What’s up Doc?
Martin Clunes returns to play the nation’s favourite grumpy medic in a new series of Doc Martin for ITV.
He stars as Dr Martin Ellingham, a GP with a brusque bedside manner and a phobia of blood, in eight new episodes 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.
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.
“It was great coming back to Cornwall to play Doc Martin after such a busy time playing different characters in Vanity Fair, Manhunt, Warren, and presenting Islands of America in the last year.
“Doc Martin is so familiar and that is nice.
“He’s a character I enjoy playing and I still have stuff to do with him.
“I like the machinations of the medical procedures, I have always enjoyed those.”