The early films featured Dirk Bogarde in the lead as Doctor Sparrow and Donald Sinden as Benskin.
The films were directed by Ralph Thomas and produced by Betty Box.
The first film, Doctor in the House, was initiated by Betty Box, who picked up a copy of the book at Crewe during a long rail journey.
She saw its possibility as a film, but Box and Ralph Thomas had a job convincing Rank executives that people would go to a film about doctors, and that Bogarde, who up to then had played spivs and World War Two heroes, had sex appeal and could play light comedy.
A successful television series, Doctor in the House and various similar names, followed, from London Weekend Television, Seven Network (Australia) and the British Broadcasting Corporation .