Doc Martin

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Doc Martin
Series title card
Format	Comedy Drama
Created by	Dominic Minghella
Starring	Martin Clunes Ian McNeice Caroline Catz Stephanie Cole Joe Absolom Katherine Parkinson Stewart Wright Selina Cadell
Theme music composer	Colin Towns
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of episodes	22 (List of episodes)
Production
Producer(s)	Philippa Braithwaite
Running time	21x 50mins 1x 92mins
Broadcast
Original channel	ITV
Original run	September 2, 2004 – present

Doc Martin is a British television comedy drama starring Martin Clunes. Created by Dominic Minghella, it is filmed on location in and around the fishing village of Port Isaac, Cornwall, with filming of most interior scenes and production carried out in a converted barn at a local farm. So far, there have been three series of the show, and a feature-length special that first aired on Christmas Day 2006. A long awaited fourth series has been commissioned^[1] and began production in September 2008^[2] and the filming started late April 2009 ^[3].

Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Background 2.1 Series Four 2.2 Ratings 3 Episodes 4 Regular cast 5 Guest stars 6 International broadcasters 7 DVD releases 8 Awards 9 References 10 External links

[edit] Synopsis

Clunes plays (fictional) Portwenn's local GP, Martin Ellingham, who was once a successful London surgeon until he developed a phobia of blood that prevented him conducting operations. After retraining as a GP, he applied for a post in the sleepy Cornish hamlet of Portwenn, where he spent childhood holidays.

Much of the show's humour revolves around Ellingham's interaction with the local Cornish villagers. Despite his surgical brilliance, Ellingham lacks vital personal skills and any semblance of a bedside manner, and often fails to understand other people. Dr. Ellingham (referred to as "Doc Martin" by the friendly locals), much to his disgust, finds the surgery is in disarray. The medical equipment is beyond repair, and the patients’ records are a mess. To top it all, he inherits the world’s most incompetent receptionist, Elaine Denham, who clearly resents Doc Martin moving in.

As the village's new doctor steps into the village, he is encountered by a dog who seems to become besotted with him, following him into his house, car, surgery and even in his bed throughout both Series 1 and 2. Despite Doc Martin's bitterness towards the dog, he ends up reluctantly liking it. He gave up after the villagers continue to think that Doc Martin is its owner.

The community is united in horror at their "misery guts"[1] of a new GP. Doc Martin soon finds he needs all the allies he can get as he tries to negotiate his way around village life with humorous consequences.

Martin is joined by a cast which includes Stephanie Cole as his aunt, Joan Norton, who provides him with emotional support in the face of the disquiet among the villagers. Caroline Catz plays opinionated primary school teacher (later headmistress) Louisa Glasson. Doc Martin is attracted to her, but he is hopeless at personal relationships.

[edit] Background

Clunes' character was originated as Dr. Martin Bamford in the 2000 film Saving Grace. He then appears in two "prequel" television films made by BSkyB, Doc Martin and Doc Martin and the Legend of the Cloutie, in which viewers learn that Bamford, a successful obstetrician, finds that his wife has been carrying on extramarital affairs behind his back with his three best friends. After confronting her with the news, he decides to leave London and heads for Cornwall, which he remembers fondly from his youth. Shortly after he arrives, he gets involved in the mystery of the "Jellymaker" and, following the departure of the village's resident GP, decides to stay in Port Isaac and fill the gap himself.

Although the original deal was to produce two television films per year for three years, Sky Pictures folded after the first two were made, so Clunes' company tried selling the franchise to ITV who generally liked it, but felt the character of Martin Bamford needed a little something more to him than just being a "townie" who is a little out of his depth in the country. ITV wanted something a little more edgy, so Clunes came up with the idea of the doctor being unusually grumpy. In the process, the doctor's last name was changed from Bamford to Ellingham, an anagram of the last name of new writer Dominic Minghella who was brought in to re-work the Doc's backstory and create a new village of supporting characters.

Quite often during the series there are references to people being "a bit Bodmin". This is a reference to the fact that Bodmin was once the centre of mental health care for the South West, and was based at the former St Lawrence's Hospital site and now at Bodmin Hospital.

Although Clunes' character is the only one to carry over (with significant back-story changes) from the telefilms, Tristan Sturrock joins Clunes as the only other actor (thus far) to appear in both versions of Doc Martin.

[edit] Series Four

When interviewed on both television and radio in order to promote the release of the Series 3 DVD, Martin Clunes stated several times that he is taking a break from acting in 2008. This is due to the fact that his daughter, Emily, hasn't had a proper summer holiday with her parents since they started filming Doc Martin (Martin's wife is Philippa Braithwaite, the producer of the programme). Consequently, no new series will be shown before 2009.

In February 2009, ITV confirmed the commissioning of a fourth series of Doc Martin, which will have eight episodes.^[4] On April 17 2009 during an interview on the BBC One television program Friday Night with Jonathon Ross (Series 16, Episode 11), Martin Clunes stated that he "...starts filming the following Monday down in Cornwall..." (ie the week beginning 20 April 2009), and that filming would take about 4 months^[5]. In an interview on GMTV from Port Gaverne, he stated that the filming was going well and that the series would be released in Autumn(UK). In addition, there has also been a strong push from the fans of the show for a new series and a happy ending between Doc Martin and Louisa.

During a radio interview in March 2008, Martin Clunes indicated that, following the events at the end of Series Three, they would 'try and patch up' the relationship between Martin and Louisa.^[6] Also, on the UK Channel 4 Richard and Judy television program on 28 February 2008, Martin Clunes responded to the interviewers statement that the end of Series 3 was "..sad.." by saying that it's not over yet and that we should "...watch this space..." ^[7]

[edit] Ratings

In the UK the show has been a ratings success for ITV1, the third series achieving ITV1's best midweek drama performance in the 9pm slot since December 2004.^[8]The final episode of the third series was watched by over 10 million viewers and netted the programme's highest-ever viewing figures.^[9]

[edit] Episodes

Main Article: List of Doc Martin episodes

Twenty-two episodes have aired with a fourth series in production, to be aired in Autumn of 2009 at the earliest[2]. All episodes are 50-minutes except the 2006 Christmas special which is 90 minutes.

[edit] Regular cast

• Martin Clunes as Doctor Martin Ellingham (2004 -)
• Caroline Catz as Louisa Glasson (2004 - )
• Stephanie Cole as "Auntie" Joan Norton (2004 -)
• Ian McNeice as Bert Large (2004 -)
• Joe Absolom as Al Large (2004 -)
• Selina Cadell as Mrs. Tishell (2004 -)
• Katherine Parkinson as Pauline Lamb (2005 - )
• Stewart Wright as PC Mark Mylow (2004 - 2006)
• John Marquez as PC Joe Penhale (2007 -)
• Felicity Montagu as Caroline Bosman (recurring, 2004 - 2005)
• Lucy Punch as Elaine Denham (2004)
• Tristan Sturrock as Danny Steel (2005 - 2006)
• Angeline Ball as Julie Mitchell (2005 - 2006)

[edit] Guest stars

The programme has featured many notable guest stars including: Celia Imrie, John Alderton, Hugh Lloyd, Jeff Rawle, Doreen Mantle, Christian Rodska, Roger Lloyd-Pack, Mary Woodvine, John Woodvine, Stephanie Leonidas, Ben Miller, Chris O'Dowd, Kenneth Cranham, David Bamber, and Claire Bloom.

[edit] International broadcasters

• In Australia, Doc Martin aired on ABC1. It was also shown on Australian PayTV channel, UKTV.
• In New Zealand, Doc Martin aired on TV One. It was also shown on New Zealand PayTV channel, UKTV
• In Canada, Doc Martin airs on VisionTV and Knowledge Network in British Columbia.
• In Germany, Doc Martin airs as Doktor Martin on ZDF. It is an adaptation of the original series with Axel Milberg as Doktor Martin Helling a surgeon from Berlin.
• In Italy, Hungary, Russia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and other countries where available, Doc Martin airs on the Hallmark Channel.
• In Belgium, Doc Martin airs on the public channel één.
• In Finland, Doc Martin airs on the public commercial channel MTV3.
• In Norway, Doc Martin airs on the public channel NRK1.
• In Denmark, Doc Martin airs on the public commercial channel TV2 Charlie1.
• In Romania, all Doc Martin series aired on the Hallmark channel.
• In USA, Doc Martin was airing in the summer of 2008 on WUSF-TV Tampa; in fall of 2008 on Wisconsin Public Television; and currently on WXXI in Rochester, New York; WNED in Buffalo, New York; KTEH in San Jose, California (ended May 17, 2009); and KCTS in Seattle, Washington.
• In Africa, Doc Martin airs on the Hallmark Channel on DSTV.
• In Bulgaria, all Doc Martin series aired on the Hallmark channel.
• In Slovenia, Doc Martin series 3 aired on the SLO2 (Slovenia 2) channel.
• In Spain, the adaptation [3] Doctor Mateo airs on Antena 3 TV channel.
• In Sweden, Doc Martin airs on the subscription Kanal 9 during late 2008 and into 2009.
• In Czech Republic, Doc Martin (Doktor Martin) airs on the CT1 since 1.10.2009.
• Online Hulu is broadcasting the six episodes of Season 1 as of May 2009

[edit] DVD releases

Series 1, 2 and 3 have been released on region 2. A stand-alone release of "On the Edge", the feature-length Doc Martin Christmas special, was also included as part of the "complete Series 1 to 3" box set.

In region 4, Series 1, 2, 3 and "On the Edge" were all released separately and in a seven-disc boxset. The two Sky Pictures telefilms were also individually released in Region 4 (as 'Doc Martin: volume 1' and 'Doc Martin: volume 2, the Legend of the Cloutie') on the Magna Pacific label, but have since gone out-of-print.

Series 1 has been released in Region 1. Series 2 (including "On the Edge" as a bonus feature) is scheduled for release on July 28, 2009.

[edit] Awards

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. (He had also starred in 'Beauty', part of the Trapped trilogy on ITV.)

Doc Martin, in the form of 'Doc Martin's path to love' has been nominated as one of ITV's Clips of the Year for 2007 at itv.comThe winner is determined by public vote.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Doc Martin at itv.com
• Doc Martin at the Internet Movie Database
• Doc Martin at British TV Comedy

v • d • e Doc Martin Series Series 1 · Series 2 · Series 3 · Series 4 Specials On The Edge (2006) Cast Martin Clunes · Caroline Catz · Stephanie Cole · Ian McNeice · Joe Absolom · Selina Cadell · Katherine Parkinson · Felicity Montagu · Lucy Punch · Angeline Ball Main Crew Dominic Minghella · Philippa Braithwaite · Ben Bolt