Doc Martin
Martin Clunes reveals the troubles in store for Doc Martin in the final-ever series…
Wed, 9pm, ITV Comedy drama
As the comedy drama returns for its last-ever series, grumpy Martin Ellingham (Martin Clunes) has resigned as Portwenn’s GP but he’s got Guest role… plenty to keep him busy now that he and his wife Fay Ripley Louisa (Caroline Catz) have a baby daughter, as well as young son James Henry. Fay Ripley guests in the opener as a poorly mum who spurs Martin back into medical action. Our fave locals return including Al and Bert Large (Joe Absolom and Ian Mcneice), plus Aunt Ruth (Dame Eileen Atkins).
All good things must come to an end so, 18 years after making his debut as grumpy Doc Martin, it’s time for Martin Clunes to hang up his stethoscope after this year’s Christmas special. Before the festive last hurrah, however, is a cracking final eight-parter series that’s full of daring rescues and medical mysteries.
The Doc is no longer Portwenn’s GP and spends his time with his four-year-old son James Henry and new baby daughter Mary Elizabeth. He also spends time fixing clocks, reading medical journals, rearranging the kitchen and quietly driving wife Louisa (Caroline Catz) to distraction!
‘We left off with the Doc resigning because he was about to get struck off! So at the start of the series we find him twiddling his thumbs,’ chuckles Martin Clunes, who’s played the sarcastic surgeon since 2004. ‘Louisa has moved into his consulting room, as she’s a practising child therapist.’
Family matters
Elsewhere, the Doc’s former receptionist Morwenna (Jessica Ransom) is married to Al Large (Eastenders’ Joe Absolom), but things get tricky when his dad, Bert (Ian Mcneice) invites himself to stay… on their wedding anniversary!
Local pharmacist Mrs Tishell (Selina Cadell) has launched a petition to get him reinstated while the Doc’s formidable aunt Ruth (Dame Eileen Atkins) is working with him on his blood phobia. But it’s the appearance of poorly mum Abigail (Cold Feet’s Fay Ripley) that forces his return to medicine.
‘Abigail has a medical condition that only he can identify and fix,’ reveals Martin, 60. ‘We’ve really lucked out with guest stars this year, starting with Fay Ripley. We’ve also got Hermione Norris, Ben Miller, Rupert Graves and Lesley Nicol coming up! I’ll never get a job as good as this again!’