Doctor at the Top (1991) User Reviews

Doctors Reunited

[ShadeGrenade · 7/10 · 22 August 2006]

Eleven years after 'Doctor Down Under', Duncan Waring and Dick Stuart-Clark were back on British soil, and reunited with their old pal Paul Collier and Professor Loftus for this short-lived B.B.C. series.

Actor/writer George Layton thought there would be tremendous public interest in seeing the St.Swithins gang again - there wasn't. Far too much time had elapsed - and public taste changed - since the original show ended in 1977. Layton acknowledged this by ringing changes on the main characters; Waring was now a devoted family man, Collier a practitioner of private medicine, and Stuart-Clark ( rather improbably ) had replaced Loftus as Professor of Surgery.

Bad continuity errors abounded - how could Waring have been married for twenty years when, in 1971, he was in America? For those who wanted the 'lads' back as they were, it was a crushing disappointment.

Appearing on the 'Wogan' show to publicise his latest sitcom 'Trouble In Mind', Richard O'Sullivan claimed he'd been approached about playing 'Bingham' again, but proved unavailable, hence the creation of the character played by Roger Sloman - 'Dr.Lionel Snell'.

Layton wrote over half the series, ex-'Goodie' Bill Oddie penned the rest, including a very funny one in which Duncan opts to have a vasectomy. The show's failure was particularly sad in light of the fact that the original had been one of I.T.V.'s biggest comedy successes in the '70's. Lightning didn't strike twice, alas.

Writing is better than At Sea, Down Under

[arlcanada · 7/10 · 23 January 2011]

I should add that with Layton and Oddie at the helm, this series is far better written and generally better conceived than the mid to late 70s Doctor outings. It would have benefited from having a few more of the older characters appear as guests, at least, if not regulars, such as Bingham and particularly Upton who is referenced once but not seen. Better use could have also been made of the students and, considering the physicality of the original, some slapstick would have helped. As it was, as Layton later remarked, it was the series that "depressed the nation" with its middle aged angst. Sadly, with Robin's death as well as that of original leading man Barry Evans, this will definitely be the last Doctor series with the original cast. There is a rumoured remake of the Doctor in the House movie being considered, however.

A more mature Doctor In The House series

[rt63-1 · 8/10 · 19 February 2019]

When I saw the first episode, I cringed a bit. How they had aged (not really Collier though) and how the humor was not like it used to be. But as I watched more of the episodes, I enjoyed them more and more. This is a series about Duncan, Paul and Dick...grown up. Not young medical students/doctors having fun, doing pranks and chasing nurses. But middle aged men with responsibilities (again, except Collier - to a point). I would say the last 4 episodes are the best ones; the funniest and - gasp - the deepest as well. Dealing with interesting ideas about middle aged men and how they handle them in different ways. I think when I was young - when I watched the first series (Doctor In The House, Doctor On The Go, etc.), I think I would have liked those better. More fun, less serious. But now that I am middle-aged, I think I like these ones better. I get the impression this series did not do well when it was released (I live in Canada). Probably for similar reasons I was put off of it when I first saw it. Which is a shame....because it really was a fine series. And - IMO - a worthy way to end the run of the likable trio of Duncan, Paul and Dick. My best advice to watching this series is - don't expect the shows to be as silly/slapstickish as the originals. Expect something a little more serious...but still fun.

The return to St. Swithin's

[Rabical-91 · 8/10 · 7 June 2018]

The whole 'Doctor' saga ( starting life as a series of books and then later movies ) first began as a sitcom in 1969 as 'Doctor In The House', broadcast from London Weekend Television. 'In The House' was a huge success and spawned several ITV sequels throughout the '70's - 'Doctor At Large' ( 1971 ), 'Doctor In Charge' ( 1972-1973 ), 'Doctor At Sea' ( 1974 ) and 'Doctor On The Go' ( 1975-1977 ). There was also an Australian adaption for Network 7 entitled 'Doctor Down Under' ( 1979 ). In 1991, George Layton ( not seen on the show since 'In Charge' ) contacted the old gang to see if they were interested in engineering a revival, showing them as older men with responsibilities. The result was 'Doctor At The Top', which was screened by BBC1 ( LWT having turned the show down ). Sadly, the public's taste had changed and the reception with which 'At The Top' met with was about as welcome as a patient receiving an enema.

The gang were back at St. Swithin's, though changes were made. Duncan is a pediatrician and a happily married family man whose wife Geraldine ( the late Georgina Melville ) is the daughter of Professor Geoffrey Loftus ( Ernest Clark in what was his last television role before his death ). Dick Stuart Clark is now Professor of Surgery and is married to Emma ( Jill Benedict ) whilst Paul Collier is still a single man with his own private practice at Harley Street.

Richard O'Sullivan was asked to reprise his role as Lawrence Bingham but as he was already appearing in his latest ITV sitcom, the short lived 'Trouble In Mind', was unable to appear, so a new character was created - Dr. Lionel Snell, played by Roger Sloman. George Layton wrote the scripts, as did Bill Oddie. The Oddie scripted episodes were the best.

'Doctor At The Top' lasted only seven episodes and was axed due to dismal audience figures. Bill Oddie later labelled the show as 'Doctor Down The Drain'. A pity as 'At The Top' in my opinion was a decent enough series. Hopefully, it will be released on DVD one day so it can gain a new audience.