Doc Martin star Martin Clunes has finished shooting a major new film by the people behind Fisherman's Friends, considered one of Britain's biggest independent films in recent times.

Clunes, who played blood-phobic doctor Martin Ellingham for 18 years in the ITV drama, is one of the leading actors in the new comedy-drama film Mother's Pride.

The makers tease: "Set against the backdrop of a West Country pub, Mother’s Pride tells the story of a failing pub, a divided community and a grieving family whose lives are changed by brewing real ale and entering the Great British beer awards."

Martin plays a main character called Mick Harley. The film aims to highlight the important role pubs play in communities and the alarming rate at which they're closing across the country.

Clunes is joined in the film by a string of top British acting names including Jonno Davies (Better Man, Kingsman: The Secret Service) as Cal Harley and James Buckley (White Gold, The Inbetweeners) as Jake Harley, alongside Gabriella Wilde (Poldark, Endless Love, Carrie) as Abi, Mark Addy (Game Of Thrones, The Full Monty) as Paxman, Lana Moorcroft (Fisherman's Friends: One and All) as Romy, Luke Treadaway (Lockwood & Co, Fortitude, A Street Cat Named Bob) as Edward Pritchard and Miles Jupp as Jeremy (The Full Monty).

Filming took place in Somerset and Wiltshire. There's no release date yet for Mother's Pride. The news comes after it was recently revealed that Martin would be teaming up with his Men Behaving Badly co-star Neil Morrissey for a new UK TV Gold series. 

The pair are heading on a road trip across France in Neil & Martin's Bon Voyage. Clunes said: "I'm really looking forward to all the sights, sounds, tastes, people and experiences Neil's lined up for me in France. Most of all, I'm looking forward to spending a great deal of time with my old mate Neil, who I've grown to miss more than ever since he's absconded to a country which he claims has the best scenery, food and wine on earth — is he right?”

Neil & Martin's Bon Voyage will be shown on Gold in 2025. You can watch Doc Martin now via ITVX.

Three years ago, the Doc Martin star's latest island-hopping TV travelogue, Martin Clunes: Islands of the Pacific, was cut short by the outbreak of COVID. 

Now the 62-year-old actor and broadcaster is concluding his epic adventure in the planet’s largest ocean with a follow-up three-part series, in which he explores more of the history, landscape, wildlife and culture of this breathtakingly beautiful part of the world. 

His journey starts in Papua New Guinea, the destination he was about to fly to in February 2020 before his plans unexpectedly changed. 

Here's all about his new series including a chat with the man himself...

Martin Clunes: Islands of the Pacific release date

Martin Clunes: Islands of the Pacific will air on ITV1 on Monday 15 April at 9 pm and will also be available on ITVX. In the US, the series is likely to head to BritBox.

Chat with Martin about his new series

What was it like returning to a series and a journey that was interrupted by COVID? 

"This second part of my odyssey around the islands of the Pacific feels very different. I feel like I've gone deeper, and been more embedded in the islands."

Your first destination is the Trobriand Islands off New Guinea, where you stay in a tribal village. What was that like? 

"They were so welcoming! There were no hotels on the island, so the villagers built houses for us all!" 

Life there seems untouched by modernity. What did they make of your visit? 

"They have a word for white people, ‘dim-dim’. And there were kids who'd never seen a white person, so we were a real novelty. I was famous for being white, rather than for being Doc Martin!"

Why did you choose that destination? 

"I am a big fan of the Radio 4 programme, From Our Own Correspondent, and I’d heard someone talking about the fact that they settle tribal rows with cricket in the Trobriands. So I said: 'We have got to go there, and I got to play in a cricket match'’ I did manage to whack a few balls, but I was caught!"

You received some sad news while you were there, didn’t you? 

"Yes, I got a text message from my daughter, Emily, to say the Queen had died. The following morning I told the chief of our village and, slowly throughout the day, chiefs and elders from other villages came to pay their respects and offer their condolences. That was really moving." 

From there you go to the Philippines capital Manila, the world’s most densely populated city! How was that? 

"Manila was crazy, and I cycled through it on a bamboo bike during rush hour! We also filmed the Chocolate Hills, a world heritage site in Bohol. They are a range of beautiful conical hills, and when the grass dies they go brown, and look like they are made of chocolate! "

You also tried your hand at planting rice. How did you get on? 

"I joined a family planting rice in paddy fields in Bang-an in the Philippines in the most beautiful spot, with ancient terracing. I didn't quite have the aplomb at planting that they had. I think that’s why they were giggling!"

What were the wildlife highlights of your trip? 

"We went kayaking at twilight on the Abatan river, surrounded by fireflies, which was amazing. I also dived the most beautiful reef in Palau, a real diver’s Mecca. And for episode three, in Micronesia, we were lucky enough to film the elusive dugong [a manatee-like marine mammal]. In the bar the night before, everyone laughed and said: ‘You won't see any!’ But we did!"

How do you see your role as presenter of these travel shows? 

"I don't have any expertise, so I can't do what David Attenborough does and talk to the camera and tell you something. All I have to offer is ignorance! "

When was your first trip to an island? 

"When we were tiny, my dad, who died when I was eight, bought a pig shed and a little bit of land in Majorca. We would go out there during summer holidays and swim in the Mediterranean, eat food and have our blond hair ruffled, because we were a novelty to the locals!"

What is the special appeal of islands? 

"I've always said there’s an allure to an island. If you took two lakes, and one had an island in the middle of it, that would be the most interesting one, wouldn't it?"

What do you miss when you’re away filming? 

"I miss my horses and my dogs. Actually, I should have said my family! But that goes without saying. My daughter Emily is at university now, but she used to come on trips with me when she was little. And of course I miss my wife, [TV and film producer] Philippa." 

Do you prefer appearing on camera as yourself or in a role? 

"The two complement each other. But doing this I don't have to wear a costume and makeup or learn any lines!"

What are your travel essentials? 

"A kettle. I'm a tea junkie." 

You’re going to be in an upcoming drama series called Out There. What can you tell us about it? 

"I play a farmer whose wife died a couple of years ago, and is living with his teenage son, who has his own problems. It’s quite scary!"

What’s your next travel show going to be about? 

"I'm doing the islands of the Atlantic! The first trip will be to some islands off the west coast of Africa." 

What was your takeaway from these latest trips? 

"Despite what seems like the world's intention to turn us into one gigantic homogenous community, I am happy to report that the customs, traditions, and way of life on these islands are very much alive and well. But in the face of rising sea levels and climate change, it's now up to all of us to ensure that these tiny island communities are allowed to survive."

What happens in each episode of Martin Clunes: Islands of the Pacific?

Episode one: Papua New Guinea

With 600 islands to choose from in this island nation near Australia, Martin sets off from the capital Port Moresby to visit the Trobriand Islands, which were largely unknown until the early 20th century. From there he heads to New Britain, whose spectacular volcanoes have literally shaped the island, and Gilibwa, where subsistence fishermen face rising sea levels. 

Episode two: The Philippines

In one of the world's largest archipelagos, with more than 7,000 islands, Martin explores the densely populated capital, Manila, by bicycle and Jeepster [a converted US military jeep]. In the spectacular mountains of Luzon Island, he helps plant rice in the paddy fields, before tracking down the Philippine Tarsier, one of 52,000 species of plants and animals in this biodiversity hotspot.  

Episode three: Guam

One of the 2,000 islands of Micronesia in the Western Pacific, Guam is home to a huge military base and the endangered Ko’Ko bird, whose eggs are predated by invasive species the brown tree snake. From there Martin travels to Palau, the ‘jewel of Micronesia’, where he dives a spectacular reef, and manages to track down the elusive dugong. 

Is there a trailer?

No, not yet.

Martin Clunes has revealed that his first major drama role since the end of Doc Martin is a million miles away from the comfy drama.

The 61-year-old actor will star in ITV's new thriller Out There, which will revolve around county lines drug dealing. Clunes will play a farmer who is confronted by "dark forces" as a crime wave threatens to engulf his son (Louis Ashbourne Serkis). Can farmer Nathan fight back against the gangs?

ITV teases: "The drama will depict the stealthy, surreptitious invasion of the land our farmer cherishes, with devastating consequences, as his livelihood, homestead and family life are threatened by local county lines drugs dealers, essentially urban gangs using the British countryside as a field of operations, moving drugs and money between their inner-city hubs and provincial areas."

Clunes said: "I'm very happy to be working with Marc Evans and Ed Whitmore again after the success of Manhunt. Out There couldn't be more different from Doc Martin. It’s pretty dark, but definitely a story worth telling.”

Clunes starred in two seasons of Manhunt as real-life cop DCI Colin Sutton, with the first series seeing him track down serial killer Levi Bellfield.

It’s all a long way from his part as Portwenn's grumpy Dr Martin Ellingham in Doc Martin. The show, one of ITV's most popular series ever, ran for 10 seasons, finally ending with a Christmas special last year.

Speaking about the end of the series, he said at the time: "I have loved going to Cornwall to make Doc Martin over the last 18 years, and I have looked forward to returning to this beautiful county this year for the tenth and final series. The people of Cornwall, and Port Isaac in particular, have always been so helpful to us when we are making the series.  

"We have some great storylines for the new series, and for the Christmas special, which I hope Doc Martin fans will love. I shall miss Cornwall, and all the lovely people we have worked with. But it is the right time to say farewell to the Doc, and Portwenn."

Out There is produced by Martin's wife Philippa Braithwaite (Doc Martin, Manhunt, Arthur & George).

ITV is yet to reveal when Out There will air (see our best ITV dramas guide for more shows to enjoy).

The Masked Singer fans think they've rumbled the identity of Otter via clues they believe relate to Doc Martin.

So far, Ghost, Piece of Cake and Cat and Mouse have been unmasked on The Masked Singer UK season 4, but now it seems viewers have worked out which celebrity is behind Otter's mask thanks to the apparent Doc Martin clue.

Fans are convinced that award-winning actress and This Country star Daisy May Cooper is Otter after the masked celebrity shared a clue that could be hinting at her early role in the popular medical drama.

"You might remember me from something a little bit medical sounding," Otter said.

Daisy May appeared in Doc Martin in 2011 as one of her first acting roles, where she played a young mum in season 5 who came to see Dr. Martin Ellingham (Martin Clunes) with her baby, Boris. 

In her Doc Martin scene, Dr. Martin injects her baby Boris before being interrupted by the receptionist and leaving the appointment to attend an emergency outside.

"Make an appointment with the receptionist. That's her," Dr. Martin abruptly says to Daisy May's character.

This scene can also relate to Otter's clue of: "Children, some say, should be seen and not heard, but of this otter, I'd say the opposite is the word."

As part of their clue package, a broomstick was also shown which could point to her role in the BBC sitcom The Witchfinder, in which she starred as accused witch Thomasine Gooch.

Fans instantly guessed Daisy May Cooper from the clues and took to Twitter to share their theories...

However, the judging panel have gone for some very different guesses as to who Otter could be, with Mo Gilligan guessing Catherine Tate, Davina McCall suggesting Fiona Shaw from Killing Eve, Rita Ora went for actress Zoe Wanamaker and Jonathan Ross thinks it could be Mel Giedroyc.

The Masked Singer UK season 4 airs on ITV on Saturday evenings at 7 pm. 

The Doc Martin finale certainly packed a lot in, including a health scare for the titular doctor, but fans everywhere have been talking about another star: Chicken the Dog.

During the dramatic final episode of Doc Martin season 10, fans were stressed after the aforementioned dog went missing. He's been a newcomer to the show, with James (Elliott Blake) taking a liking to him in particular, to the point where he became the family dog.

Chicken is played by rescue dog, Taffy, and fans everywhere have certainly taken a liking to the four-legged newcomer so they were very concerned about his wellbeing when he suddenly went missing.

After a frantic search which saw Martin (Martin Clunes) putting up posters and trying to find the locals, Chicken was found after a new tenant called to reveal he'd seen the dog running across his fields.

Chicken was eventually brought home to the Ellingham's, much to the relief of the characters and viewers at home, and many people on Twitter were talking about how much they loved the newest addition to the family.

In fact, Doc Martin fans love Chicken so much that one is calling on the dog to be honoured with a Best Actor award, so that's high praise indeed!

Of course, fans did care about the beloved yet grumpy Doc Martin himself, who had been debating whether or not he wanted to say goodbye to Portwenn and move his family elsewhere. 

The doctor had a bit of a wake-up call after getting into an accident while on the hunt for Chicken, which saw him getting ambushed by a stampede of cows, before he fell and cut his arm open, requiring him to go to the hospital.

He'd torn a major artery on barbed wire during the scary stampede, but thankfully was expected to make a full recovery and this gave him an opportunity to reevaluate things, realising that he didn't want to leave Portwenn and they were happy here.

The finale ended on an emotional note, and saw Martin picking up the For Sale sign outside the surgery, and throwing it into the sea, signalling that they weren't going anywhere.

Doc Martin is available on demand via ITV Hub — so you don't have to say goodbye yet, if you don't want to! Plus there's still a festive episode to look forward to.

Sadly, Doc Martin season 10 is the final ever series of the Martin Clunes hit drama. So, it will be bittersweet for fans when the show returns on ITV in autumn 2022, then ends with a Christmas special. 

The drama set in the Cornish village of Portwenn has been a regular part of the ITV schedules since 2004 and is popular around the world, from Spain and Italy, to Scandinavia and Australia. 

Martin Clunes who's played grumpy Dr Martin Ellingham for nearly two decades says: “I have loved going to Cornwall to make Doc Martin over the last 18 years, and I have looked forward to returning to this beautiful county this year for the tenth and final series. The people of Cornwall, and Port Isaac in particular, have always been so helpful to us when we are making the series.  

"We have some great story lines for the new series, and for the Christmas special, which I hope Doc Martin fans will love.  I shall miss Cornwall, and all the lovely people we have worked with. But it is the right time to say farewell to the Doc, and Portwenn.

Caroline Catz who is back playing Martin's wife Louisa Ellingham, says: ‘The final readthrough was emotional,’ says C. ‘I’m finding it hard to say goodbye. I shall miss Cornwall, and all the lovely people we worked with,’ adds Martin. ‘But it’s the right time to say farewell to the Doc and Portwenn."

So here's everything you need to know about Doc Martin series 10...

Doc Martin season 10 release date

Doc Martin premieres on ITV on Wednesday September 7 at 9pm, as a big part of the autumn TV schedules 2022, with the Christmas special hitting ITV in December. This is an eight-episode series.

Doc Martin season 10 will launch in the US on Monday October 17 on Acorn TV.

There's also a celebratory documentary about the history of Doc Martin to accompany the final series but a date for this is yet to be confirmed. The "last hurrah" Christmas special will then arrive in December 2022 and will be a Christmas TV highlight. 

Is there a trailer for Doc Martin season 10?

ITV has yet to release a trailer for Doc Martin series 10, but we expect it to arrive imminently and we'll post right here..

Doc Martin season 10 plot

At the end of the last series of Doc Martin in 2019, the Doc decided, after having his medical career scrutinised by the General Medical Council because of his blood phobia, that he would resign from being Portwenn’s GP. So this final series of Doc Martin sees the Doc making efforts to overcome his phobia, and beginning to question whether he made the right decision about resigning. He and wife Louisa have also welcomed a baby daughter, Mary Elizabeth, a sister for four-year-old James Henry, so we're guessing their household will be pretty raucous in this series.

With Louisa pursuing her new career as a child counsellor in his old surgery, the Doc is left literally holding the baby, and indulging his hobby of repairing clocks on the kitchen table. But does he really want his old job back? 

"The Doc resigned in the last series, and when we start the new season, he’s left holding the baby – literally! – as he and Louisa have had a second child, daughter Mary Elizabeth" explains Martin Clunes. "He begins to question whether he’s made the right decision about resigning!"

There have also been some new filming shots which show Martin beside a car on the edge of a cliff! It's unclear exactly what happens in the scene but there's also a shot of a woman at the bottom of the cliff.

Doc Martin season 10 cast

In Doc Martin season 10, Martin Clunes is back starring as Dr Martin Ellingham, the grumpy local GP in the fictional Cornish seaside village of Portwenn who has a very brusque bedside manner and a phobia of blood. In recent years Martin Clunes has starred in a number of hit dramas including playing DCI Colin Sutton in Manhunt and Manhunt season 2 on ITV. He's also presented a number of travel shows on ITV including Martin Clunes Islands of the Pacific

Caroline Catz also returns to plays Doc Martin’s wife, Louisa Ellingham, who resigned from her job as headmistress at the local school to pursue a new career in child counselling. Other returning regular cast include Dame Eileen Atkins who 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 again playing PC Joe Penhale, Jessica Ransom is the doctor’s receptionist Morwenna Newcross and Selina Cadell is the local pharmacist Mrs Tishell.

Doc Martin series 10 guest stars

There are some amazing guest stars to look out for in Doc Martin season 10. Among them are Cold Feet's Fay Ripley as a poorly mum Abigail. David Hayman stars as George Upton who is considering selling his home, Ben Miller (Professor T, Death In Paradise) plays an eccentric park ranger Stewart James, while Lesley Nichol (aka Mrs Patmore in Downton Abbey) plays keen sea swimmer plays Irene Moore. Later episodes will be joined by Kenneth Cranham who reprises his role as Louisa's dad Terry Glasson and Hermione Norris (Spooks) is a medical conference attendee. Vincent Franklin and Beth Goddard play Chris and Helen Parsons who get into difficulty sea swimming, and Rupert Graves stars as Arthur Collins who has moved to Cornwall from London.

Doc Martin season 10 episode guide

Here's our guide to what happens in each episode of Doc Martin series 10, which we'll be updating every week, so do check back...

Episode 1: Wednesday September 7
The Doc is no longer Portwenn’s GP and spends his time with his four-year-old son James Henry and new baby daughter Elizabeth Mary. He also whiles away the hours 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." Elsewhere, the Doc’s former receptionist Morwenna (Jessica Ransom) is happily 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! Doc devotee and local pharmacist Mrs Tishall (Selina Cadell), has launched a petition to get him reinstated while the Doc’s formidable aunt Ruth (Eileen Atkins) is working with him on overcoming 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

Episode 2: Wednesday September 14
The Doc is back where he belongs, behind his desk and barking orders, but life hasn’t yet returned to normal in Portwenn! With husband and wife Martin and Louisa Ellingham sharing the GP surgery, chaos reigns as new receptionist Max Foreman isn’t up to the task of managing two sets of patients. Elsewhere, it’s starting to dawn on the Doc’s former receptionist Morwenna that her new career as an estate agent isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.  "It’s not a job she enjoys because the boss, Samantha, gives her a hard time - despite Morwenna being very good at it," explains Jessica Ransom, who’s played Morwenna since 2011. 
But when Max disappears unexpectedly and the Doc finds himself in need of Morwenna’s help, she steps back into her old job temporarily to help out. Will the curmudgeonly GP realise Morwenna’s indispensable and ask her back on a permanent basis?
"Morwenna eventually comes back to her rightful place working for the Doc," reveals Jessica. "But she makes him work for it - she’s not just going to bow down to him!’"

Episode 3: Wednesday September 21
Ben Miller makes a special one-off return to Doc Martin, as eccentric park ranger Stewart James, popping up to try to persuade PC Joe Penhale (John Marquez) and Al Large (Joe Absolom) to test run his new survival course. "I love playing Stewart. We’ve seen him at various stages, including when he was living on Bodmin Moor and hallucinating a giant squirrel!" laughs Ben, 56, who first played him in 2004 and again in 2005. "Every time Stewart comes back you think he’s OK, but then he’ll lose it. In this episode the wheels come off - the squirrels are back big time!"
At the GP surgery, the Doc is alarmed by test results from Stewart’s annual checkup. Meanwhile, at the isolated woodland camp, Stewart’s acting erratically and has taken a hostage! Can the Doc sort things out?

Episode 4: Wednesday September 28
The Doc has his work cut out for him thanks to herbalist Jane endangering patients, chemist Mrs Tishell interfering with his treatment for widow Irene, played by Downton Abbey star Lesley Nicol, and beautician Janice starting a fishy new business! Will the shock arrival of old flame Sophie (Cold Feet star Hermione Norris) cause him to spin out completely?

Episodes 5: Wednesday October 5
To say Louisa Ellingham is stunned to find her estranged father in her kitchen making a cup of tea is an understatement! The child counsellor hasn’t seen dad Terry Glasson in years and, given his dodgy past, she’s worried about his return to Portwenn! Last time Terry popped up in the village he was planning a robbery. This time, it appearsTerry (The Good Karma Hospital’s Kenneth Cranham) is genuinely ill. But this places Louisa’s GP husband in a predicament as, after examining Terry, the Doc is bound by patient confidentiality. Unable to tell Louisa (Caroline Catz) what’s wrong with her dad, the Doc is forced to keep his father-in-law’s secrets. But it looks like the truth could be exposed as Martin’s forthright Aunt Ruth, an experienced criminal psychiatrist, realises Terry’s been released from jail on compassionate grounds, and pays him a visit. "Ruth’s not met Terry before and is immediately suspicious of him. She’s onto him" reveals Dame Eileen Atkins, 88, who plays Ruth. "She’s sussing Terry out! It’s been fun for me because I’ve known Ken Cranham forever. It’s lovely acting with an old friend!"
Meanwhile, Bert Large’s latest money making scheme is destined to end in disaster, but, as ever, he doesn’t let that stop him! There are explosive consequences when he tries to force squatter, Ross, out of a valuable vintage caravan. Has irresponsible Bert finally gone too far? 

Episode 6: Wednesday October 12
Doctor Martin Ellingham’s relationship with child counsellor Louisa has had its ups and downs over the years, and this week the married couple are tested as never before when his ex Sophie Trent makes a move! The trouble starts when Louisa and Martin attend a prestigious medical conference in London, where the Portwenn GP is a speaker. Consultant Sophie, played again by Cold Feet’s Hermione Norris, is also a guest and immediately starts causing trouble between the Ellinghams… 
"It’s amazing how the Doc and Louisa’s relationship has evolved. They’re always at odds with one another," laughs Caroline Catz, who plays Louisa. "They don’t always connect!"
The couple’s lack of communication comes to the fore at a drinks reception, when Sophie reveals that Louisa is the case study for the Doc’s speech… It’s all news to Louisa, who’s horrified her husband will be discussing her troublesome cervix and showing slides of her insides! Later, after one drink too many, Sophie lets slip that Martin broke her heart when they were medical students and she’s going through a painful divorce. Initially, Louisa’s sympathetic. But later on, she feels very differently when she walks in on Sophie and Martin in a compromising position. Pushed to her limits, Louisa demands answers! 
"There is a gentleness to Louisa but at the same time a strength," teases Caroline. "I can’t believe that we’re closing the book on these characters. We’ve worked hard on keeping it fresh."
Does this mean the Doc has cheating feelings for Sophie? Or is his love for Louisa still strong?

Episode 7: Wednesday October 19
When it comes to causing chaos Bert Large is the poster boy for DIY disasters in Doc Martin. This week, in a nod to the very first episode where he flooded Dr Martin Ellingham’s GP surgery, the hopeless handyman enrages his ex Caitlin (Angela Curran) by damaging the pipework at her pub The Crab and Lobster, causing the cellar to become flooded. Then when he attempts to fix the situation, he ends up making it even worse! "Over the years Bert’s got into so much trouble. He made everybody ill when he sold contaminated bottled water, he flooded the surgery, and all sorts of other things," laughs Ian McNeice, 72, who plays him.
There are more dramas for the Large family this week when Chris and Helen Parsons (Vincent Franklin and Beth Goddard) get into serious difficulty at the rock pools. Bet’s son Al and his wife Morwenna perform a daring rescue, with a little help from the Doc!
But the disasters mount up for Bert. Desperate to get the problem sorted she hires local plumber Bob Jackson, played by comedy actor Stephen Frost, but even he isn’t safe from Bert’s ability to make a bad situation worse. The unfortunate tradesman ends up being injured by Bert and unable to work…
"Bert has a heart of gold, apart from the fact that he mucks everything up," says Ian, who teases that this could be the end of the road for the recently separated couple. "Caitlin and Bert were very close, but it’s all fallen apart this series. She’s thrown him out and he’s living in the caravan park. I’m going to miss playing such an extraordinary character. I’ve had tremendous fun and fantastic times."
Will Caitlin finally wash her hands of Bert once and for all? Or can the couple kiss and make up before next week’s last ever episode?

Episode 8: Wednesday October 26
Doc devotee and local chemist Mrs Tishell (Selina Cadell) is determined to stop Martin and his family leaving and stages a protest, while the family dog, Chicken, does a runner! Farmer Arthur Collins (Rupert Graves) finds Chicken on his land. But disaster strikes while Martin and wife Louisa (Caroline Catz) retrieve their pet. Martin’s involved in a life threatening accident and rushed to hospital. "It’s a life or death emergency," says Martin Clunes. "It’s emotional, but very satisfying. For people who care about the show, it’s dramatic."

More about the Doc Martin Christmas special in 2022

Talking about Doc Martin Christmas special, ITV’s Head of Drama Polly Hill says: "If this really has to be the final series of Doc Martin, we thought we'd also commission a Christmas special! It'll be sad to see the series come to an end after entertaining audiences on ITV for the last 18 years, but we'll make sure the finale is memorable and befitting such a success story.  Our thanks to Martin Clunes, Philippa Braithwaite and the amazing cast and crew for creating such a special series."

Filming Doc Martin in Port Isaac, Cornwall

The huge popularity of Doc Martin has brought thousands more tourists to the pretty hamlet of Port Isaac, and the surrounding areas of the north coast of Cornwall, to see where the series is filmed and all the local hotspots made famous by Doc Martin. This boost to tourism was recognised by Cornwall Tourism which presented a special award for outstanding contribution to tourism to the Doc Martin team. Over the years Buffalo Pictures has made regular contributions to Port Isaac’s village funds. The funding has been used by the villagers to help and support a range of local facilities.

Doc Martin the worldwide hit

The first seven series of Doc Martin have been produced locally in seven territories worldwide — the UK, Germany, France, Greece, Netherlands, Czech Republic/Slovakia and Spain — and the drama has been sold to 138 countries in total. Various fishing villages in each of those countries becoming the equivalent of Portwenn. 

• Best ITV dramas

It’s a bittersweet visit to the fictional village of Portwenn this week, as Doc Martin fans prepare to close the book on the popular drama 18 years after blood-phobic doctor Martin Ellingham rocked up in Cornwall.

In the final episode of Doc Martin season 10, Martin and his family are preparing for a new life in London, and emotions are running high. Distraught Doc-obsessed Mrs Tishell snaps and stages a protest to prevent them from leaving. However, it’s a life-threatening accident, which gives the Doc pause for thought about the move.

What To Watch made a special appointment with Doc Martin star Martin Clunes to find out more…

How do you feel about the final episode of Doc Martin?

Martin Clunes: "Oh boy, it’s massive! For people who care about the show it’s very dramatic. There are echoes back to the very first episode in this very last episode. I think it’s really strong, very emotional, but also very satisfying."

Was it emotional behind the scenes?

"Yes! In the story we’re packing up and leaving Portwenn. Martin’s been offered this amazing job as the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Imperial in London. There’s one scene where his receptionist Morwenna, played by sweet Jessica Ransom, is saying goodbye and says ‘This job has meant a lot to me.’ It was so emotional. It’s choking me up a bit now, actually. 

"Caroline Catz [who plays the Doc’s wife, Louisa] put it a good way. She said it’s like closing the book. And it is like we finally put that back cover on the book and it’s become fully formed."

How badly does Mrs Tishell (Selina Cadell) take the news of the Doc’s departure?

[Laughing] "Quite badly… She physically tries to stop the Doc! 

"I don’t think even Sigourney Weaver could beat Mrs Tishell in a fight — and she’s beaten an alien!  [The Alien star and Selina are close friends in real life, and Sigourney guest starred in Doc Martin in 2015 and 2017]. Sigourney really wanted to come back. We tried, but there just wasn’t a legitimate reason. It just would have been token, novelty casting."

What can you tease about Martin’s brush with death?

"I can't give too much away because it's pretty bad. It's a life-or-death emergency and very dramatic. But when the credits roll everyone’s standing. We don’t machine gun the entire cast!"

Surely you won’t take the Doc out of Portwenn. There would be uproar! 

"Well, Louisa is very supportive. The job at Imperial is an honor. It’s where he trained and had his medical surgery history. And there’s already been a whole section in London with the wonderful Hermione Norris playing the Doc’s ex, Sophie. Now there’s a spin-off… ‘Sophie’s Choices’ about a slightly crap doctor, who’s slightly drunk, quite bitter, and has unsuccessful relationships. That would run and run, especially with Hermione in it!"

Do you have any favourite moments from the final series?

"It’s a naff thing to say, but I have enjoyed it all. It’s all a hoot. Now that I've finished it, I can see [Doc Martin] for what it is. We were just making a silly program and people all over the world liked it. That’s really touching and reassuring. It’s all credit to Philippa [Braithwaite, Martin’s wife and the series producer] because none of the scripts have been an easy write. The main protagonist doesn’t like anybody and nobody likes him — it’s a hard starting point!"

Did you take any souvenirs from set?

"I’ve got the Doc’s brass nameplate on my kitchen windowsill and my amazing wife got me the charity dog from outside Mrs Tishells chemist. He now lives in our hall by the front door!"

Finally, can you tell us anything about the Doc Martin Christmas special and what’s next for you?

"I’m currently filming the second series of ITV’s Islands of the Pacific. I’m just back from Papua New Guinea and off to the Philippines next. After that I’m going to take a break and have a lovely Christmas. 

"Then I start filming a drama next year about the county lines drug business model in rural Wales. It’s a big change from Doc Martin. As for the Christmas special, it’s an addendum to the series and it’s going to be really, really Christmassy!"

The final episode of Doc Martin airs on Wednesday, October 26 at 9pm on ITV. 

Avid Doc Martin fans will remember Martin Ellingham and Louisa Glasson getting off on the wrong foot in the very first episode of ITV’s comedy-drama during a flight to Cornwall.

Fast forward 18 years and the once star-crossed strangers are happily married with two children, a dog, and thriving in the fictional village they call home. However, the pair are being tested to their limits in Doc Martin season 10 — the last-ever series of the ITV drama. 

Last week (episode four) saw the Doc’s ex, Sophie Trent, knock on their door with an unexpected proposal. This week (episode five) trouble comes calling in the form of Louisa’s dodgy career criminal father, Terry Glasson.

Terry — Kenneth Cranham, reprising his one-off guest role from 2006 — turns up out of the blue and appears to be genuinely ill... Placing the Doc (Martin Clunes) in a tricky predicament! On one hand, he’s bound by patient confidentiality. On the other, he wants to be honest with his wife. The result is a tightly clenched fistful of family tension!

Here Caroline tells us why Portwenn’s power couple are at their best when under pressure…

• From the archives: Caroline Catz on Doc Martin and Louisa tying the knot.

Doc Martin is currently showing on Wednesdays on ITV at 9pm. Episodes are available on ITV Hub after transmission for a limited time. 

• Martin Clunes on saying goodbye to Doc Martin
• Ben Miller on reprising his park ranger role for the last ever Doc Martin 
• Hermione Norris on turning up in Doc Martin as an ex with intent

When What To Watch talked to Martin Clunes last month he promised a fabulous selection of guest stars for Doc Martin season 10... and ITV’s Cornish-set comedy has delivered, with appearances from Fay Ripley, David Hayman and Ben Miller so far.

This week the series is really spoiling us with not one, but two famous faces popping up in Portwenn. Downton Abbey’s Lesley Nicol plays recently-widowed Irene Moore, a close friend of local chemist Mrs Tishell. While Cold Feet and Spooks star Hermione Norris makes her debut in the first of two outings as the Doc’s ex-girlfriend, Sophie Trent.

Here Hermione exclusively tells us about causing trouble and strife for the Doc and wife, Louisa, stirring up the past, and giving fans an insight into the grumpy village GP’s former career and life in London…

Hermione Norris Exclusive Interview

• Night shoots and giant squirrels - check out our Ben Miller Doc Martin interview

Doc Martin is currently showing on Wednesdays on ITV at 9pm. Episodes are available on ITV Hub after transmission for a limited time. 

Read our Doc Martin interview with star of the show, Martin Clunes, who reveals secrets from filming the finale.

It's been another terrific year of television and what better way to celebrate all your favourite TV than with the launch of our annual TV Times Awards?! 

The ten shows vying for the Favourite Drama category vary from long-running series to brand-new shows, from gentle family dramas to gritty thrillers but what they all have in common is they represent the best TV dramas around. So without much further ado, here are the nominations for the 2022 TV Times Awards Favourite Drama category. 

Favourite Drama — TV Times Awards 2022

• All Creatures Great and Small  — Channel 5
• Bridgerton — Netflix
• Call the Midwife — BBC1
• Casualty — BBC1
• Death in Paradise — BBC1
• Doc Martin — ITV
• Peaky Blinders — BBC1
• Sherwood — BBC1
• Shetland — BBC1
• Vera — ITV

TV Times Awards 2022 — how to vote 

Voting for the TV Times Awards 2022 has now closed. Thank you to everyone who took part and we will be announcing the winners in TV Times magazine very soon. 

All Creatures Great and Small — Channel 5

The reboot of the classic series based on James Herriot's novels about his life as a vet in the Yorkshire Dales has proved surprisingly popular — especially considering the original 1970s TV adaptation, starring Christopher Timothy and Peter Davison, was such a hit it ran for over a decade. Some of that is to do with the gorgeous scenery but, to make it into our favourite drama category, it also needed strong storylines and a great cast which All Creatures Great and Small brings together in one compelling package. 

Bridgerton — Netflix

Bridgerton season 2 had a tough act to follow. Bridgerton season 1 was Netflix's second most watched show ever (only beaten by Squid Game). And yet this sparkling period drama rose gamely to the challenge creating a wittier, even more expansive view of the Regency world, adapted from Julia Quinn's Bridgerton books. Season 2 focuses on the repressed elder Bridgerton brother Anthony and his reluctant ("enemies-to-lovers") romance with Kate Sharma, the sister of his bride-to-be. And it's just as delicious as the first... 

Call the Midwife — BBC1

The long-running period drama, set in the 1950s and 60s, has been a fan favourite for over 10 years, following the lives of a group of midwives in the east end of London. Last season (11) saw all the much-loved characters back at Nonnatus House to celebrate its centenary including Helen George  (Trixie Franklin), Jenny Agutter (Sister Julienne), Leonie Elliott (Lucille Anderson) and Linda Bassett (Phyllis Crane). But as always there was romance, heartbreak and even a brush with death. Will Call the Midwife be your pick?

Casualty — BBC1

The long-running British hospital drama has reached a whopping 37 series (and over 30 years) and it's still going. If there was an award for longevity, Casualty would be top of the list (it's the longest-running primetime medical drama series in the world), but it's not just surviving, it's thriving. It's continued to evolve and stay relevant and all these years later fans still watch in droves for the heartburn and heartbreak, acting talent and intense action on the wards. Does Casualty get your vote?

Death in Paradise — BBC1

The magical combination of sleuthing and sunshine, courtesy of the long-running crime drama Death in Paradise, proved irresistible to viewers, especially in its usual broadcasting slot in the bleak UK winter. Viewers have been traveling to Saint Marie for over 10 years, reveling in the Caribbean scenery (Catherine's bar is a hit), the quirky characters (particularly the awkward, yet brilliant, detectives that get shipped out to tackle the strangely high crime rate) and the expanding list of guest stars.

Doc Martin — ITV

Martin Clunes' grumpy haemophobic Doc Martin/Ellingham has been a huge audience hit for ITV from his first appearance in Portwenn (actually the seaside village of Port Isaac) to the final series of the Cornish medical Doc Martin, which is currently airing on ITV. Ably supported by a colourful cast, from Caroline Catz's long-suffering Louisa Ellingham, to the comedy father and son pairing Bert and Al Large (Ian McNeice and Joe Joe Absolom), Martin's super-fan Mrs Tishell (Selina Cadell) to Martin's most pragmatic advisor, his aunt Ruth Ellingham (Eileen Atkins). It's a gentle comedic drama that touches the heartstrings.

Peaky Blinders — BBC1

Peaky Blinders is one of the grittiest dramas in the category. Set in Birmingham just after WWI, it's based on the adventures of a real-life gang that operated in the late nineteenth century. The gang leader is Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy), supported by family members Aunt Polly (the late Helen McCrory), Arthur (Paul Anderson), Ada (Sophie Rundle) and John Shelby (Joe Cole). A global sensation it made it to six seasons and still left the fans wanting more. Is Peaky Blinders your favourite drama?

Sherwood — BBC1

Sherwood is the new kid on the block, making the TV Times Awards list after its very first series. It's a police and crime drama that's set in Nottinghamshire against the backdrop of a divided working-class community. Starring Lesley Manville (Mrs Harris Goes to Paris). David Morrissey (The Walking Dead, Britannia) and Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey, Liar) Sherwood is based on the events that surrounded a series of real-life murders. It's compelling, quality television.

Shetland — BBC1

The world-weary Jimmy Perez investigates the murders that pile up in surprising numbers (just like on Saint Marie and in Midsummer!) on the bleak yet beautiful island of Shetland. Over the years he's developed a close working partnership with colleagues Tosh, Sandy and Billy as well as his slightly scratchy relationship with Duncan, his daughter's biological father... Shetland continues to be a beautifully crafted study in muted colours and clever crime storylines. Does it get your pick?

Vera — ITV

The indomitable Vera (Brenda Blethyn) is Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope of the Northumberland & City Police, to give her her full title. Always almost retired, she's a perfectionist and highly driven. Vera is all thriller, no filler. Quality acting, nuance, well-plotted crimes and the ever-changing Northumbrian weather. Now running at 12 (well-deserved) seasons and counting, Vera's never going to get any rest.

More TV Times Awards for 2022

• TV Times Awards 2022 — voting is now open! 
• Vote for your favourite comedy performance in the TV Times Awards 2022
• Vote for your favourite presenter in the TV Times Awards 2022
• Vote for your favourite entertainment show in the TV Times Awards 2022
• Vote for your favourite young performer in the TV Times Awards 2022
• Vote for your favourite daytime show in the TV Times Awards 2022
• Vote for your favourite dramatic performance in the TV Times Awards 2022
• Vote for your favourite reality show in the TV Times Awards 2022
• Vote for your favourite game show in the TV Times Awards 2022
• Vote for your favourite factual show in the TV Times Awards 2022
• Vote for your favourite soap star in the TV Times Awards 2022
• Vote for your favourite soap in the TV Times Awards 2022
• Vote for your favourite comedy in the TV Times Awards 2022

Ben Miller is busier than a squirrel gathering nuts for Winter. Not only is he currently starring in Professor T, the talented comedy actor is also making a special guest appearance in Doc Martin season 10! 

Ben Miller gleefully reprises the role of Stewart James for one last time for the final series. The Portwenn park ranger first appeared in the ITV comedy in 2004, as a recluse who believed he lived with a six-foot-tall squirrel called Anthony. He played the character again in 2005, when the Doc needed Stewart’s wilderness expertise after a stag do in the woods went wrong.

Now Stewart is back and he’s roped locals PC Joe Penhale (John Marquez) and Al Large (Joe Absolom) into trialing his new weekend survival course, but is he once again away with the squirrels? 

What To Watch caught up with Ben to find out more…

Ben Miller exclusive!

• Martin Clunes tells WTW what fans can expect from the final series

Watch Ben Miller's guest appearance in Doc Martin on Wednesday, September 21 2022 on ITV at 9pm.

Actor Joe Absolom is a familiar face to millions. The star of stage and screen is best known for playing plumber-turned-restaurateur Al Large in the iconic ITV’s Cornish-based drama, Doc Martin, which ran from 2004 to 2022, and now he has joined the Emmerdale cast as trouble-making Ray, an old contact of Mackenzie Boyd.

After starting his career as the cheeky-faced kid in a string of TV adverts, Joe’s big break came in 1997 when he was offered the role of Matthew Rose in EastEnders. His character hit the headlines when he was wrongly imprisoned for murder and fans across the country campaigned for Matthew’s release.

After saying so long to Soapland at the start of the millennium, dad-of-three Joe’s proven himself to be a versatile talent. He’s starred in several prime-time series, playing everything from a cold-blooded killer to a volleyball coach. And he's even tried his hand at theatre, starring in the touring production of 2:22 A Ghost Story.

Here are a few facts you may not know about the actor…

His first job was a peanut butter commercial

Joe Absolom was born on 16th December 1978 and raised in Lewisham, London. His mum Kate and dad Tom were both teachers, and he has an older brother Dan and younger sister called Cassie. A former pupil of Forest Hill school, Joe got into the acting game at the tender age of nine when he landed the lead in a TV advert for Sun-Pat Peanut Butter. 

In an interview with Metro, Joe reveals it was his parents who put him forward for the gig, saying: “It was the late 80s and the interest rate had just gone up to 16 per cent on my mum and dad’s mortgage. I didn’t know this at the time, but they were skint, so they went, ‘Well, let’s get the kids to work!’ My dad sent off a picture of me and my sister and we suddenly had an agent and then I got called in for the advert. At one point I was doing adverts every week.”

EastEnders made him a household name

In 1997, 18-year-old Joe was just about to start studying for his A-levels when he got the call to join the cast of BBC’s EastEnders. After wowing the soap’s producers in his audition, the character of Matthew Rose was created specifically for Joe. Not much excitement happened during Matthew’s first year on Albert Square, but that all changed on Valentine’s Day 1999 when club boss Steve Owen (played by Martin Kemp) framed him for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Saskia Duncan. 

Matthew was subsequently put on trial and sent to prison, sparking nationwide campaigns for the character’s release. Eventually, justice was served and Matthew returned to Walford one last time to exact his revenge on Steve. The explosive scenes, which aired in February 2000 were Joe’s last on the show and earned him the Best Actor gong at the British Soap Awards that same year.

He enjoys being a jobbing actor

Pre-soap, Joe had bit parts in The Bill, Casualty and Silent Witness, and since making the decision to leave EastEnders over twenty years ago, his career has continued to flourish. Clearly a fan of gritty roles, Joe has played a criminal in the thriller Girl Number Nine, starred as Ivan in horror flick I Spit on Your Grave 2, and received a BAFTA nomination for his portrayal of real-life murderer Christopher Halliwell in A Confession. 

In 2015, Joe spent two weeks in the Caribbean shooting a guest role as a volleyball coach for Death in Paradise, and more recently, he starred in the second series of ITV’s crime drama, The Bay. They say variety is the spice of life, and Joe admits he gets a buzz from being a jobbing actor, finding it interesting and good fun.

He moved his family to Cornwall

Nowadays, Joe is best known for his role as Al Large in the long-running ITV drama Doc Martin, which wrapped for good in 2022. Set in the fictional Cornish town of Portwenn, filming largely takes place in the beautiful Port Isaac. Joe, who’s been a series regular since 2004, fell in love with Cornwall so much that he and his family decided to relocate from London to the county of cream teas and pasties. 

Discussing the move, he said: “Basically, when we film each series of Doc Marti,n we are in Cornwall for four months, which is really nice. After the last series, we really thought about it and then spent six months making it happen.” However, Joe admits there is one slight drawback. “The only problem is that after filming, everyone goes back to the pub in the village, and I live quite a way out. I don’t get to have quite the same fun as before because I have to go home, make dinner and put the kids to bed.”

He got married twice in one month

Joe tied the knot with his long-term partner Liz Brown in 2019, a whole 17 years after their eyes first met across a crowded bar. The couple, who are parents to Lyla, Casper and Daisy celebrated their big day at the beautiful Pencarrow House in Bodmin, and guests included Joe’s Doc Martin co-stars Martin Clunes and Ian McNeice. 

Then, just four weeks after his real-life nuptials, Joe was saying ‘I do’ again when his character Al Large got hitched to doctor’s receptionist Morwenna. In a sweet touch, Joe’s three children were extras for their dad’s on-screen wedding.

He's a Total Wipeout celebrity champion

Who remembers Total Wipeout? You know, the extreme obstacle course where contestants had to make it across those Big Red Balls then tried to defeat Crash Mountain? Well not only did Joe take part in the celebrity version of the BBC show back in 2010, he also won it. The actor’s agile performance earned him a trophy and a rather handsome £10,000 cheque for the charity of his choice. Way to go, Joe!

He's trodden the boards

Joe's most recent acting gigs have taken him to the theatre. 

In autumn 2023, the actor joined the cast of a touring production, 2:22 A Ghost Story. The popular play is a modern ghost story and set at a dinner party involving two sets of friends. 

Joe played Ben, a builder with a keen interest in the supernatural. And starring alongside him was another member of the EastEnders' alumni, Louisa Lytton. 

Discussing the role with Brighton Magazine, Joe said: "I like that it's a modern play and something new and relatable. I was drawn to the genre as being scared at the theatre is such a novel experience."

Joe admits he's experienced the supernatural in his 250-year-old home, revealing:

"The day we moved in, we found this little Victorian child's shoe that was moved and one day I was hoovering and became very aware that I was being watched. So Liz (his wife) burnt sage and we returned the shoe to where we found it. I think that settled the energy down as there was definitely a strange energy in the house."

Spooky stuff!

Joe Absolom’s fact file

Frequently asked questions about the actor...

We work hard to ensure that all information is correct. Facts that change over time, such as age, will be correct, to the best of our knowledge, at the time of the last article update.

Doc Martin fans were thrilled to see their favorite midweek drama back on their screens last night, but the return of the show is bittersweet for viewers as it is the tenth and final installment of the Martin Clunes medical program. 

As Doc Martin season 10 kicked off, viewers loved seeing Doc Martin struggling with the fact he was no longer working as a doctor after a year away from the role, but despite initially being adamant that he wanted to move on to pastures new, he soon changed his mind when a patient needed urgent medical attention. 

But while fans were loving seeing the drama as patient Abigail (played by Fay Ripley) plunged over the edge of a cliff in her car, unaware she was suffering from myasthenia gravis, they were also sad that this is the last season of the show that has been on ITV for the last 18 years. 

Fans took to social media to share their upset about the show finishing...

There is good news for Doc Martin fans, however, becasue the series will be coming to a dramatic close with a Christmas special. 

Next week's episode will see the doc back where he he belongs, behind his desk and barking orders. But life hasn’t yet returned to normal in Portwenn! With husband and wife Martin and Louisa sharing the GP surgery, chaos reigns as new receptionist Max Foreman isn’t up to the task of managing two sets of patients. 

Elsewhere, it’s starting to dawn on the Doc’s former receptionist Morwenna that her new career as an estate agent isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. But when Max disappears unexpectedly and the Doc finds himself in need of Morwenna’s help, she steps back into her old job temporarily to help out. Will the curmudgeonly GP realize Morwenna’s indispensable and ask her back on a permanent basis?

Doc Martin airs on Wednesday evening at 9pm on ITV.

Want to watch Doc Martin season 10 online? Here’s where you can find it.

We’re heading back to Portwenn one last time this autumn, as Doc Martin season 10 is the final outing for the much-loved drama which has been a staple British drama since 2004.

Doc Martin has seen Martin Clunes play the grumpy Doctor, Martin Ellingham for close to two decades now. In the final full season, we’ll be seeing the Doc making efforts to try and overcome his fear of blood, as well as mull over his decision to resign from his post as Portwenn’s GP before he was struck off by the General Medical Council.

He’s still got his hands full, though, as he’s got a new baby to contend with on top of caring for his four-year-old son, James Henry whilst Louisa is working as a child counselor. Here’s how to watch Doc Martin season 10 online from anywhere in the world.

How to watch Doc Martin season 10 in the UK 

The final season of Doc Martin premiered in the UK on Wednesday, September 7 at 9 pm on ITV, making it a big part of ITV's 2022 Autumn TV schedule. 

 You’ll also be able to stream the final season of Doc Martin online via ITV Hub.

How to watch Doc Martin season 10 online from anywhere in the world

There's an easy way to watch the final season of Doc Martin online if you're going to be away from home, and it's called a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

A VPN lets you get around the usual frustrating digital barriers by changing your IP address, meaning you can watch your favorite TV shows even if you're going to be away from home. 

Our favorite is ExpressVPN, which lets you change your IP address on whichever device you want to watch your new favorite show on. ExpressVPN is the No. 1-rated VPN in the world right now according to our colleagues at TechRadar.

How to watch Doc Martin season 10 in the US 

Right now, we’re not 100% sure where or when Doc Martin season 10 will be made available to stream in the US. As soon as we know more, we'll be sure to update this section.

With off-beat storylines, unexpected humour, excellent guest stars and endearing, colourful characters, comedy Doc Martin has been entertaining audiences since 2004.

Yet all good things must come to an end and, eighteen years after making his debut as grumpy doctor Martin Ellingham, it’s time for Martin Clunes to hang up the Doc's stethoscope.

Doc Martin season 10, premiering on ITV on Wednesday, September 7 2022 at 9 pm will, sadly, be its last. 

What To Watch can reveal that in the first visit of eight (excluding the much-anticipated Christmas special this December) to picturesque Portwenn, the Doc is no longer the village GP. Instead, he spends his days with his children, James Henry and Elizabeth Mary, is fixated on fixing clocks and reading medical books, while driving his child counsellor wife Louisa (Caroline Catz) to distraction.

Happily, this week’s guest star Fay Ripley (Cold Feet) inadvertently kickstarts the Doc's return to medicine, and order is restored — as much as it can be! — for an action-packed final series. 

Here, Martin Clunes reveals what fans can expect and why now is the right time to say farewell…

When and where can I watch Doc Martin Season 10?

Episode 1 of Doc Martin premieres on ITV on Wednesday September 7 at 9pm. It will be available on ITV Hub after transmission. 

What’s happening with the Cornish village’s other characters in episode one?

Former receptionist Morwenna (Jessica Ransom) is now an estate agent, her husband Al (Joe Absolom) runs a food truck, and Al’s dad Bert (Ian McNeice) has invited himself to stay — on their anniversary. 

Chemist Mrs Tishall’s (Selina Cadell) devotion for the Doc remains undimmed — she's running a petition to get him reinstated. 

The Doc’s formidable aunt Ruth (Eileen Atkins) is working with him on overcoming his blood phobia.

Highlights to watch out for during the final series...

Guest stars galore

Doc Martin has attracted a wealth of guest stars during its time, including Sigourney Weaver, Caroline Quentin, Roger Lloyd Pack, Anne Reid, and Julie Graham. The final series is no different!

"We really lucked out this year," says Martin. "We’ve got Fay Ripley, Hermione Norris, Rupert Graves, Ken Cranham, David Hayman, Ben Miller and Lesley Nicol. We've done really well!"

• Ben Miller on his last ever visit to Doc Martin for the final season.

Going out with a bang

Over the years Doc Martin has had enough kidnappings, catastrophes and clifftop tumbles, and this year they’re upping the ante…

"There’s a lot of action - things blowing up and things going off cliffs," reveals Joe Absolom, who plays Al Large. "This series I get to jump in the sea and rescue someone - twice. I also run away from a burning caravan that explodes!"

Louisa’s father returns

Doc Martin fans will remember Ken Cranham popping up in 2006 as Louisa’s dodgy father, Terry Glasson. Well, he’s back!

"Ruth hasn’t met Louisa’s father before and she’s immediately suspicious of him. She is sussing him out!" reveals Dame Eileen Atkins, who plays formidable Aunt Ruth. ‘"t’s been fun because Ken Cranham is an old friend, who I've known forever."

Christmas presence

After the eight-part series reaches a dramatic finale, there’s one more visit to Portwenn for a Christmas special in December. Jessica Ransom, who plays Morwenna, reveals it’s a festive treat to look forward to…

"It’s really special. We filmed a night shoot in February, the Christmas lights were up, and it was amazing. I’ve never seen the village look like that before."

Martin Clunes is one of Britain's best-loved actors and most famously played the lead role in Doc Martin.

Sadly, Doc Martin season 10, was the final time we got to follow the adventures of the grumpy GP and locals in the fictional Cornish fishing village of Portwenn. While the doc might be lacking in bedside manner, but friendly Martin couldn’t be more different.

Martin is now starring in Out There. In the ITV thriller, he plays a farmer who is confronted by "dark forces" as a crime wave threatens to engulf his son (Louis Ashbourne Serkis).

"Out There couldn't be more different from Doc Martin. It’s pretty dark, but definitely a story worth telling," he says.

After making his TV debut over 40 years ago, Martin rose to fame for his portrayal of beer-guzzling slob Gary Strang in the sitcom Men Behaving Badly. Possessing a brilliant range, he’s played all kinds of characters — from actor Richard Burbage in the 1998 award-winning movie, Shakespeare in Love to Reginald Perrin in the re-make of The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, and more recently Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton in ITV's Manhunt.

Away from the cameras, Martin and his TV producer wife, Philippa Braithwaite live on a 130-acre farm in Beaminster, Dorset with a menagerie of animals. Sounds pretty fun, huh? Here are a few other facts you might not know about Martin…

Martin Clunes followed in his father's acting footsteps

Martin Clunes was born on 28th November 1961 in Wimbledon, London and has an older sister called Amanda. Acting is clearly in Martin's DNA. His father was the late actor and theatrical manager Alec Clunes and his mum's cousin was Jeremy Brett who played Sherlock Holmes in the long-running series.

Martin’s interest in acting started after he watched Peter O’Toole’s performance in the film Murphy’s War. He told The Guardian: “It was set somewhere with lovely blue seas, and O’Toole’s then real-life wife, Siân Phillips, played his love interest. Blue seas, blue skies, and real love – I thought, 'That’s gotta be the business for me.'" 

Martin’s first job was on the stage at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester, followed by his TV debut in the 1982 adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov’s, The White Guard. As a jobbing actor, Martin supplemented his income by working as a photo model for collaborative art duo, Gilbert and George.

Harry Enfield gave him his lucky break

Comedian Harry Enfield spotted Martin’s star potential after watching him on stage at the Hampstead Theatre. The pair become friends and when Enfield was cast as the lead Dermot in the sitcom Men Behaving Badly he recommended Martin for the role of fellow lager lout, Gary. 

Although Harry quit the show after just one series, Martin stayed put and was joined by new sidekick Neil Morrissey, who played hopeless Tony. Their character’s ridiculous laddish antics were a huge hit with viewers, and Martin scooped the 1996 BAFTA Television Award for Best Comedy Performance. 

However, both Martin and Neil have ruled out a return of the show, saying their character's sexist behaviour wouldn't be suitable for modern audience. 

Martin was 'nervous' working with a new dog on Out There

In his ITV drama Out There, Martin's farmer character Nathan has a devoted dog called Chips. "Yes, but I was nervous because I worked for so longer with Dodger then Taffy [who played Dr Martin Ellingham's canine companions Buster and Chicken] on Doc Martin, and this was a whole new production and a different dog [played by a different dog [played by a Border Collie, also called Chips]. But he was such a good boy," he tells us.

He’s a successful voiceover artist

Martin has an instantly recognisable face, but did you know he’s also been a rather successful voiceover artist? Who remembers the adorable children’s animated series, Kipper the Dog? Well Martin was the voice behind the eponymous pooch. 

For six years, between 1993-1999, Martin provided the voice of Harry for supermarket Safeway’s advertising campaign, When Harry met Molly. He's also narrated numerous documentaries for ITV, including Islands of Britain, Secrets of Growing Up and Britain’s Favourite Dogs.

He’s married to the producer of Doc Martin

Working on Doc Martin was a real family affair for Martin, whose wife Philippa Braithwaite was the producer of the hit medical drama. The couple, who are business partners in their company Buffalo, have worked together on countless productions. They got married in 1997 and welcomed their daughter, Emily in 1999. 

Emily, who made a brief appearance as a schoolgirl in the fourth series of Doc Martin, is now in her 20s and an accomplished event horse rider who has competed in several show jumping competitions. Both Emily and Philippa have inspired Martin’s own love of the animals. 

The family keeps a number of horses on their farm in Dorset. And since 2011, Martin has held the role of president for the British Horse Society.

He's a huge animal lover

Martin isn’t just a fan of foals, it would seem he’s a lover of all creatures great and small. In 2014, he hosted a one-off documentary titled Martin Clunes & A Lion Called Mugie, where he travelled to Kenya over a period of three years, tracking the progress of the magnificent beast. 

Back in Britain, Martin and Philippa share their home with two cats, half a dozen hens, a cockerel, cattle, six horses and three dogs. 

Martin and his canine companions took part in a campaign to launch the 2021 Guide Dogs Appeal. The star posed alongside his Cocker Spaniel called Bob Jackson, Parsons Jack Russell named Jim, Jackahuahua named Penny, as well as Bob Jackson’s mum, Cocker Spaniel Heidi. 

He's got a loyal army of fans

Martin’s curmudgeonly character in Doc Martin might not be the most obvious sex symbol, but during the 18 years he played him, the actor built up an adoring fan base. 

In a chat with Saga Martin confessed his loyal supporters call themselves ‘The Clunatics’. “They’re a global band of fans who are friends with one another, stay in touch and often visit Port Isaac in Cornwall where we film,” he shared. “Sometimes they bring gifts, an Australian lady recently came with a stuffed duck-billed platypus for me.” How exotic! 

Martin Clunes’ fact file

Frequently asked questions about the actor...

Doc Martin turned down the chance to have Hollywood legend Harvey Keitel in the show.

Yes, the Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs star is a big fan of the ITV drama, which returns for its final series on Wednesday.

Indeed, he’s such an enthusiast for the Martin Clunes led series that he asked to have a part.

Alas, Martin, who plays Dr Martin Ellingham, told The Lady Magazine they didn’t have a role for Harvey.

"It was very flattering but we didn’t have a part for him".

Oddly, Harvey wouldn’t have been the first Hollywood star to appear in the gentle series.

In 2015 Alien star Sigourney Weaver popped up for a cameo as an American tourist.

It would have been quite funny to have seen Harvey Keitel, aka Mr White in Reservoir Dogs, also having a cameo. Sadly, that now seems likely to never happen given Doc Martin season 10 will be the last. Although fans will also at least have a Christmas special to enjoy.

Teasing the new series, Martin says: "The Doc resigned in the last series, and when we start the new season, he’s left holding the baby — literally! — as he and Louisa have had a second child, daughter Mary Elizabeth. He begins to question whether he’s made the right decision about resigning!"

As to who’s guest starring Cold Feet’s Ripley joins as poorly mum Abigail. David Hayman stars as George Upton who is considering selling his home, Ben Miller plays an eccentric park ranger, while Lesley Nichol (aka Mrs Patmore in Downton) plays a keen sea swimmer. 

Later episodes will see Kenneth Cranham reprise his role as Louisa's dad Terry Glasson and Hermione Norris (Spooks) is a medical conference attendee. Vincent Franklin and Beth Goddard play Chris and Helen Parsons who get into difficulty sea swimming, and Rupert Graves stars as Arthur Collins who has moved to Cornwall from London.

The release date for the last ever season of Doc Martin has finally been revealed.

Martin Clunes will play the much-loved grumpy medic Dr. Martin Ellingham for the last time in Doc Martin season 10, which will open on Wednesday, 7 September on ITV, as a big part of the autumn TV schedule.

ITV announced the news on their official Twitter account, saying: “Confirmed: Wednesday 7 September on @ITV. Martin Clunes returns to Cornwall to play the nation's favourite grumpy medic for the last time in the final series of Doc Martin. #docmartin.”

In the last series, Doc decided to resign from being Portwenn’s GP due to having his medical career scrutinized by the General Medical Council because of his phobia of blood.

Doc Martin season 10 will then see Doc try to overcome this phobia and question whether he made the right decision to resign.

On top of this, Doc also has his hands full with his new bundle of joy, after he and his wife Louisa (Caroline Catz) welcomed a baby daughter, Mary Elizabeth, who is sister to their four-year-old son James Henry.

Martin, who has played the GP with an abrupt beside manner for nearly two decades said of the final series: “I have loved going to Cornwall to make Doc Martin over the last 18 years, and I have looked forward to returning to this beautiful county this year for the tenth and final series. The people of Cornwall, and Port Isaac in particular, have always been so helpful to us when we are making the series.  

"We have some great story lines for the new series, and for the Christmas special, which I hope Doc Martin fans will love. I shall miss Cornwall, and all the lovely people we have worked with. But it is the right time to say farewell to the Doc, and Portwenn.”

While this might be the last series, there is good news for fans as a Christmas special will air this year on ITV and a documentary celebrating the history of Doc Martin, which is yet to have a release date. 

Fancy owning a little bit of British TV history? You could become the proud new owner of Fern Cottage, which is known to many as the surgery from Doc Martin!

Just before Doc Martin season 10 brings the long-running ITV comedy-drama to an end later this year, the owners of Fern Cottage — which is known to millions as Dr. Martin Ellingham's (Martin Clunes) home and workplace —  have decided to put the property on the market with a guide price of £1.15 million.

The beautiful fisherman's cottage stands on the hillside overlooking the picturesque Cornish village of Port Isaac, which any Doc Martin fan will immediately recognise as the fictional village of Portwenn.

When it is not being used for filming, Fern Cottage is offered as a successful holiday let, and John Bray Estates say the two-bedroom property is being offered with all forward bookings included in the sale. 

The listing describes the property as  "a beautifully presented Grade II listed fisherman's cottage" which offers "cosy interiors" and "uninterrupted sea and harbour views from all principal rooms."

Josephine Ashby, from John Bray Estates, said: "There are so few properties that come onto the market directly facing Port Isaac's historic harbour, especially one with such TV sparkle. 

"It is also beautifully presented, and comes with a strong letting income, along with parking and a good-sized garden."

You can see the stunning cottage and scenery below. More information about Fern Cottage (including how to book a viewing) can be found on the John Bray Estates website.

Doc Martin has been a regular part of the ITV schedule for nearly 20 years. Talking about the series coming to an end, lead actor Martin Clunes said: “I have loved going to Cornwall to make Doc Martin over the last 18 years, and I have looked forward to returning to this beautiful county this year for the tenth and final series. 

"The people of Cornwall, and Port Isaac in particular, have always been so helpful to us when we are making the series", he added.  

Doc Martin returns to ITV for its final season later this year. Previous seasons are available to stream right now on BritBox.

Filming for Doc Martin season 10 has kicked off this week as the ITV drama, which stars Martin Clunes as the nation’s favorite grumpy surgeon, comes to an end. But while this might be the last series, there is good news for fans as a Christmas special and a documentary is announced. 

Martin has returned to Cornwall to reprise his role as Dr. Martin Ellingham, the GP with an abrupt bedside manner and a phobia of blood for 8 new episodes of the hugely successful series, which is set in the idyllic hamlet of Portwenn in Cornwall.

As well as Martin, all of the regular members of the cast will be reprising their roles, and Port Isaac will also remain to be the beautiful backdrop for the series.

Other cast returning for the final series are Dame Eileen Atkins as Doc Martin’s formidable Aunt Ruth, Ian McNeice as Bert Large, Joe Absolom as his son Al, John Marquez as PC Joe Penhale, Jessica Ransom as the doctor’s receptionist Morwenna Newcross and Selina Cadell as pharmacist Mrs Tishell.

Caroline Catz is also returning as Louisa Ellingham, Doc Martin’s wife who left her job as headmistress at the local school to pursue a new career in child counseling. 

Fans will know that Doc Martin decided to resign from being Portwenn’s GP in the last series, due to having his medical career scrutinized by the General Medical Council because of his phobia of blood.

ITV has teased what we have to look forward to in the concluding season: “This final series sees the Doc making efforts to overcome his phobia, and beginning to question whether he made the right decision about resigning. He and Louisa have also welcomed a baby daughter, Mary Elizabeth, a sister for four-year-old James Henry.

“With Louisa pursuing her new career as a child counselor in his old surgery, the Doc is left literally holding the baby, and indulging his hobby of repairing clocks on the kitchen table. But does he really want his old job back?”

Although this may be goodbye to the series, there is great news for fans, because Buffalo Pictures have announced that they will be making a Christmas special to commemorate the show coming to an end.

Speaking of filming the final season, Martin commented: “I have loved going to Cornwall to make Doc Martin over the last 18 years, and I have looked forward to returning to this beautiful county this year for the tenth and final series. The people of Cornwall, and Port Isaac in particular, have always been so helpful to us when we are making the series.  

“We have some great storylines for the new series, and for the Christmas special, which I hope Doc Martin fans will love. I shall miss Cornwall, and all the lovely people we have worked with. But it is the right time to say farewell to the Doc, and Portwenn.”

In addition, Buffalo Pictures will also be producing a documentary for ITV called Doc Martin - A Celebration which will feature the amazing impact Doc Martin has had across the world, as well as locally, over the years. There will also be a sneak peek at behind-the-scenes footage of the final series.

The final series is due to air later this year on ITV. Series 1-9 of Doc Martin is available to stream on BritBox and Amazon Prime.

Manhunt Season 2 will see Martin Clunes again play former London Metropolitan Police detective, DCI Colin Sutton.

It is a follow-up to the critically acclaimed drama Manhunt, which saw DCI Sutton track down serial killer Levi Bellfield.

This time DCI Sutton is on the trail of a rapist who terrorised the elderly women of South London for 17 years. 

Manhunt proved a ratings hit, with a huge average audience of nine million viewers, so it’s no surprise that ITV ordered a sequel.

Martin Clunes says: "When the producers told me there was another case I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it because the first one had been so successful and I was worried that we would be essentially making a B-side! But they soon put me right and from the moment I read it I wanted to do it." 

Talking about Martin playing him, Colin says: "It was strange watching him at first, but I finally got over it by the end of the first series. Martin does it so well and he's got my mannerisms. My family says he's just a taller, thinner version of me. But I think the strangest thing is the fact that aspects of my everyday job are now of so much interest to other people!."

Here's everything we know about Manhunt Season 2, also known as Manhunt The Night Stalker...

Manhunt Season 2 release date

Manhunt The Night Stalker will begin on Monday 20 September on ITV at 9pm. The series is four parts long and will also be available to watch on the ITV Hub.

MORE: ITV confirms Doc Martin will end after 16 years

What’s the plot of Manhunt season 2?

The drama stars Clunes as ex London Metropolitan Police detective DCI Colin Sutton. This time Sutton is on the hunt for a notorious serial rapist, whose 17 years of terror left thousands of elderly people in south east London living in fear. The drama is based on the diaries of Sutton.

Executive producer Philippa Briathwaite said: “We are very pleased that ITV have given us the opportunity to dramatise another important case that Colin Sutton was involved in just before his retirement from the Force.

"This inquiry has a very different emphasis to the Bellfield case; the victims were elderly and the crimes were unsolved for many years.  The drama explores how Colin came late to the inquiry and helped solve it in a matter of weeks, taking an incredibly dangerous serial rapist off the streets.”

ITV’s head of drama Polly Hill added: “I’m delighted that Martin Clunes will play DCI Colin Sutton once again, taking on a case that had gone unsolved for almost two decades. The team behind the first Manhunt — Ed Whitmore, Marc Evans, along with Buffalo and Philippa Braithwaite — will make sure this is another compelling and respectful dramatisation of a truly shocking crime that affected so many families.”

Could there be a third season of Manhunt? 

DCI Colin Sutton has hinted there could be a third season of the true crime show in the works...

Not yet. We will update this story when there is one.

What else do we know?

Manhunt Season 2 is written by Ed Whitmore, who also penned the first series.

• Best ITV dramas

Doc Martin will come to an end after 10 series...

It was announced earlier this week that the next series of Doc Martin will sadly be the last.

The announcement came as a shock to fans, who have been watching the drama for the last 16 years.

Filming for series 10, the next and final series, will start in the spring with the aim for the episodes to be aired later in 2021.

As the grumpy doctor prepares to hang up his stethoscope for the last time, actor Martin Clunes has revealed the real reason the show will be coming to an end.

Martin has his say on Doc Martin...

Speaking on Loose Women, Marin said he was worried the show would start to become repetitive...

"All good things have to come to an end, and I'm sure there are lots of people who aren't fans of the show who think it is terribly repetitive anyway.

"But we're at huge pains not to repeat ourselves.

"I just think we've sort of done everything, I mean it would be so great to just sort of carry on, but I don't think we can keep it as good."

Martin admitted that he would miss filming the show after 16 years...

"We've got such a lovely cast. We all sort of bump into each other's children every two years and watch them growing up and flourishing.

More: How to watch All Creatures Great and Small online anywhere in the world 

"And just being down there in Cornwall is heavenly."

The official announcement 

In a statement announcing the end of the series, Martin previously said: "We have loved making nine series of Doc Martin.

"When we launched the series in 2004 we could never have imagined how much our loyal viewers would take to the grumpy Doc like they have.

"The series has avid fans both in the UK and throughout the world and we are thrilled that Doc Martin has topped the ratings every time.

"However, after sixteen years we now feel that the time has come to say goodbye to Portwenn.

"We will be making the tenth and final series in 2021 and we are very much looking forward to returning to Cornwall to film it."

The 10th and final series of Doc Martin will air on ITV next year.

The next series of Doc Martin will sadly be the last...

ITV has confirmed today that series 10 of Doc Martin, starring Martin Clunes, will be the last.

Series 10 of the ITV drama will start filming in spring next year, with episodes then being shown on screens later in 2021.

But today the news has been announced that this will be the last series made as the grump doctor hangs up his stethoscope.

More: How to watch Love Island USA anywhere in the world 

16 years of the grumpy doctor 

Despite his cantankerous bedside manner, Doc Martin has won legions of fans around the world as he uses his medical expertise to treat patients in sleepy Cornish fishing village of Portwenn.

Speaking of the series coming to an end, actor Martin Clunes has asked fans to see the final series as a celebration of the show...

"We have loved making nine series of Doc Martin.

"When we launched the series in 2004 we could never have imagined how much our loyal viewers would take to the grumpy Doc like they have.

"The series has avid fans both in the UK and throughout the world and we are thrilled that Doc Martin has topped the ratings every time.

"However, after sixteen years we now feel that the time has come to say goodbye to Portwenn.

"We will be making the tenth and final series in 2021 and we are very much looking forward to returning to Cornwall to film it."

Paying tribute to the team

ITV’s Head of Drama Polly Hill has also paid tribute to Martin, producer Philippa and the hard-working production team and crew who produce the comedy drama.

"I just want to thank Martin and Philippa and everyone involved in the show, because it’s a brilliant, beautifully made series that has delighted audiences for many years.

"I am pleased that we are making series 10, and sad this will be the last, but respect their decision to bring it to a close."

The tenth and final season of Doc Martin will air in 2021.

Daisy May Cooper is a BAFTA award-winning actress and writer best known for her role as Kerry Mucklowe in the BBC Three series This Country, which she co-created and co-wrote with her brother, Charlie Cooper. 

She was recently seen in the BBC sitcom The Witchfinder and is also a much-loved armchair critic on Celebrity Gogglebox where she has appeared alongside her dad, Paul.

Now, with Daisy May's brand new BBC comedy Am I Being Unreasonable? set to hit our screens and one of her first acting roles being in a popular ITV drama, here's everything you need to know about Daisy May Cooper...

1. She wrote This Country while she worked as a cleaner with her brother

Daisy May wrote the beloved sitcom This Country while she and her brother Charlie worked as cleaners after she struggled to get acting work when finishing drama school.

Originally, the iconic character of Kerry's mum — who Daisy May voiced but was never seen on the show — started out as short comedy sketches on YouTube for the siblings own amusement. They then began writing the scripted comedy after some encouragement from their Dad after the videos got more popular.

She said to The Guardian: "Charlie and I got a cleaning job. It was £100 a month for three hours a night, in an office block in Cirencester. We got the three-hour shift down to 20 minutes. Vacuuming was a lot of effort. Instead, I cast my eye across the floor and picked up the most offending particles by hand. If we were feeling energetic, we emptied the bins.

"At home, our Kerry videos got slowly better. So much so that Dad suggested we write a proper scripted comedy based around the character. Charlie and I cleaned by night and wrote by day. At first, we put together four pages of script. To be clear, we didn’t actually know what a proper script was or how to present it. It didn’t matter. It was more important that we got our ideas down."

2. Her whole family star in This Country

Daisy May is the co-creator and writer of the BBC Three comedy, alongside her brother Charlie. She played Kerry Mucklowe in the series, with her performance winning her the BAFTA.

In fact, the entire Cooper family star in the series. Brother Charlie plays Kerry's cousin Lee "Kurtan" Mucklowe, their dad Paul plays estranged father Martin Mucklowe, and their uncle Trevor plays Len Clifton.

But despite playing cousins in the series, Daisy May and Charlie are actually brother and sister in real life.

Charlie is the younger of the two, age 33, and Daisy May is three years older.

3. Her first role was in Doc Martin

One of Daisy May's first roles was in the hit ITV drama Doc Martin in 2011, where she played the role of a young mum in season 5 who came to see Dr. Martin Ellingham (Martin Clunes) with her baby, Boris.

4. She got fired from every job she had

Prior to her success from This Country, Daisy May overcame many setbacks in her life, including the fact that she had got fired from every job she had.

She revealed to The Daily Mail: "There was no plan B for me. It was all or nothing. I genuinely think I would be an addict if I hadn’t done this. I’ve been fired from every job I’ve ever had. There’s nothing else I can do."

But it seems to have all worked out with her acting skills which earned her a BAFTA Award.

5. She studied at RADA

Daisy May studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA), one of the most prestigious drama schools in the UK where she received a degree in acting.

Other famous actors who attended RADA include Ralph Fiennes, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hiddleston, Emma Watson and Cynthia Erivo.

Daisy May Cooper's fact file

Answers to the most frequently asked questions about Daisy May Cooper...

Instagram: @daisymaycooper 

We work hard to ensure that all information is correct. Facts that change over time, such as age, will be correct, to the best of our knowledge, at the time of the last article update.

Joe will be seen getting hitched as Al in this week's Doc Martin

Former EastEnders star Joe Absolom has revealed how he got married twice in a month – in real-life to his long-term partner Liz and then filming his Doc Martin character Al Large’s wedding.

Pub landlord Al and doctor’s receptionist Morwenna (played by Jessica Ransom) will be seen tying the knot in Wednesday’s final episode of Doc Martin.

Here ex EastEnders and Doc Martin star Joe Absolom talks about his and Al’s big days…

How is Al feeling about the big day?

Joe Absolom: “He’s over his cold feet, but he has quite a male attitude to some of the wedding plans. I fell into that a bit when it came to my own wedding because there were some things I didn’t have an opinion on, like tablecloths.”

You married your long-term partner, Liz, in June, a month before filming the wedding in Doc Martin. Were the two weddings similar in any way?

JA: “One I got paid for and one I had to pay for! Our three kids were obviously at our wedding, and then they were extras for Al’s wedding four weeks later. So within four weeks they saw their father get married twice and I kept saying, ‘Maybe I’m not the best role model because they’ll have these memories of their dad getting married twice in a month!’”

WHAT IS ON TONIGHT? Check out our NEW and improved TV Guide

What’s the best thing about being in Doc Martin?

JA: “It’s eight miles from my house in Cornwall and it’s really nice to get back with everyone again. Martin Clunes, Ian McNeice [who plays Al’s dad, Bert] and some of the producers came to my real wedding and we had quite a funny moment. In the middle of the ceremony, the registrar said, ‘If there are any producers here today, I would like to put myself forward for a part in Doc Martin as, unlike the actors in the show, I’ve got a real Cornish accent!’”

The final episode of the current series of Doc Martin is on ITV this Wednesday at 9pm.

Martin Clunes' grumpy GP is under investigation as the popular series returns

As we rejoin the Doc Martin for a ninth series, there’s a heavy weight on the miserable medic's shoulders. He’s going to be forced to fight for his job, and the patients he pretends to detest, as the General Medical Council launches an investigation into his blood phobia and professional competency. How will the doc (played by Martin Clunes) wriggle his way out of this one?

Martin Clunes, 57, reveals what’s in store in the new series of Doc Martin...

It seems like a worrying time for Martin with the GMC breathing down his neck?

Martin Clunes: "It’s a very serious threat to him, they want to take his badge away and he’s very annoyed by it of course. As far as Martin is concerned he’s fit to practice and a bit of vomiting here and there shouldn’t necessarily get in the way of that, as long as there’s a bin handy! He’s making attempts to remedy the phobia but it’s definitely not getting any better."

MORE: Worzel Gummidge heading to BBC1 this Christmas - and this star has just been cast as Aunt Sally!

But there is a silver lining – after all that heartache and couples therapy, his marriage is finally in a good place?

MC: "Indeed, well we explored them not getting on quite elaborately and thoroughly so it’s time for them to have a very healthy relationship now. They’ve both got their own agendas this series. While the Doc is up against the GMC, Louisa has left her job as the local headmistress and she is pursuing a career in child counseling. She does start seeing clients inside the surgery, which he really doesn’t like!"

And they’re considering having another baby?

MC: "Yes, that’s major part of the series, but as we know conception isn’t always straightforward. Given the medical persuasion of our show it’s something we are able to explore, I can’t tell you the outcome. But Elliot, the boy who plays James Henry, is terrific. They’ve written James Henry as a grumpy Doc clone this year, but of course like any three year old Elliot brings his own thing to the party. He is much funnier than the script!"

MORE: Vote in the 2019 TV Times Awards!

It’s a busy series for Buddy the dog too!

MC: "Yes Buddy has a litter of puppies with the undertaker’s dog, Shelley! He goes missing this series too, which is upsetting for Louisa but of course Martin is secretly thrilled. I think it’s hysterical playing somebody who doesn’t like dogs. But I never yell at him when we’re filming, we always add the shouting later, I just mouth at him."

You’ve been filming Doc Martin for more than 15 years, the cast must know each other so well by now?

MC: "It is like a family, which is ghastly showbiz cliché, but it is nice because everybody’s away from home. We have our quiz night once a week, which is a joy. It’s in a restaurant in Port Isaac. When Sigourney Weaver was guest starring she came along and we had an Alien question. Everyone said it was rigged! There are never any Doc Martin questions…"

Where’s the strangest place someone has asked you about the show?

MC: "A public toilet maybe? In fact the weirdest one was years ago when I was filming a show about dogs. We were miles outside of Alice Springs in Australia to meet with some indigenous people, talking to them about the significance of the Dingo. There were a lot of intermediaries acting as spokespeople for the local community, everyone was very jumpy with our producers. Then they opened the door and the guys said, ‘Ah it’s Doc Martin!’ We got on very well after that!"

Your fans, the ‘Clunatics’ are a loyal bunch, have they been to visit yet?

MC: "Yes they have brought me quite a lot of knitwear this year actually – gloves for all the family, which is very nice of them! And a German fan came over and bought us a bucket load of different Haribo, which went down very well. People are so nice and so friendly, they even give me their dogs to bless, I love it!"

Doc Martin returns on Wednesday 25th September on ITV at 9pm.

Martin had fun playing the grouchy driving instructor

Martin Clunes has revealed that he’s gutted that the BBC axed his comedy Warren after just one series.

The 57-year-old star, who’s just about the return for a new series of Doc Martin, played grumpy Warren Thompson, a proud Southerner forced to move up North with his partner, Anne, and her two teenage boys.

Warren made its debut earlier this year, but the BBC decided not to order a second run.

Speaking to TV Times, Martin said that he “was gutted that they canned Warren”.

He continued: “From what I could make out, they didn’t like the people who were watching it – too old and too blue collar.”

MORE: Check out the latest EastEnders spoilers

Series creator Jimmy Donny Cosgrove originally broke the news on twitter earlier this year that Warren wouldn’t be returning.

He wrote: “Today I bought the DVD of my very own TV series Warren. Sadly, the BBC never bought the second series of my very own TV series Warren but thems the breaks.

“Thanks to everyone who watched, supported, and encouraged. Hopefully this isn’t the end, but just the beginning.”

Martin is clearly sad to be waving goodbye to Warren and previously made clear how much he enjoyed playing him.

Describing Warren, he said: “Self-satisfied, completely without conscience, short-sighted and awful! But he’s joyous to play.

"He’s completely unsympathetic but he does love his partner Anne [played by The A Word’s Lisa Millett], who is just adorable. He gets himself in such a pickle and she gets him out of it with her common sense, because he gets quite worked up – they’re mutually dependent.

"There are bits of Warren that I admire, actually, a bit like Doc Martin – I wish I had the confidence to be that rude to people!”

At least fans of Martin Clunes have a new series of Doc Martin to look forward to.

Doc Martin returns on Wednesday 25^th September at 9pm on ITV.

The ITV hit will return for a ninth series

Martin Clunes says Doc Martin is the “best job in television” as ITV confirmed that filming is starting on a new series.

The hugely popular actor will once again play the nation’s favourite grumpy medic, Dr Martin Ellingham, in the show’s ninth series.

Caroline Catz is also back as Doc Martin’s wife, Louisa Ellingham, who has quit her job as the headmistress at the local school to pursue a new career in child counselling.

“We love going to Cornwall to make Doc Martin, and we miss it when we are not there,” says Martin. “The county is so beautiful, and the people have been so warm and welcoming to us. It is the best job in television.”

Also returning is Dame Eileen Atkins as Doc Martin’s formidable Aunt Ruth, plus Ian McNeice is back as Bert Large alongside former EastEnders star Joe Absolom as his son Al.

Filming starts this week in Cornwall and the new series will see the Doc’s career under threat. The General Medical Council are investigating him following a number of complaints from patients about his grumpy approach to patients!

The show has been shot in Cornwall since 2004, bringing lots of tourists to picturesque Port Isaac, a fact recognised by Cornwall Tourism which presented a special award  for outstanding contribution to tourism to the Doc Martin team at a grand ceremony held at Truro Cathedral.

Producer Philippa Braithwaite says the Doc Martin team was over the moon to receive the award.

“The people of Cornwall, and Port Isaac in particular, have always been so helpful to us when we are making Doc Martin. We are thrilled that we have been able to give something back, and to be recognised in this way is the icing on the cake.

“We also contribute to a fund for the village and have raised £134,000 so far. The people of Port Isaac decide how the funds should be used.”

ITV has yet to reveal when the eight-part new series will be broadcast.

Paul having fun with Olga in 2014

Paul O’Grady revealed the sad news today that his beloved dog Olga died on Saturday.

The 62-year-old star told the Sunday Mirror: “She was ready to go. At least I will have a good night’s sleep now. I have been up with her for two nights on the sofa. She’s been up in the night vomming and things.

“It’s the hardest thing to do but it’s the only thing to do. I knew it wasn’t Olga any more, she was a state. I shed my tears earlier on in the week. It’s heartbreaking but she had a great life. She loved television studios.”

Olga, a 14-year-old Cairn terrier cross, certainly did love TV studios. Here we celebrate some of her most memorable moments on the box….

2005 – Olga with Charlotte Church as Dorothy in a pantomime version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which also featured Paul as the Wicked Witch of the West

2005 – The beloved pooch with Sid Owen as the scarecrow

2006 Paul offers his chum a cheeky doughnut on the Paul O’Grady Show

2008 – Paul sports an Easter costume alongside his trusty sidekick

2011- The pair are joined by Stacey Solomon, Dame Edna Everage and Alan Carr

2013 – They enjoy a festive episode together

2014 – Olga with Doc Martin star Martin Clunes, who loves dogs.

2015 Paul having fun dressed as a sailor with his pal

All pictures: Ken McKay/REX/Shutterstock except sailor pic Steve Meddle/ITV/REX/Shutterstock

Walk-on part up for grabs in Charity auction

Doc Martin star Martin Clunes has given fans of the ITV show the chance to be in the next series.

The hugely popular actor has put up for a charity auction the opportunity to have a walk-on part in Doc Martin, which is filmed in Port Isaac in Cornwall.

The winning bid will help raise will money for The Dorchester Opportunity Group, which supports children with additional needs.

It had been reported that this would be the final series of Doc Martin, however Martin told Digital Spy that the show’s future was undecided. “We don’t just decide to make it on our own, ITV have to commission it.

“And ITV has commissioned the ninth. We don’t have a commission beyond that. Ask me again in two years.”

ITV is still to announce when the ninth series will be shown.

The auction is being held on May 10 at The Bramble Café in Poundbury, Dorset.

Martin Clunes - pictured as Warren - reveals all about his new sitcom

Martin Clunes will be back with his ITV drama Doc Martin in 2019, but he’s keeping busy this year with new BBC1 sitcom Warren.

“For ages I said I didn’t want to do any more half-hour comedy,” Martin, 56, revealed to TV Times

“If you’ve been in Men Behaving Badly, well that’s pretty good… I felt like I’d done sitcom. But I read the script and it was just really funny. I knew if they offered it to me, I wouldn’t want anyone else to do it.”

Martin, who also starred in a BBC revival of Reggie Perrin, will play a pedantic driving instructor, Warren, who hates everyone around him except his partner, Anne.

Warren and his two step-children are forced to move up North to Preston when Anne’s father becomes unwell. “He’s horrible and you like him because of that!” laughed Martin.

“He’s horrible to everyone but Anne, but he’s always at great pains to point out that he’s not actually married. He’s grumpy but in a very different way to Doc Martin – he’s really not as smart! I liked the script because it’s just like an old-fashioned sitcom, except it’s not done in front of a live audience.”

Martin Clunes will be back on our screens in a new BBC 1 comedy, Warren.

Doc Martin star Martin Clunes will play another grumpy character in a new BBC 1 comedy series, Warren.

His character Warren Thompson is a driving instructor whose world is turned upside down when he is forced to leave his life behind down south and up sticks to Preston, when his partner Anne's dad falls ill.

Warren soon finds plenty to complain about when he gets stuck looking after two teenage sons and gets a new job which he hates. Oh, and he doesn't think much of life up north either. Warren is a man who speaks his mind, so everyone around him had better watch out!

“I had kind of told myself that I didn’t want to do another sitcom," said Martin who found fame in 90s hit sitcom Men Behaving Badly. "But the script is just so funny and I didn't want anyone else to do it."

Shane Allen, Controller Comedy Commissioning at the BBC added: “We have enormous faith in Warren as the pilot episode displayed the perfect alchemy of well-drawn characters, punchy funny lines, a terrific ensemble cast and in Martin Clunes a heavyweight comedy champion who we’re delighted to see step back in to the ring of a BBC 1 sitcom."

Warren, starring Martin Clunes, starts on BBC 1 later this year.

TV Times tops picks for tonight

What’s on telly tonight? Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight three of the best shows on telly tonight for Wednesday 8th November

Detectorists, 10.00pm, BBC4

Series three of the gentle metal-detecting comedy kicks off with a suited-and-booted City boy striding manfully down a corridor. Is this the wrong show? All is soon explained – these London types plan on erecting a huge solar farm in the countryside where Andy (Mackenzie Crook) and Lance (Toby Jones) like to search for ancient treasure. ‘Is there a Nobel prize for metal detecting?’ wonders Lance, before pulling a scaffold clamp from the soil. Welcome back, guys. Rating: ****

Doc Martin, 9.00pm, ITV

Will Martin really be struck off? It seems like a distinct possibility in tonight’s finale, as the Doc awaits his hearing and the village goes into meltdown without him. One of the many disgruntled patients desperate for Martin’s attention is American tourist Beth Traywick (superstar Sigourney Weaver reprising her guest role), who is worried that she is suffering from a hereditary ‘Celtic curse’. Keen to protect the Doc, Mrs Tishell makes it her duty to keep Beth at bay… hilarious when you know that the two actresses are great friends in real life! Meanwhile, Penhale unveils a bust of himself, Louisa worries for Martin and Bert’s new whisky blend proves lethal. Rating: ****

The Rebel, 10.00pm, Gold

Irascible Brighton pensioner Henry, delightfully played by Simon Callow, is back as the senior-citizen sitcom returns for a full series following last year’s initial three episodes. Money is the theme of this opener, as Henry’s daughter Cath (Anna Crilly) faces eviction, while his friend Charles (Bill Paterson) appears to have abandoned his hippy convictions after inheriting some money. Bankers and estate agents are on the receiving end of Henry’s wrath as he sets about raising funds, and there are touching moments as he sits at home chatting to the urn containing his late wife’s ashes. The soundtrack’s pretty good, too. Rating: ****

Come back tomorrow for more previews!

TV Times top picks

What’s on telly tonight? Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight three of the best shows on telly tonight for Wednesday November 1st

The Frankenstein Chronicles, 10.00pm, ITV Encore

Sean Bean’s gothic horror returns, picking up three years after the events of last series, when Inspector John Marlott (Bean) was wrongly hanged for murder and then brought back from the dead in a sinister experiment. We rejoin a ‘reanimated’ Marlott in London’s Bethlem Hospital, where the poor man is struggling to recall who – or what – he is. But with a newfound sense of strength and an ability to see the dead, will he get his revenge on scheming nobleman Daniel Hervey (played by Ed Stoppard)? Lewis star Laurence Fox joins the cast this series as a mysterious German aristocrat, Frederick Dipple, who is hiding a dark secret… Rating: ****

Doc Martin, 9.00pm, ITV

The Doc is usually beloved by his patients despite a bedside manner so frosty it would make a snowman shudder – but that’s not the case tonight, as one of the rowers in the Portwenn Boat Race goes to see him with an urgent medical matter. Being from the rival village, Alice isn’t used to his stubborn ways and the consultation has catastrophic consequences… Meanwhile, Louisa struggles to resign from her job at the school and Penhale continues his run of bad luck with the ladies. Rating: ****

Gino’s Italian Coastal Escape, 8.00pm, ITV

What a tough job Gino has! In this new series, the lucky chef is travelling along the spectacular Italian coast, learning about its history and culture, and most importantly, of course, sampling and cooking some delicious food along the way. He begins his adventure on the Amalfi Coast, visiting its most picturesque town, Positano. Here, Gino prepares a simple Caprese salad made with tomatoes, basil, mozzarella and olive oil. He also drops in on the little town of Minori, which is famous as the birthplace of fresh pasta, and, finally, goes anchovy fishing off the coast of Cetara – another beautiful small town – where he cooks a tuna tartare with anchovy dripping. Rating: ****

Return tomorrow for more previews!

Doctor Who star Samantha Spiro stars as Louisa’s nervy new friend Tina in Doc Martin – but what is she hiding?

There are many things Doc Martin does well – scenery, scenarios, genuine medical conditions and guest stars. In two week’s time Hollywood legend Sigourney Weaver returns for the series finale, but meanwhile talented homegrown guest stars have included Clive Russell, Art Malik and Kevin Doyle. This week queen of stage and screen, Samantha Spiro, joins the cast in a guest role that sees her dangerously driving Doc Martin’s wife Louisa to and from lectures – something that meant spending long hours filming in a ditch!

We caught up with Samantha Spiro - the versatile star of Grandma’s House, Babs and Tracey Ullman’s Show, who revealed more…

You appear in Doc Martin tonight – what can you tell us?

"I play Tina Collins who has become friends with Louisa through their child psychology course at college. Tina has a really frantic lifestyle because she’s doing this course, running her home, has three sons – and is an anxious person anyway!"

Did they have you doing anything outlandish for the role?

"I’ll put this this way; I was filming lying in a ditch quite a bit! It sounds absolutely awful but we had beautiful weather and laughed a lot. As the story unfolds we discover Tina’s taking online-bought drugs to assist her studies. It gets her into all sorts of trouble and Doc Martin has to step in and help her out, after lots of fun and games."

Did you spot Sigourney Weaver when you were on set?

"No, she wasn’t around but I think Cornwall was still recovering from the fact Sigourney Weaver had been down there. It’s quite a coo, isn’t it? It just shows the power of Doc Martin!"

Samantha Spiro joins the Doc in tonight's episode

In addition to Doc Martin you’ve appeared in other cult classics Game of Thrones and Doctor Who. Is that by accident or design?

"It’s just lucky really. The two Doctors came up at pretty much the same time. They’re quite different parts and I was really excited to do them because they’re both cult shows. It’s lovely to pop in, do one episode and work with people you always admired. It always turns out to be really good fun."

Babs was a big success this year too, but not the first time you’ve played Barbara Windsor...

"Yes, I played her on stage in Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick (1998), which was a really great job for me to get. I think it opened a few doors for me at the time. Terry Johnson turned it into a film for ITV too. Then after a 19-year break it came back up again, so I do seem to have spent a lot of my career playing Babs… I can certainly think of worse things to do! It was lovely to play her as a mature woman in Babs and capture her in a very thoughtful time of her life."

Is it surreal when you meet with her?

"It is quite a strange one but she’s so open and generous about it. I can imagine playing some people and feeling really awkward but she’s never been anything other than unbelievably supportive of me playing her. She always say to me (Sam adopts Barbara’s voice) ‘You’re more like me than me darlin’!’"

What’s next for you?

"I’m filming David Walliam’s book Grandpa’s Great Escape, which goes out on Boxing Day I believe. It’s got a really lovely cast. David plays the father, I play the mum and Tom Courtenay plays Grandpa - it’s a real thrill working with the legend that is Tom Courtenay. Jennifer Saunders is in it too and, funnily enough having never worked with her before, I’m doing a Lady Windermere’s Fan with her in the West End. Cathy Burke’s directing, so it should be a good giggle."

Samantha appears in Doc Martin tonight at 9.00pm.

The TV Times top picks for tonight

What’s on telly tonight? Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight three of the best shows on telly tonight for Wednesday 25th October

Doc Martin, 9.00pm, ITV

It’s a nightmare day in the Ellingham household: little James has started biting people, Louisa is struggling to squeeze in her studies and Martin sustains an injury of his own, after another run-in with his nemesis, Buddy the dog. To make matters worse, Morwenna has gone glamping with Al, leaving Mrs Tishell to run the surgery… Meanwhile, Penhale is disappointed by the lack of interest in his police open day and finds himself under pressure to solve a local alpaca mystery, and Louisa is put out when study buddy Tina (played by guest star Samantha Spiro) starts criticising Martin. Plus, brace yourselves for one of the bloodiest scenes in Doc Martin history! Rating: ****

Marvel’s Inhumans, 9.00pm, Sky One

It’s fair to say that this addition to the Marvel universe didn’t get the best reviews when its first two episodes debuted in Imax cinemas screens across the world, but TV viewers now get the chance to make up their own minds. The eight-part drama stars Iwan Rheon (best known as evil Ramsay Bolton in Game of Thrones) as Maximus, a member of a royal family of superhumans who live secretly on the moon. But, unlike the rest of his kin, the supervillain has no powers, leading him to plot a rebellion to support the poorest in their society. It might not be Thrones, but there’s plenty of scheming and skulduggery to enjoy. Rating: ***

The Apprentice, 9.00pm, BBC1

This week’s task is close to Lord Sugar’s heart. He tasks the candidates with running VIP hospitality at the Women’s FA Cup Final at Wembley and a stall outside the ground. Each team has to provide top-notch food, drinks and entertainment in their box, but there’s confusion over pricing (when will they learn?!). When one team takes cost-cutting to the extreme, a contestant is forced to sing for the clients! Rating: ****

Return tomorrow for more previews!

The Doc is usually beloved by his patients despite a bedside manner so frosty it would make a snowman shudder – but that’s not the case tonight

The Doc is usually beloved by his patients despite a bedside manner so frosty it would make a snowman shudder – but that’s not the case tonight, as one of the rowers in the Portwenn Boat Race goes to see him with an urgent medical matter.

Being from the rival village, Alice isn’t used to his stubborn ways and the consultation has catastrophic consequences…

Meanwhile, Louisa struggles to resign from her job at the school and Penhale continues his run of bad luck with the ladies.

The TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight three of the best shows on telly tonight…

What’s on telly tonight? Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight three of the best shows on telly tonight for Wednesday 18^th October…

Doc Martin, 9.00pm, ITV

Look who’s back! Martin Clunes’s mate Caroline Quentin is reprising her role of the Doc’s nemesis, holistic vet Angela. This time she’s got a nephew in tow, Toby, who is full of questions for anyone who will listen, which drives Louisa up the wall at school. But it looks like both Toby and Angela are in need of medical attention at the surgery – will they be too stubborn to see the doc? Meanwhile, Ruth and Bert grow ever more concerned for Mrs Tishell, who is now locking herself away and talking to her late husband Clive. So they decide that the only person who could talk her round is compassionate, sensitive pillar of the community… Martin. This could be interesting! Rating: *****

The Apprentice, 9.00pm, BBC1

There’s always one task where Lord Sugar goes all ‘modern’ on us (remember the bizarre "wearable" technology task from 2014?). Now it’s time for "Robot Wars", as the candidates are given a prototype android to brand and pitch to retailers and a toy robot to sell to independent stores. Some monumental bickering leaves Karren fuming, and with some dodgy pitches and robots that don’t behave, it’s all thoroughly entertaining. But who’ll be programmed to leave the boardroom? Rating: ****

Long Lost Family Australia, 10.00pm, Really

The hit series embarks on a trip Down Under as Long Lost Family gets an Australian version, in which intrepid presenters Anh Do and Chrissie Swan travel the length and breadth of the country to try and unite family members who have been separated for decades. This week begins with mum-of-four Emma, 36, who’s looking for her birth father Ken. All she knows is that he lived on Phillip Island, Victoria, where her parents met as teens in the summer of 1978. In New South Wales, Sian Cavanagh, 27 [pictured], is looking for the half-sister she’s never met and desperately wants to find. But does Alana know she exists? Rating: ****

Return tomorrow for more previews!

Who’s giving the Doc the most grief this week – friends and family or animals?

Who’s giving the Doc the most grief this week – friends and family or animals?

It’s a nightmare day in the Ellingham household: little James has started biting people, Louisa is struggling to squeeze in her studies and Martin sustains an injury of his own, after another run-in with his nemesis, Buddy the dog.

To make matters worse, Morwenna has gone glamping with Al, leaving Mrs Tishell to run the surgery…

Meanwhile, Penhale is disappointed by the lack of interest in his police open day and finds himself under pressure to solve a local alpaca mystery, and Louisa is put out when study buddy Tina (played by guest star Samantha Spiro) starts criticising Martin.

Plus, brace yourselves for one of the bloodiest scenes in Doc Martin history!

Meet the doggy stars of Doc Martin, which continues on Wednesday on ITV at 9.00pm

Doc Martin animal trainer Sonia Turner (pictured) has revealed that there will be not one but two star dogs in tonight's episode of the hit ITV drama.

That’s right, rescue dog Dodger (a Westie-Jack Russell Cross), who plays the Doc’s dogged pal Buddy, welcomes his best mate Paddy (a Jack Russell Cross), star of Midsomer Murders and the Dog’s Trust adverts, on to the show in tonight's episode. He’ll play a stray called Bob, who will vex the Doc…

We’re pleased to report that off-screen Paddy and Dodger (who is currently shooting the film Mary Queen of Scots with Martin Compston and David Tennant) still have their paws on the ground.

They run over to give TV Times a warm welcome, and with them is trainer Sonia Turner, who describes herself as a ‘proud parent’ watching her dogs on TV.

Here Sonia tells TV Times about working with the dogs on Doc Martin

TV Times: Do Dodger and Paddy enjoy being on the Doc Martin set?

Sonia Turner: "They adore it, they pull on the lead to go to work and they love the attention. Dodger is a bit diva-ish, you can just see him thinking, ‘Move over Brad Pitt, here I am!’ When we’re not filming we take the dogs for nice walks on the Cornish beaches and they go swimming. They’re just regular dogs and they see filming as a fun thing to do where they get fed."

TVT: How do they react when Doc Martin is grumpy with them?

ST: "Well, Martin Clunes said from the beginning he wasn’t going to shout at Dodger, because he’s a big guy with a booming voice. So bless him, he mimes the shouting and dubs it in afterwards! The dogs really love Martin; they jump all over him."

TVT: Does Paddy enjoy working on Midsomer Murders?

ST: "Yes, he’s really happy there and Neil Dudgeon is lovely with him. We trained the original dog, Sykes, but he was beginning to get tired and the dog’s welfare is always the most important thing. We went for an audition with Paddy and they loved him."

Paddy playing a starring role alongside Neil Dudgeon in Midsomer Murders

TVT: How did Paddy end up on Doc Martin?

ST: "Martin spotted him when we took Dodger on set, and wanted to create a part for him. The Doc Martin people spoke to the Midsomer Murders people to sort out his filming days and it all worked out perfectly – it’s a very funny episode."

TVT: "At home, do the dogs behave like normal pets?"

ST: "Yes, definitely, they live with us and play together all the time. They behave like two naughty kids, getting into trouble."

TVT: Do you work with other famous doggies?

ST: "Yes, Tori the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel lives with us too, she played Dash in Victoria and we also train Sunny the pug, who plays Horace in Poldark, and I worked with Wellard on EastEnders many years ago."

TVT: What makes a good TV dog?

ST: "They’ve got to be greedy! Everything is about rewards and we tend to give them sausages. Paddy is a really clever dog and he’s still young so he can really concentrate. But if Dodger can smell some food in somebody’s handbag, he’ll stick his nose in!"

TVT: Tips for cheeky dogs?

ST: It’s about teamwork. It shouldn’t take too long to give a dog basic training, but everyone’s got to be singing from the same hymn sheet.

Main picture and picture of Dodger with Paddy by Richard Kendal.

Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight three of the best shows on telly tonight for Wednesday 11th October including Doc Martin

What's on telly tonight? Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight three of the best shows on telly tonight for Wednesday 11th October including Doc Martin

Doc Martin, 9.00pm, ITV

Prepare for trouble on eight legs, as adorable little hound Buddy has found himself a ridiculously cute friend – another stray dog called Bob. You’ll recognise him as Paddy, from Midsomer Murders, and between them the two cheeky terriers make the Doc’s life a misery. It’s hilarious! While Martin tries to shake off his doggy friends, Morwenna is in for a shock when her parents Jack and Tara turn up on her doorstep unexpectedly (Jack is played by none other than Downton Abbey’s Molesley, Kevin Doyle). Meanwhile, Ruth comes to the rescue for a struggling patient and Louisa is frustrated when Martin interferes with her studies. Rating: *****

The Apprentice, 9.00pm, BBC1

The candidates embrace the luxury hotel market this week, when each team is charged with designing, decorating and furnishing a premium bedroom in a top establishment before pitching their designs to the hotel manager and a design specialist. However, after some seriously odd concepts are discussed and rejected – a celebrity-themed room based around Tim Henman is our favourite idea ever! – "luxury" seems a distant goal as the teams blunder through budget issues, wall-measurement problems, dodgy furniture and a creation that one rookie designer describes as looking like someone has "puked a rainbow". But as they face the wrath of Lord Sugar, who’ll get a five-star rating and who’ll be checking out? Rating: ****

Bad Move, 8.00pm, ITV

Steve and Nicky moved to the countryside for some peace and quiet, so they are none too pleased this week to find a bunch of ramblers bounding across their garden – apparently, their land is part of an ancient public right of way! To add to the couple’s annoyance, neighbours Matt and Meena invite them to attend their children’s fundraising event in aid of the local hospital – it’s a recorderthon! Elsewhere, Grizzo is into a new craze – tapping therapy. Will it catch on? Rating: ***

Look who’s back! Martin Clunes’s mate Caroline Quentin is reprising her role of the Doc’s nemesis, holistic vet Angela

Look who’s back! Martin Clunes’s mate Caroline Quentin is reprising her role of the Doc’s nemesis, holistic vet Angela.

This time she’s got a nephew in tow, Toby, who is full of questions for anyone who will listen, which drives Louisa up the wall at school.

But it looks like both Toby and Angela are in need of medical attention at the surgery – will they be too stubborn to see the doc?

Meanwhile, Ruth and Bert grow ever more concerned for Mrs Tishell, who is now locking herself away and talking to her late husband Clive.

So they decide that the only person who could talk her round is compassionate, sensitive pillar of the community… Martin. This could be interesting!

Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight three of the best shows on telly tonight for Wednesday 4th October including Doc Martin

Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight three of the best shows on telly tonight for Wednesday 4th October including Doc Martin

Doc Martin, 9.00pm, ITV

Who would want to be Al (Joe Absolom)? The poor guy can never seem to catch a break, and even when life is looking rosy he’s always being torpedoed by his dad. Tonight, landlord Ken has decided it’s time to close the pub, but Morwenna reckons Al should step in and take over. But with Ruth refusing to act as guarantor it’s quite a tall order… Elsewhere, Louisa is forced to take a group of Year Six children on a sailing trip, despite the fact she hates boats and has no idea how to sail. Later on there’s a shock in store for Mrs Tishell, Bert receives a surprising job offer and Martin gets in trouble with James Henry’s nursery… we can’t see the doc losing any sleep over that, though! Rating: ****

The Apprentice, 9.00pm,BBC1

Hurrah! Time to settle in for another 12 weeks of boardroom backstabbing and bickering. It wouldn’t be the same without a food-based task to start, and this year’s is a corker as the 18 moguls-in-waiting have to get up before dawn to make and sell their own burger range. When one team aims for a ‘luxury’ product and the other a ‘healthy’ one, the Trade Descriptions Act might well be contravened! With the usual dubious ingredients, poor time-management and squabbles over selling locations, there are stumbling blocks aplenty, but who will be Lord Sugar’s burger kings or queens and who will end up wanting to turn veggie after becoming the first evictee?! You’re Fired follows (10.00pm, BBC2), hosted by Rhod Gilbert. Rating: *****

Who Do You Think You Are?, 8.00pm, BBC1

Ruby Wax was born and raised in America, but came to the UK to escape her warring parents – volatile dad Edmund and ‘hysterical’ mum Berta. The Jewish couple fled Vienna after the Nazi invasion in 1939, but Ruby knows little about their life before they moved to the States. But a few years ago, Ruby found a suitcase filled with photos and letters, the starting point to learning more about her parents. As she looks into her family’s past, all roads lead to the Holocaust so it’s not an easy watch. As Ruby says: "If I wasn’t on medication, this would have flipped me out." Rating: ****

Prepare for trouble on eight legs in Doc Martin, as adorable hound Buddy has found himself a ridiculously cute friend – another stray dog called Bob

Prepare for trouble on eight legs, as adorable little hound Buddy has found himself a ridiculously cute friend – another stray dog called Bob.

You’ll recognise him as Paddy, from Midsomer Murders, and between them the two cheeky terriers make the Doc’s life a misery.

It’s hilarious! While Martin tries to shake off his doggy friends, Morwenna is in for a shock when her parents Jack and Tara turn up on her doorstep unexpectedly (Jack is played by none other than Downton Abbey’s Molesley, Kevin Doyle).

Meanwhile, Ruth comes to the rescue for a struggling patient and Louisa is frustrated when Martin interferes with her studies.

Doc Martin star Dame Eileen Atkins reveals what it’s like filming the popular ITV show and how her character, Aunt Ruth, has become an unexpected role model

Acting legend and star of Cranford and The Crown, Dame Eileen Atkins reveals how her Doc Martin character, Aunt Ruth, has become an unexpected role model.

Here Eileen Atkins tells TV Times, the fun fan reactions to her stern character, and why she would love to see Aunt Ruth’s traits played up even further, with a bit of extra tartness thrown in…

TV Times: Ruth is this fantastic independent spirited woman and we’re guessing that you’re pretty much like that too?

Eileen Atkins: "It is not a hard part to play. Shall we say that? I love playing her, yes. I wish she was even ruder and tarter!"

TVT: There was talk that the last season may have been the last. And now it’s getting recommissioned for two series. That must have been a great joy to you?

EA: "We did all think, because the Head of Drama gave us a wonderful dinner and I think we all thought this is a goodbye-dinner. And then suddenly, to everybody’s amazement, he gave a speech saying he wanted two more."

TVT: Filming in Cornwall must be amazing as well?

EA: "I have a wonderful time because I’m in Cornwall for four months – and in my case, not even working very hard. The only trouble is that I am one of the coldest people on this earth. In March and April I freeze. And you know we’re not allowed to look as if it is not sunny and lovely and warm and I have had some really rough days this year, and I mean really rough!"

TVT: Do you get fan mail?

EA: "Oh yeah. The day before yesterday, from an eleven-year old boy who said: “Dear Eileen Atkins, I like your ‘charta’.” He meant ‘character’. There is a great need, particularly for young people, for a rather stern, disciplined person in their lives. I can tell that from fan mail. ‘I like the way you told them off and you told them that was not right’. I think young people have a real need for someone a bit stern sometimes."

TVT: Do you watch a lot of TV?

EA: "I watch a lot of TV when I’m down in Cornwall when I am having my supper. I watch almost anything. I had never watched Springwatch and suddenly I watch Springwatch. Except, I was horrified, because everything ate everything else…"

TVT: And how about other things like Netflix and Amazon, streaming channels?

EA: "I haven’t, you know and I am in The Crown! I went to the first two in the cinema, the next three, Ian McNeice, who plays Bert in Doc Martin, and who I see in London because he lives very near me - he’s got big screens and everything and he had Netflix. They gave me free Netflix for a year, but I am such a fool, I didn’t know how to use it."

Doc Martin is on Wednesdays ITV at 9pm

Interview by Emma Bullimore

Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight three of the best shows on telly tonight for Wednesday 27th September including brand new BBC2 comedy The Pact

Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight three of the best shows on telly tonight for Wednesday 27^th September including brand new comedy The Pact

The Pact, 10.00pm / BBC2 (Friday, NI)

Amy is single, living in a rented flat-share and hungover after a one-night stand; Andy is a divorced father. Twenty years ago, while they were teenagers, Amy and Andy made a pact that if they were still single when they were 35 they would get married. When they meet again at a party it forces them both to confront their pasts. Will Amy finally grow up? And will Andy pursue his teenage crush? Sarah Solemani is perfectly cast as tragic Amy. Just as this pilot gets going, it’s over. Let’s hope a series is commissioned. Rating: ****

Doc Martin, 9.00pm, ITV

We’re so glad to be back in Portwenn! Martin Clunes is at his deadpan best tonight, utterly incredulous that Buddy the dog has chewed his stethoscope, while Louisa has bigger fish to fry. She’s trying to work out why little girl Astrid Trappett doesn’t want to go to school, and also attempting to find childcare for her own son, James Henry (you’ll be surprised to learn Martin isn’t helping to win over the staff at Portwenn Tots). Plus there’s a new visitor to the village, John (Art Malik), who is unaware he has a shocking connection to Ruth… will she reveal it? The usual mix of hilarity, drama and absolute charm makes for a wonderful hour in front of the box. Rating: *****

Bad Move, 8.00pm, ITV

So life ‘In’t Dip’ isn’t all it’s cracked up to be for Steve (Jack Dee) and Nicky (Kerry Godliman). This second episode doesn’t get off to a great start when Nicky and Steve find their kitchen flooded. Steve spies a way to turn their latest run of bad luck into a money-making opportunity. Nicky, meanwhile, takes a more practical approach to their fast-dwindling finances and starts walking a villager’s dog for a bit of extra cash. Rating: ***

Who'd want to be Al (Joe Absolom)? The poor guy can never seem to catch a break, and even when life is looking rosy he’s always being torpedoed by his dad

Who would want to be Al (Joe Absolom)? The poor guy can never seem to catch a break, and even when life is looking rosy he’s always being torpedoed by his dad.

Tonight, landlord Ken has decided it’s time to close the pub, but Morwenna reckons Al should step in and take over. But with Ruth refusing to act as guarantor it’s quite a tall order…

Elsewhere, Louisa is forced to take a group of Year Six children on a sailing trip, despite the fact she hates boats and has no idea how to sail.

Later on there’s a shock in store for Mrs Tishell, Bert receives a surprising job offer and Martin gets in trouble with James Henry’s nursery… we can’t see the doc losing any sleep over that, though!

Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight three of the best shows on telly tonight for Wednesday 20^th September including the return of Doc Martin

Doc Martin, 9.00pm, ITV

Settle down for a therapeutic dose of Cornish sunshine – our favourite misery-guts medic is back for another series. For once the Doc’s not the most exasperated person in Portwenn. That’s new curate Rosie, who arrives to marry Pc Penhale and Janice. But first there’s Martin’s bedside manner to deal with, then Mrs Tishell’s disapproving tone before Rosie spots that the happy couple aren’t actually ready to get married at all. Can she stop them making a mistake? Meanwhile, Louisa misses James’s first words and worries she’s not spending enough time at home with him. The solution? Try to convince Martin to get a dog. Good luck, Louisa! Rating: *****

Bad Move, 8.00pm, ITV

This six-part sitcom is a bit like an episode of Escape to the Country, but without the happy ending! When married couple Steve (Jack Dee) and Nicky (Kerry Godliman) decide they’ve had enough of the rat race in Leeds and buy a doer-upper in rural Yorkshire, they soon realise they can’t afford to turn their rundown new house into a dream home. The good life quickly becomes a struggle, and living next door to an annoyingly perfect family (look out for Miles Jupp) is an extra kick in the teeth. To top it off, they’ve got no internet and Steve is a web designer… Plenty to relate to in this lovely comedy which sees Jack Dee at his grouchy best. Rating: ****

Taskmaster, 9.00pm, Dave

Top marks to Taskmaster for actually getting comedians out from behind the desks. Greg Davies and Alex Horne have the usual madcap array of tasks for their guests this week. But a standout has to be ‘making the biggest splat’ on one of their fellow contestants. Bob Mortimer, Sally Phillips, Nish Kumar and Mark Watson all have their own ways of achieving it, but Aisling Bea is doing it with liquid-filled balloons. What liquid? Don’t ask. Rating: ****

A naughty dog is just the first on the list of the grumpy Doc’s many problems

A naughty dog is just the first on the list of the grumpy Doc’s many problems.

Martin Clunes is at his deadpan best tonight, utterly incredulous that Buddy the dog has chewed his stethoscope, while Louisa has bigger fish to fry.

She’s trying to work out why little girl Astrid Trappett doesn’t want to go to school, and also attempting to find childcare for her own son, James Henry (you’ll be surprised to learn Martin isn’t helping to win over the staff at Portwenn Tots).

Plus there’s a new visitor to the village, John (Art Malik), who is unaware he has a shocking connection to Ruth… will she reveal it?

The usual mix of hilarity, drama and absolute charm makes for a wonderful hour in front of the box.

Martin Clunes has given TV Times an interview about the return of Doc Martin and says it was Sigourney Weaver's idea to return

Doc Martin star Martin Clunes has given TV Times an interview about the return of his hit ITV comedy drama and reveals that it was Hollywood star Sigourney Weaver's idea to return.

What's the story?

It’s a warm welcome for TV Times, as we arrive on set for the eighth series of ITV’s hit comedy drama, which starts next Wednesday, and Martin, 55, is quick to assure us that nothing much has changed. The scenery is still spectacular, the residents of Portwenn remain eccentric and the doc has only got grumpier…

The good news for fans is that Martin and Louisa’s relationship has survived the storm of last series, and the pair are making a proper go of things, with the ‘help’ of a dog called Buddy, played by Dodger.

Here, Martin reveals details about the new series, why he thought the show might be axed and what the future has in store…

Martin Clunes TV Times interview

TV Times: This is the first time you’ve been commissioned for two series in one go – this one, and another run in 2019. That’s a great compliment for you and your wife Philippa [Braithwaite, the producer of Doc Martin]…

Martin Clunes: "We were delighted; how amazing. We were worried when the last series finished, because we were waiting for a commission and things went quiet. The call didn’t come, so Philippa emailed ITV Drama and they said, ‘Oh, we didn’t know how it works; we thought you just made the show and gave it to us!’ And then they came back with a commission for two series…"

TVT: Tell us about the four-legged addition to the household?

MC: "We couldn’t possibly carry on with the will-they-won’t-they between Martin and Louisa [Caroline Catz], so they’re back together and we’re now exploring the idea of them co-habiting, with their son and new addition, Buddy the dog. Nothing annoys Martin more than sharing a house with a filthy, stinking dog."

TVT: You have great guest stars, and this year both Sigourney Weaver and your Men Behaving Badly mate Caroline Quentin will be back…

MC: "Yes, it was terrific having Caroline back – we all went to Rick Stein’s restaurant after filming. We didn’t dare hope Sigourney would want to do it again, but it was her idea! She’s friends with Selina Cadell, who plays Mrs Tishell, and she’s so sweet. After we sent her the script she got back to us almost immediately and said how excited she was. She’s got more to do this time; some lovely scenes. Art Malik and Samantha Spiro will be popping up, too."

TVT: Last series, we saw Martin and Louisa experience the pain of a trial separation. Are they on solid ground again now?

MC: "They do get on this series, but there are some changes in Louisa’s circumstances as she embarks on a career change and there’s a lot of torment about being a working mother. Martin’s supportive, but slightly dismissive, too!"

TVT: We hear there’s a rather dramatic stunt in store for the GP, which will be quite the ordeal for haemophobic Martin?

MC: "Yes, we have an episode that’s quite Tarantino-esque! One character has a bleed from the 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."

TVT: The Doc is fundamentally quite rude and miserable – why do you think we love watching him?

MC: "Audiences like being frustrated by him and shouting at him. I think, ultimately, it’s because he’s a doctor in a suit and he fixes everything, but because we’re English we don’t like authority, so he gets banged into door frames every now and then [all of the door frames on the set are designed to be slightly too low for Clunes]. He’s definitely got grumpier since the first series – it’s a creeping disease."

TVT: You film in the sleepy fishing village of Port Isaac, it must be like a second home now?

MC: "Yes, we counted up the amount of time I’ve spent here and it adds up to three and a half years. There are very few new people on the crew, so we’ve all watched each others’ kids grow up. Our daughter Emily was born while I was filming Saving Grace [the 2000 film in which the Doc Martin character first appeared], and this summer she drove down to the set to visit us!"

TVT: Do the local residents enjoy seeing you here?

MC: "The crowds that watch filming are always really sweet and friendly. They bring their dogs along and, weirdly, they say thank you after I’ve said hello to their pet, like I’ve blessed it! The people of Port Isaac have had long enough to adapt to us being here and a lot of them have profited hugely – new businesses have grown up as a result, like the shuttle bus and tours."

TVT Do you think the 2019 series will be the grand finale?

MC: "Well, that is the last commission and we’re sort of working towards that being the end… it ought to at some point! But never say never. Personally, I’ll never get a better job, but it’s really hard for Philippa to produce eight episodes. There’s always six or seven script drafts to get it right and keep it varied, yet remain the same, but surprising and funny. It’s a massive ask and she’s about to go mad!"