Hugh Laurie roasts woman who belatedly criticises his hit drama, House

Actor and comedian Hugh Laurie delivered a withering reply to social media criticism of House, the hugely popular American medical drama he fronted between 2004 and 2012.

The acclaimed series saw the 66-year old portray the titular character, Dr Gregory House, a brilliant medical genius with an orthodox way of leading his team at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey. The former Blackadder star recently found himself targeted by a viewer who claimed every episode followed an identical formula - particularly regarding Dr House's actions.

"Late to the party, but I've started watching Season 1 of House, same narrative every episode," wrote viewer Janet Murray in her scathing critique posted on X. She laid out her argument in a summary of the plot: "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."

Janet rounded off her tirade by questioning: "Eight seasons of this?" The post went on to rack up more than 1.4 million views - amongst them, Hugh Laurie himself.

"Thanks for your critique, Janet," he hit back with dry wit. "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 six minutes long." The star continued: "[Broadcaster] NBC weren't happy. Then we tried some where House never gets it right and the patient dies. The audience wasn't happy."

Hugh, who rose to prominence alongside fellow comedian and close friend Stephen Fry in Laurie and Fry, added: "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!"

The exchange prompted one X user to declare: "Oh crikey, Janet! I'd take this one on the chin, mate. I cannot be more objective, I'm afraid, as I'm rather envious that you got roasted by Hugh Laurie himself." Janet subsequently conceded: "Apparently it is a badge of honour."

Meanwhile, another questioned her approach: "The series stopped 14 years ago - is it really worth going to such an effort to put someone who thinks it might be a bit 'samey' in their place? It was a popular, long-running series and consensus is that you were great in it. Isn't that enough?"

Hugh later returned to the thread to respond: "I put no more effort into my message than you have into yours. It just happens to be closer to my heart."