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Hugh Laurie launches defence of House M.D. on social media after criticism of show formula

"If all you see is hospital, medical blah blah, then it wasn't meant for you."

Hugh Laurie as Dr. Greg House in House M.D, wearing a purple shirt and grey jacket, sat next to a skeleton model and biological diagrams.

Isabella Vosmikova/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Published: Monday, 8 June 2026 at 11:43 am

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After medical drama House M.D. came in for some criticism from a freelance journalist posting on X, the show's star, Hugh Laurie, has hit back.

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The social media back and forth began when journalist Janet Murray posted on X:"Late to the party, but I've started watching Season 1 of House. Same narrative every episode: Patient has mysterious illness. Hugh Laurie (House) gets diagnosis wrong. Patient nearly dies. Hugh Laurie gets diagnosis wrong again.

"Gets threatened with being fired. Patient nearly dies again. Hugh Laurie has last minute leftfield idea. Gets diagnosis right. Doesn't get fired. Eight seasons of this?"

Not taking the criticism lying down, Laurie, who played the titular Dr House in all eight seasons of the show, replied in a comment which said: "Thanks for your critique, Janet. We actually tried a couple of episodes where House (Hugh Laurie) (please put the brackets in the right place) gets it right first time, but they were only 6 minutes long. NBC weren't happy."

Jesse Spencer as Dr. Robert Chase, Jennifer Morrison as Dr. Allison Cameron, Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House, Robert Sean Leonard as Dr. James Wilson, Lisa Edelstein as Dr. Lisa Cuddy and Omar Epps as Dr. Eric Foreman in House M.D. They are stood behind a patient in a bed, under a blue sheet, in a hospital room.

Jesse Spencer as Dr. Robert Chase, Jennifer Morrison as Dr. Allison Cameron, Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House, Robert Sean Leonard as Dr. James Wilson, Lisa Edelstein as Dr. Lisa Cuddy and Omar Epps as Dr. Eric Foreman in House M.D. Art Streiber/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

He continued: "Then we tried some where House never gets it right and the patient dies. The audience wasn't happy. One could apply your trenchant analysis to other art forms: JS Bach wrote 30 Goldberg variations on the same chord structure; Frida Kahlo painted 50 portraits of herself; Henry Moore, what??

"The point is, or was, variations on a theme; if all you see is hospital, medical blah blah, then it wasn't meant for you. Nonetheless, I look forward to your first novel!"

House ran for 177 episodes between 2004 and 2012, and also starred Lisa Edelstein, Omar Epps, Robert Sean Leonard, Jennifer Morrison, Jesse Spencer, Peter Jacobson, Kal Penn, Olivia Wilde, Amber Tamblyn and Odette Annable.

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The series was nominated for 13 Emmys over the years, winning two, including outstanding writing for a drama series for the episode Three Stories in 2005, and outstanding directing in a drama series for the episode House's Head in 2008.

Laurie has most recently been seen starring in the second season of The Night Manager, while he was also recently cast in another series based on the works of John le Carré, Legacy of Spies.

House is available to watch on Sky, Prime Video, Channel 4 and Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.

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Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of James Hibbs, smiling against a lime green background.

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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