The small town of Port Wenn will be getting more house calls. Fox has officially renewed its freshman medical drama Best Medicine for a second season. The network confirmed the pickup on March 1, 2026, ordering 12 new episodes for the 2026-27 television season. The renewal comes as no surprise given the showโs strong performance since its January debut .
Josh Charles returns as Dr. Martin Best, the brilliant but socially awkward surgeon who traded his high-powered Boston career for a general practice in a quirky East Coast fishing village. The series has become one of Foxโs most successful new shows, ranking among the broadcast networkโs Top 2 highest-rated drama debuts this season among adults 18-49 .
Strong Ratings and Streaming Numbers Secure Early Renewal
Best Medicine has delivered impressive numbers across both linear television and streaming platforms. The series premiere attracted 12.6 million total multi-platform viewers, with the initial telecast benefiting from a prime post-NFL game slot . According to Fox, the show currently stands as the networkโs second largest 7-day total multi-platform audience of the season, averaging 6 million viewers across its first five episodes .
What impressed network executives most was the showโs consistency. Best Medicine became the only scripted series this season to grow its audience from debut to second episode in total viewers. Each of the initial episodes has surpassed one million viewers in 7-day streaming on Hulu, demonstrating strong digital engagement .
Michael Thorn, President of Fox Television Network, praised the series in the renewal announcement. โBest 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 Twoโ .
The Cast Returns for More Small-Town Drama
The entire main cast is expected to return for Season 2. Alongside Josh Charles, the ensemble includes Abigail Spencer as Louisa Gavin, the town schoolteacher and Martinโs love interest. Josh Segarra plays Sheriff Mark Mylow, Louisaโs former fiancรฉ, while Annie Potts portrays Aunt Sarah, Martinโs warm-hearted relative who owns the local inn. Cree rounds out the main cast as Elaine Denton, Martinโs long-suffering medical assistant .
The show has built its appeal around the chemistry between these characters. Spencer previously teased that the series structure allows for guest stars in nearly every episode. โEvery episode we have a great star come on and they get to do something delightfulโand maybe something youโve never seen them do before,โ she told Us Weekly in January .
Special Guest Star Appearance Already Aired
The show recently featured a notable guest appearance that bridged the original British series with its American remake. Martin Clunes, who starred as Dr. Martin Ellingham in the long-running ITV series Doc Martin (the basis for Best Medicine), appeared in the March 3, 2026 episode titled โDoc Martin.โ Clunes played Dr. Robert Best, the father of Josh Charlesโ character .
The episode brought together the two actors in a storyline involving family tension and medical mystery. When Martinโs parents made a surprise visit, he suspected his father might be hiding a serious health condition, forcing the two doctors to operate together while navigating long-simmering family issues .
What to Expect in Season 2
While specific plot details for Season 2 remain under wraps, the show will continue following Dr. Best as he navigates life in the close-knit community of Port Wenn. The series is based on the British staple Doc Martin, which ran for 10 seasons and developed a devoted following worldwide .
The American adaptation has found success by maintaining the originalโs core premise while developing its own identity. Liz Tuccillo serves as showrunner and executive producer alongside Ben Silverman, Rodney Ferrell, Howard T. Owens, Mark Crowdy, and Philippa Braithwaite. Fox Entertainment Studios produces the series, giving the network full ownership .
Season 2 will likely explore the developing relationships established in the first season. Martinโs struggle with his blood phobia and childhood trauma, his complicated dynamic with Louisa, and his gradual (if reluctant) integration into town life provide ongoing storylines. The showโs blend of medical cases and character-driven comedy has resonated with audiences seeking comfort viewing.
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Season 1 Finale Airs March 10
Before Season 2 arrives, viewers can catch the Season 1 finale on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 8/7c on Fox. The episode will be available for streaming the next day on Hulu . The freshman season has consisted of 10 episodes, building toward what promises to be a satisfying conclusion while setting up stories for the already-confirmed second season.
Fox has found particular success with what executives describe as โcomfort food, soapy/small town showsโ like Best Medicine, Doc, and Murder in a Small Town. These series have delivered consistently on both linear television and streaming platforms, fitting the networkโs strategy of developing fully owned programming that can perform well internationally .
For fans wondering whether Best Medicine would return, the answer arrived early and definitively. The show will be back, bringing more medical mysteries and small-town charm to Foxโs Tuesday night lineup when it returns for its 12-episode second season in the 2026-27 broadcast cycle.
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