 2020 while adhering to social distancing guidelines.
Theme song
The opening theme is a rendition of American group Canned Heat's song Going Up the Country, performed by Patience Hodgson of Australian indie rock band The Grates. For international audiences, this track is replaced by instrumental music played during the closing credits.
Main
- Rodger Corser portrays Hugh Knight, a heart surgeon with a history of substance abuse who is placed on probation and compelled to work as a local general practitioner in his rural hometown of Whyhope.
- Nicole da Silva plays Charlie Perreira Knight, a primary school educator and science fiction writer who was once Hugh’s girlfriend but is now married to his brother Matt.
- Ryan Johnson acts as Matt Knight, Hugh’s younger sibling who owns Whyhope’s Arcadia Brewery along with the family farm and feels uneasy about Hugh’s return.
- Tina Bursill embodies Meryl Knight, matriarch of the family and local council member intent on becoming mayor while maintaining family cohesion.
- Hayley McElhinney appears as Penny Cartwright, administrator at Whyhope Hospital and Hugh’s supervisor responsible for overseeing his surgical career.
- Chloe Bayliss plays Hayley Mills Knight, a devoutly religious and outspoken character devoted to her boyfriend Ajax.
- Matt Castley portrays Ajax Cross Knight, who was adopted by the Knights at age six; he remains optimistic despite harboring a significant secret regarding his origins.
- Belinda Bromilow features as Betty Bell, hospital receptionist and recovering alcoholic who provides counsel; she is fluent in Norwegian. (seasons 1–5)
- Shalom Brune-Franklin appears as Aoife (season 1; guest appearance season 2)
- Charles Wu plays Ken Liu
- Steve Bisley portrays Jim Knight, Meryl’s husband and former heart surgeon who left the family home; he shares a strained relationship with Hugh. (seasons 1–2; guest season 3)
- Brittany Scott Clark acts as Mia Holston, nurse who replaces Aoife at Whyhope Hospital. (seasons 2–3)
- Miranda Tapsell plays April, an old school friend of Matt’s seeking motherhood and potential romance following Matt and Charlie’s separation. (recurring season 3; main season 4)
- Kate Jenkinson appears as Tara Khourdair, a general practitioner on probation at Whyhope Hospital under Hugh’s supervision with a concealed traumatic history. (season 4)
- Dustin Clare portrays Jarrod, a mine contractor engaged to Penny who is jealous and aware of Hugh’s feelings toward her. (season 4)
- Chantelle Jamieson plays Sharna Bahit, Whyhope Council Administrator investigating corruption while becoming Hugh’s new romantic interest. (season 5)
Broadcasting
Doctor Doctor was broadcast on the Nine Network, initially occupying the Wednesday 8:40 pm slot for its first two seasons before moving to Monday evenings at the same time for season three. Although Season 4 was slated for release in 2019, its airing was postponed until February 2020. Interestingly, the UK’s Drama channel aired Season 4 in November 2019, preceding the Australian broadcast. For its fourth season, the show returned to Wednesday nights at 9:00 pm but experienced a six-week interruption due to COVID-19 news coverage. It resumed in April 2020, shifting to a 7:30 pm timeslot. Season five debuted on April 28, 2021, airing Wednesdays at 8:30 pm. In June 2021, Nine Network announced that the series would end after five seasons.
The series is also accessible on demand through 9Now.
Global
In New Zealand, the show premiered on TVNZ 1 on May 3, 2017, airing Wednesdays at 8:30 pm.
Under the international title The Heart Guy, it broadcasts on Sky Deutschland, a pay-TV provider serving Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Viewers in Norway can watch it via TV2 Sumo. In the United States, new episodes are released on streaming service Acorn TV and are also available free-to-air on various local PBS stations.
The United Kingdom saw its debut on the Drama Channel on April 8, 2018, with an initial Sunday 8 pm timeslot. The second season began June 17, 2018; the third followed on March 10, 2019. Season four premiered on Drama November 16, 2019, moving to a Saturday 10 pm slot featuring double episodes weekly. The fifth and final season started airing on March 12, 2022, Saturdays at 11 pm. The series can be streamed for catch-up viewing on UKTV Play.
The Persian-language channel Manoto broadcast the first season starting October 2018 to audiences in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan.
Critical Response
Critical feedback for Doctor Doctor has been largely favorable. Debi Enker from the Sydney Morning Herald remarked that unlike conventional medical dramas, the series "offers a different perspective. It’s softer, more humorous, and set in a rural environment." Steve Molk of DeciderTV characterized it as "reliable, genuine Australian drama featuring one of the strongest ensembles seen recently." The Medium is Not Enough provided a mixed assessment, noting tonal inconsistencies but recognizing its promise and early renewal status. Prior to its U.S. debut on Acorn TV, David Hinckley of TV Worth Watching praised the series by drawing comparisons to British drama Doc Martin, emphasizing its emotional resonance.
Award Considerations
Doctor Doctor has received numerous nominations including Tina Bursill’s recognition at the AACTA Awards for Best Guest or Supporting Actress (2017), Best Lead Actress (2018), and a nod for Best Television Drama Series in 2020.
At the Logie Awards, it garnered seventeen nominations overall. Rodger Corser was nominated thrice for Gold Logies as Most Popular Personality on Australian Television and received four Silver Logie nominations for Most Popular Actor alongside two nominations for Most Outstanding Actor. The program also earned four nods for Most Popular Drama Program and two for Most Outstanding Drama Series. Additional nominations included Most Outstanding Supporting Actor (Ryan Johnson) and Most Popular New Talent (Shalom Brune-Franklin).
Further industry accolades came from nominations by the Casting Guild of Australia, Screen Producers Australia, and TV Tonight awards.
In 2023, Rodger Corser’s portrayal of Hugh Knight was ranked number 34 in TV Week's list of the 100 Greatest Australian TV Characters.
Ratings
| Season | Broadcast Time (Australian) |
# Ep. | Premiere | Final Episode | Position | Average Viewership (thousands) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Audience (thousands) |
Date | Audience (thousands) | |||||
| 1 | Wednesday 8:40 pm | 10 | 14 September 2016 |
759 | 16 November 2016 |
785 | 8 | 777 |
| 2 | 10 | 16 August 2017 |
758 | 18 October 2017 |
735 | 10 | 721 | |
| 3 | Monday 8:40 pm | 10 | 6 August 2018 |
726 | 8 October 2018 |
642 | N/A | 619 |
| 4 | Wednesday 9:00 pm (episodes 1–6) Wednesday 7:30 pm (episodes 7–10) |
10 | 5 February 2020 |
532 | 13 May 2020 |
482 | 15 | 515 |
| 5 | Wednesday 8:30 pm | 8 | 28 April 2021 |
407 | 23 June 2021 |
516 | 17 | 398 |
Home media
| Title | Release Dates | Special Features | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 1 DVD | Region A Blu-ray (MOD) |
Region 2 DVD (Germany) |
Region 4 DVD | ||
|- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
| Title | Region 1 DVD Release | Region A Blu-ray MOD Release | Region 2 DVD (Germany) Release | Region 4 DVD Release | Features and Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series 1 | 19 September 2017 | 16 April 2019 | 25 August 2017 | 23 November 2016 |
* Contains all 10 episodes * Available as a three-disc DVD set and a two-disc Blu-ray set * Marketed as The Heart Guy in the United States and Germany * Age ratings include FSK-12 (Germany) and MA15+ (Australia) Additional releases include: * Combined Series 1 & 2 (released on 6 December 2017, region 4 only, six DVDs) * Box set of Series 1 through Series 3 (released on 5 December 2018, region 4 only, nine DVDs) |
| Series 2 | 26 June 2018 | 16 April 2019 | 23 March 2018 | 6 December 2017 |
* Comprises ten episodes * Offered as a three-disc DVD and two-disc Blu-ray set * Released under the title The Heart Guy in the US and Germany * Rated FSK-12 in Germany and M in Australia Also available: * Series sets combining Series 1 & 2 (region 4, released on December 6, 2017) * Complete Series box set including Series 1–3 (region 4, released December 5, 2018) |
| Series 3 | 2 April 2019 | 23 April 2019 | — | 21 November 2018 |
* Includes ten episodes * Distributed as a three-DVD set and two-Blu-ray discs * Marketed as The Heart Guy in the US * Australian Classification Board rating of M Also offered: * Box set containing Series 1 through Series3 (region4 only, released December5,2018) |
| Series4 | 14 April2020 | — | — | 3 June2020 |
* Features ten episodes * DVD collections available in Australia (three discs) and the US (four discs) * Released under the name The Heart Guy in the United States * Classified M by the Australian Classification Board |
| Series5 | 26 October2021 | — | — | 4 August2021 |
* Contains eight episodes * Available as a two-disc DVD package * Rated M by the Australian Classification Board |