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Kingdom v Doc Martin

Stephen Fry in Kingdom
  • Posted at 12:45pm
  • 04 September 2008
  • by DavidBrown-RT
  • 4 comments

It can't have escaped anyone's attention that for every How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria? on BBC1, there's a Grease Is the Word on ITV1. Michael Kitchen successfully furrows his brow on the commercial network in Foyle's War, so Martin Shaw gets to look pensive on the BBC with George Gently. Taking successful television formats and then spinning them for your own station is common practice. But recently, there's been a case of ITV1 copying itself in the form of Doc Martin and now Kingdom.

These two programmes are the television equivalent of a fitness instructor bringing to a close a vigorous aerobics session with the words "and…relaaaax". Both are tranquil and sedate; the type of TV that, just by staring at it, could weirdly ease a crick in the neck. But it was only recently - after discovering Dr Martin Ellingham during ITV1's summer repeat season - that I realised just how similar they actually are.

There's the idyllic, rural setting for all the urban viewers to enjoy without leaving the city. There's a cast of village mad people whose eccentricities can double up as an actual plot. And there's a wise, Yoda-like auntie figure played by a venerable thesp, who can dispense advice at times of barely noticeable crisis. Throw in an impossibly tall main character with family problems who always wears a suit and you could be talking about either one of them.

Now, I like Kingdom. Dramas that quietly go about their business without requiring commitment on the scale of marriage are just my cup of tea. But there was always something nagging away at me and now that I've seen its progenitor, I realise what it is. It's down to the fact that Martin Clunes's GP is a fully fledged character, whereas Peter Kingdom is more of a blur. Ellingham is allowed to have a hesitant, tentative relationship with schoolteacher Louisa Glasson, whereas poor old Peter Kingdom might as well have handed in his private parts when he got his law degree.

I get the definite feeling that the writers are nervous about giving Stephen Fry's character a private life. Is it because Fry is gay and if they gave him a boyfriend on the show, they'd be scared of it becoming an issue-led drama? Or do they think that to give him a female love interest would not be convincing for us viewers? Maybe Kingdom is celibate and we shouldn't pry any further into that kind of thing, thank you very much. But now that I can see the cloning of Doc Martin, it's thrown it all into sharp relief.

If programme executives are so convinced that what we want are not new shows, but new shows that have an air of old shows, then this is a bit of a fudge. By ignoring the human propensity to seek out companionship and a partner in life (whatever the gender), Kingdom is turned into a not-quite-drama. If they want us to be convinced that this is an actual person on screen, then maybe they should allow Stephen Fry to just get on with what we know he can do and act.

**

Now take a look at our 2008 interview with Stephen Fry.

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Comments

  • Posted on 11 September 2008
  • at 8:58pm
  • by Missing Portwenn

This makes me want to see more Doc Martin right now. It was so unfair that the writers chose to make Martin and Louisa split up on the day of their wedding. I really hope that they make some new episodes soon because Martin Clunes is just adorable and I also very much like Joe Absolom.

  • Posted on 10 September 2008
  • at 4:24pm
  • by national treasure

Maybe they're slowly building up to Peter and Lyle having an affair. It would bring an edge to what can sometimes be a really, really, really dull show. but god forbid anyone should say anything against Stephen Fry!!!!

  • Posted on 08 September 2008
  • at 10:29am
  • by Sunday-nighter

I do not think that KIngdom is like Northern Exposure. Stephen Fry is not like the doctor because he is not a fish out of water. It is his home town after all.

  • Posted on 04 September 2008
  • at 7:24pm
  • by have-a-long-memory

It is all "Northern Exposure" anyway!

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