Martin Clunes reprises his role as Dr. Martin Ellingham, the GP with a brusque bedside
manner and a phobia of blood, in eight new episodes of the ratings winning drama
produced by Buffalo Pictures, and set in the idyllic, sleepy hamlet of Portwenn in Cornwall.
Picturesque Port Isaac on the North Cornwall coast is the setting for this popular series.
Caroline Catz plays Doc Martin’s wife Louisa. The couple married in the last series, but
their marital harmony was short lived. After a life-threatening incident, Louisa decided to
take their son James Henry to stay with her mother in Spain while they try to work out their
problems.
The Doc is heartbroken by their departure, and realises he has got to make changes if he
wants to win them back, and be a family again.
Martin Clunes says: “It was great to be back on the beautiful North Cornish coast to shoot
series seven of Doc Martin. The Doc has some serious work to do if he is going to
persuade Louisa to come back.”
Audience figures since the series was introduced in 2004 have averaged in excess of 9
million viewers.
Returning to the series, Dame Eileen Atkins plays Doc Martin’s formidable Aunt Ruth. She
doesn’t suffer fools, just like her nephew. In the new series Aunt Ruth faces a medical
emergency, which she tries to ignore, but the Doc won’t let her.
Ian McNeice returns as local restaurateur Bert Large, with Joe Absolom as his tolerant son
Al. With the restaurant struggling to stay afloat Bert dreams up another moneymaking
scheme.
Meanwhile Al is setting up in business with Ruth. He’s renovated her farmhouse, and is
opening a bed and breakfast to attract tourists for fishing holidays. The first guests are,
however, far from impressed.
John Marquez will also reprise his role as eccentric local police officer PC Joe Penhale,
who often creates more problems than he solves as he attempts to instill law and order
into the community. In the new series he is getting to grips with a newly issued Taser gun,
with disastrous consequences.
Jessica Ransom is back as receptionist, Morwenna Newcross, who is looking for a pay
rise for trying to keep the doctor in line. Selina Cadell returns as Mrs Tishell, the
pharmacist.
Joining the series is Robyn Addison, who plays Janice the new nanny employed to look
after James Henry, and Emily Bevan, as Dr Rachel Timoney, the psychotherapist who
tries to help the Doc to save his marriage.
The series has a host of guest stars including Caroline Quentin, Gemma Jones, Finty
Williams, Daniel Ryan, and Rosie Cavaliero. Sigourney Weaver has a cameo role in one
episode.
More than 800 local people turned up for auditions in Port Isaac for extras roles in the new
series. As the doors of the church hall opened for the auditions there was a queue of 150
babies in prams and pushchairs hoping to be selected for the role of 11-month-old James
Henry. Archer Langridge, Harry Rossi Collins, Maverick Bentley and Olly Gard took turns
to toddle into the role.
Following its launch in 2004 Doc Martin was an instant success, winning a place in the
hearts of the audience despite the Doc’s lack of social skills.
Philippa Braithwaite produced the series, Mark Crowdy is executive producer and the
directors are Nigel Cole, Charles Palmer and Ben Gregor. The writers are Jack Lothian,
Richard Stoneman and Julian Unthank.
Doc Martin was recommissioned for ITV by Steve November and Victoria Fea.
Steve says: “We are delighted Doc Martin is back on ITV. Martin has created a unique and
very watchable character who for all his faults is hugely appreciated by the audience.”
Doc Martin is screened worldwide including in America, Africa, Australia, Canada, Chile,
Colombia, France, Italy, Russia, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, Sweden, Uruguay and
Venezuela.
