The Good Doctor season 7: Release date, cast, plot and latest news

US fans were treated to a February release, and while it's not too much of a long wait, UK fans can now remain happy in the fact that they'll be finding out what's to become of the beloved medical drama.

Aside from the usual hospital drama, the new season will also boast the return of not one, but two characters. That's right, we're finally getting a fitting conclusion to Dr Claire Brown's story, as Antonia Thomas will be returning after having starred in the first four seasons of The Good Doctor.

While she won't be back for the entire season, we do know she'll be back for a couple of episodes, just like when Thomas returned at the end of season 5.

But that's not the only character return to look forward to, as Brandon Larracuente will be reprising his role as Dr Daniel Perez, who left at the end of season 6 following his recovery from a car crash.

ABC announced the news of The Good Doctor coming to an end earlier in January, amid cancellations that also included Station 19 and The Good Lawyer, the spin-off series to The Good Doctor.

"The Good Doctor has been a once in a lifetime opportunity, but it’s time to say goodbye," co-showrunners David Shore and Liz Friedman and fellow executive producer Erin Gunn said at the time in a statement.

"We are incredibly proud of the work we’ve done and the message we’ve been privileged to be a part of. We look forward to giving our fantastic fans, the truly extraordinary Freddie Highmore, the rest of our talented actors (and friends), and the best crew in the business the series ending that you all deserve.

"Thank you, Sony; thank you, ABC; thank you all."

Highmore, who’s also an executive producer on the series, said: "Playing Dr Shaun Murphy has been an immense privilege and one of the most remarkable and rewarding experiences of my life.

"I will always be grateful to David, Liz and Erin, as well as the hugely talented — and lovely — cast, writers and crew who made this show possible. Caring deeply is what got us here.

"Thank you to Sony and ABC, and to everyone who has watched along at home. With love from Vancouver… tequila, stat!"

This marks the end for the Good Doctor franchise, but as fans mourn the loss of the show, executive producer David Shore admitted it was the right time to end.

Speaking to on the Television Critics Tour (via Deadline), Shore said: "We’ve been lucky enough to plan the ending we want to do. This has been a weird year. Only doing 10 episodes is unfortunate. [They originally planned for 13]. But being able to go out on your own terms is a blessing."

"We get to plan a great finale and do something the fans will love," added fellow executive producer Liz Friedman.

So, with that in mind, read on for everything you need to know about the seventh and final season of The Good Doctor.

The Good Doctor season 7 release date

The medical drama premiered in the US on Tuesday 20th February 2024 on ABC at 10pm ET/PT, airing weekly after that. Instalments also air the following day on Hulu.

And now, UK fans finally have a release date, as The Good Doctor will premiere in the UK on Wednesday 10th April on Sky Witness and NOW.

The Good Doctor season 7 cast: Who is returning?

Freddie Highmore will be back as Dr Shaun Murphy.

He’ll be joined by a slew of returning actors, including Richard Schiff as Dr Aaron Glassman, Will Yun Lee as Dr Alex Park, Will Yun Lee as Dr Alex Park and Fiona Gubelmann as Dr Morgan Reznick.

Christina Chang will also be back as Dr Audrey Lim, while Paige Spara will return as Lea Dilallo-Murphy, Noah Galvin as Dr Asher Wolke and Bria Henderson as Dr Jordan Allen.

Meanwhile, original cast member Chuku Modu, who returned as a midway in season 6, has been promoted to a series regular on the medical drama, playing Dr Jared Kalu.

Some fan favourites won’t be returning for the upcoming instalment, however. Original Good Doctor cast member Will Harper has exited after opting to run for Senate.

While it was announced back in April 2023 that Danny Perez actor Brandon Larracuente would be leaving the show after season 6, he is excitingly set to return for one episode this season. Antonia Thomas will also be reprising her role for a couple of episodes this season as Dr Claire Brown.

Ruby Kelley (PUSH) has also joined in a recurring role, and Guillermo Diaz (Scandal) is set to appear in a guest spot.

The Good Doctor season 7 plot: What could happen?

After season 6 culminated in the birth of Shaun Murphy and Lea’s (Paige Spara) son, Steve Aaron Murphy, it looks like the upcoming instalment will follow Shaun as he transitions into the role of a father.

Alongside the news that the show will end with season 7, ABC released a farewell promo, containing highlights from the previous six seasons, as well as a look at one of the medical drama’s upcoming episodes.

In the scene, Shaun prepares to leave for work, and tells Lea and their newborn son that he’s going to miss them.

San Jose St Bonaventure Hospital will also be dealing with the sudden absence of Dr Perez, who left to seek treatment for his opioid addiction back home with his family in Texas, and Dr Andrews, who resigned as president of the hospital last season.

While Dr Perez is set to return for one episode, fans will have to keep their fingers crossed that he's back on the road to recovery.

The Good Doctor season 7 also delivers quite the shock character death, so we'd expect the later episodes of the season to deal with the major fallout from that.

Is there a trailer for The Good Doctor season 7?

There is! It's time to say goodbye to the gang as the final trailer for the final season was released a couple of weeks ago, marking the end of an era.

Watch it below:

The Good Doctor season 7 will premiere in the UK on Wednesday 10th April on Sky Witness and NOW.

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