Dog Martin
procedures. There’s a femoral artery, the one in your leg, that’s a bit of a gusher. In real life you’d bleed out in about four minutes and we have an episode with one of those that’s quite Tarantino-esque but unavoidably so.
“I anticipate some negotiation editorially with ITV.”
And what about guest stars – can we expect a similarly impressive billing again, maybe even Sigourney Weaver perhaps? After all, the Alien actress surprised fans with a cameo in the show two years ago as brash American tourist Beth Traywick.
“Yes, she’ll be back really soon”, revealed Clunes excitedly.
“I think it was her idea again. Last time it was all quite tentative and the part had to be quite self-contained so it could be lifted out or someone else could play it. But she turned up and she loved it.”
The comedy drama has become one of ITV’s most successful long-running series with seven successful runs already under its belt.
Clunes uses the word “bizarre” to describe turning up to a job and becoming so connected.
He said: “We added up the amount of time I’ve spent and it’s 3.5 years I’ve been married to Caroline Catz bouncing around these false walls.
“There are very few new people on our crew. We’ve all got kids that have grown up bouncing into each other every two years, we’ve watched each other’s kids grow up.”
Filming the show is even more of a family affair for Clunes, as his wife Philippa Braithwaite – who he has 17-year-old daughter Emily with – is the producer.
However, that doesn’t mean the actor gets a head-start on reading through the script. Clunes said: “It does crop up at home but we’re partners in enough things outside of this as well – parenting and farming and horses and dogs and all of that – so it’s fine. It’s all we’ve ever done.”
“There’s so much else to talk about that goes on between us.
“I can’t stress enough how much pressure it is on her getting eight hours out. She only lets me read the script really late.”
In what is a surprising – but undeniably welcome – move from ITV, two series of Doc Martin were commissioned at once this time, and a ninth instalment is definitely on the way for Clunatics the world over.
But what about after that? Would Clunes like to carry on playing Doc Martin until he’s grown old and grey?
“Probably,” he said. “I’ll never get a better job. I love playing him and being here and I like all the people.
“I think it’s a once in a lifetime, something like this.” Doc Martin is back on ITV from September 20