- Martin's medical career remains under scrutiny, as a GMC representative has come to assess him and his surgery. Meanwhile, Al accidentally proposes to Morwenna, and Mrs Tishell has a new lease on life.
- Dr Martin Ellingham's (Martin Clunes) career is hanging in the balance. His future as a GP is under scrutiny from the General Medical Council following complaints about his irascible approach to patients, and his blood phobia. A representative from the GMC, Rebecca Hedden (Hermione Gulliford) has come to assess both Martin and his surgery. The Doc thinks the assessment is a complete waste of time and is quick to make his views clear to Dr Hedden. Meanwhile his wife Louisa (Caroline Catz) is pursuing a new career as a child counsellor. She is also concerned that their son James Henry is becoming too much like his father, and considers whether they should try for a little brother or sister. But is now the right time with her career change and Martin under review? Morwenna (Jessica Ransom) is helping out at the pub, the Crab and Lobster, while Al (Joe Absolom) tries to find extra staff. Morwenna feels taken for granted, and in an attempt to show her his appreciation, Al accidentally proposes to her, setting the village buzzing with their wedding plans. Mrs Tishell (Selina Cadell) decides to go on a date with Donald (Simon Chandler), whom she met at Book Club. But their trip to a lighthouse turns to disaster when Mrs Tishell suffers a terrible accident. The Doc has to commission a fishing boat, with PC Joe Penhale (John Marquez), to sail out to the lighthouse to treat her. Dr Hedden insists on joining them to monitor the Doc at work, but faces a life threatening situation herself.
- Series 9 overview Martin Clunes returns to play the nation's favourite grumpy medic in a brand new series of Doc Martin for ITV. He stars as Dr Martin Ellingham, the GP with a brusque bedside manner and a phobia of blood, in eight new episodes of the successful drama produced by Buffalo Pictures, and set in the idyllic hamlet of Portwenn in Cornwall. Picturesque Port Isaac provides the beautiful backdrop for the popular series, with all regular members of the cast reprising their roles. Caroline Catz plays Doc Martin's wife, Louisa Ellingham, who has resigned from her job as headmistress at the local school to pursue a new career in child counselling. Returning to this ninth series, Dame Eileen Atkins plays Doc Martin's formidable Aunt Ruth. Ian McNeice is back to play Bert Large, with Joe Absolom as his son Al. John Marquez is PC Joe Penhale, Jessica Ransom is the doctor's receptionist Morwenna Newcross and Selina Cadell is pharmacist Mrs Tishell. They are joined by special guest stars Danny Huston, Conleth Hill, Caroline Quentin and Tom Conti. Danny plays Robert Brooke, a man who is shot by a farmer who thinks he is stealing eggs. Caroline returns to the series to star as vet Angela Sim, Conleth plays a GP who comes to assess Martin and Tom Conti plays Bernard Newton, an eminent surgeon who is also assessing the Doc.
- Doc Martin is a British television medical comedy drama series starring Martin Clunes in the title role as Doc Martin Ellingham. Created by Dominic Minghella, Mark Crowdy, Craig Ferguson, the program is set in the fictional seaside village of Portwenn, filmed on location in the actual village of Port Isaac, Cornwall, United Kingdom. He, Doc Martin upon arrival of his new position finds his office in chaos and inherits an incompetent receptionist.
The program revolves around Ellingham's interactions with the local Cornish people and patients he treats. Despite his medical excellence, he is grouchy, abrupt, and has little to no social skills. He is direct and his emotionless interactions offends most of the people he comes across. Most perceive him to be short tempered and lacking in a bedside manner. He is an excellent Doc and has impeccable credentials and talents far past a General Practitioner and exhibits no patience for small talk and simple niceties. The towns people eventually discover his fear of blood and notice his frequent and debilitating bouts of nausea and vomiting that it causes. However, Doc Martin proves to be an expert diagnostician and responds effectively to various emergencies in his medical practice and easily gains the respect from the town's folk.
The seasons have been between 2004 and 2017. The eighth and most recent series aired on ITV from September 2017 and streamed in the United States on Public Television and Canada on Acorn TV. Series 9 began filming in Port Isaac in March 2019. Season nine, he is scrutinized as a GP from the General Medical Council following complaints about his irascible approach to patients. It's not clear whether season nine is the final season but Clunes hopes to return for more episodes
Clunes said, "We love going to Cornwall to make "Doc Martin," and we miss it when we are not there. The county is so beautiful, and the people have been so warm and welcoming to us. It is the best job in television." In 2004, Doc Martin won the British Comedy Award for "Best TV Comedy Drama", having also been nominated as "Best New TV Comedy". In the same year, Martin Clunes won the "Best TV Comedy Actor" award, primarily for his portrayal of Doc Martin. Recurring cast members are Caroline Catz playing Doc Martin's wife, Louisa Ellingham, who has resigned from her job as headmistress at the local school to pursue a new career in child counseling. His romantic interactions between are strained due to his persona many times and often spoils rare tender moments between the two.
The Cast overall is consistent each season. With Ian McNeice who is an odd amiable character back to play Bert Large, with Joe Absolom as his son Al. John Marquez is PC Joe Penhale, Similar to Barney Fife of Mayberry. Jessica Ransom is the doctor's receptionist Morwenna Newcross who has a very unique fashion sense. Selina Cadell is the disturbed pharmacist Mrs Tishell. Elaine Denham (Lucy Punch). In Series 2,3,4, she is replaced by Pauline Lamb (Katherine Parkinson), a new receptionist, and later duties include drawing blood from patients. In Series 5, Morwenna Newcross (Jessica Ransom) takes over. Ellingham's aunt, Joan Norton (Stephanie Cole), from Waiting for God British Sitcom, provides emotional support in the face of the controversy among the towns people caused by his impatient manner. When she dies after a heart attack, her sister Ruth (Eileen Atkins), a retired psychiatrist, comes to Portwenn to take care of her affairs, and eventually decides to use the village as a permanent retreat, offering Martin the support Joan had provided.
For those who might notice this is a British Theme of the small-town very much like the Andy Griffith Show of the 1960's. Complete with a Bumbling Deputy with one police car. Foolish towns people with ridiculous situations and simple problems. Doc Martin similar to the Sheriff position in intelligence and stature in the community. Small population just like Mayberry USA with limited resources. Few people of color if any. With the feeling of no crime and safety abound. A homey simple and slower, old-fashioned lifestyle. With an over all comfy, pleasant feel of good nature people created by the producer, Mark Crowdy that still resonates with viewers of the 21st century.
Television viewers really enjoy Doc Martin and there is a loyal following to continue and watch each and every episode current and past.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content