Conception The series entered pre-production in early 2016, with executive producers Andy Ryan and Jo Rooney of the Nine Network and Ian Collie,
Claudia Karvan and
Tony McNamara of
Essential Media & Entertainment. The Nine Network confirmed that
Doctor Doctor would commence production in April 2016 with filming taking place in
Sydney and regional
New South Wales. In a statement, Nine's Head of Drama, Jo Rooney and Andy Ryan, commented "We are delighted to join forces with Essential Media & Entertainment on the irreverent new family drama series". The series was produced by Essential Media and Entertainment and its first season created 800 jobs and production expenditure of $11.6 million in
Sydney and
Mudgee, as well as $300,000 in grants from
Screen NSW. The series premiered on Nine Network on the earlier-than-expected broadcast date of 14 September 2016, and in the process, post-production of the ten-episode season was rushed. On 28 September 2016, prior to the broadcast of episode three, Nine renewed the series for a second season, due to its growing success. Ian Collie commented, "We love how the national audience has taken to Doctor Doctor. It’s a show with heart and smarts and thrilled that Nine are backing us to go again. Roll on season two!" On 11 October 2017, it was announced that the show was renewed for a third season at Nine Upfronts for the 2018 schedule.
Doctor Doctor was renewed for a fourth season, which was confirmed on 17 October 2018, and went into production in April 2019. The season was set to premiere sometime in late 2019, however, it was announced on 16 October 2019, that it would premiere in 2020. On 31 March 2020, Nine announced that
Doctor Doctor has been commissioned for a fifth season. Doctor Doctor was renewed for a fifth season in April 2020, with production beginning on 28 September and wrapping up in mid December 2020. In June 2021, Nine announced the series would end after the fifth season concludes.
Casting The casting director of
Doctor Doctor is Kirsty McGregor, who has worked for casting on popular television series, such as
Modern Family and
Top of the Lake. It was announced in early 2016 that Rodger Corser had received the leading role in the series as heart surgeon, Hugh Knight, before the Nine Network has formally announced the series. It was then confirmed that Nicole Da Silva would be cast in the role of Charlie Knight. Da Silva was currently filming the
fourth season of
Wentworth, appearing only for six of the twelve episodes and in a supporting status, due to her new starring role in
Doctor Doctor, she had to travel between Sydney and Melbourne switching between roles. It had also seen her reconnect with her former
Rush co-star, Rodger Corser. Tina Bursill was cast in the role of matriarch Meryl Knight; Bursill had not appeared in a production for two years and was a carer for her father. Following his death, Bursill was contacted six weeks later and asked to audition for the role. In an early announcement, it was stated that additional supporting cast would consist of Ryan Johnson, Hayley McElhinney, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Chloe Bayliss and Dave Eastgate It was later revealed that Steve Bisley would appear in the series as Jim Knight. For the second season of
Doctor Doctor, it was announced that
Packed to the Rafters star
Angus McLaren would join the cast as ex-army medic, Dr Toke, after a three-year hiatus from acting in television, while it had also been confirmed that
New Zealand actress, Brittany Scott Clark, formerly of soap opera
Shortland Street, would portray Nurse Mia Holston. Ahead of Season 3, during a promo which screened in June 2018 on the Nine Network, it was revealed that the show would be losing a major character; in a spoiler, it was revealed to be Jim Knight. In May 2018, it was announced, that Steve Bisley would be returning for the third season, however, he only appeared in the opening episode. In April 2019, it was announced that
Dustin Clare,
Kate Jenkinson and
Robyn Nevin would be joining the cast of
Doctor Doctor for its fourth season. In September 2020, several new cast additions were announced for the fifth season; they include,
Zoe Ventoura,
Lincoln Younes,
Darren McMullen, Chantelle Jamieson, Rishikesh Shukre and Contessa Treffone.
Filming The series is filmed on location in
Mudgee, a town in the
Central West of
New South Wales, while the entirety of the hospital scenes are shot in the
Inner West Sydney suburb of
Rozelle. The filming of Knight's home was shot in Sydney's south-west section in the town of
Camden. The regional setting for the series has proved to be beneficial for narrative and production purposes. It has been stated that in addition to $100,000 worth of support from the Regional Filming Fund, the regional setting delivers a unique authenticity to the series that it would otherwise lack. In 2017, Ian Collie departed Essential Media in order to establish his own production company, Easy Tiger Tiger, from which
Doctor Doctor was produced under as of its second season. The company was majority owned by
FremantleMedia. Doctor Doctor was the first Australian drama series to be renewed amid the
COVID-19 pandemic. Filming for the fifth season commenced on 28 September 2020 and wrapped in December 2020. The song is not available for international airings of the series as the opening theme is replaced with the same instrumental music which is used over the end credits. ==Cast and characters==