Doc Martin

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For the historic Taos, New Mexico, physician, see Thomas "Doc" Martin. For the footwear and clothing brand, see Dr. Martens. For the baseball player, see Doc Martin (baseball).
Doc Martin
Doc Martin logo.png
Series title card
Format Comedy Drama
Created by Dominic Minghella
Starring Martin Clunes
Caroline Catz
Ian McNeice
Joe Absolom
Selina Cadell
Jessica Ransom
Stephanie Cole
Katherine Parkinson
Louise Jameson
Eileen Atkins
Theme music composer Colin Towns
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of series 5
No. of episodes 38 (List of episodes)
Production
Producer(s) Philippa Braithwaite
Running time 37× 50mins
1× 92mins
Broadcast
Original channel ITV, STV, UTV
Picture format 576i (2004 - 2009)
1080i (2009 - Present)
Original run 2 September 2004 – present
External links
Website

Doc Martin is a British television comedy drama series starring Martin Clunes in the title role. It was created by Dominic Minghella[1] after the character of Dr. Martin Bamford in the 2000 comedy film Saving Grace.[2] The show is set in the fictional seaside village of Portwenn and filmed on location in the village of Port Isaac, Cornwall, England, with most interior scenes shot in a converted local barn. Five series aired between 2004 and 2011, together with a feature-length special that aired on Christmas Day 2006.

Contents

Synopsis [edit]

Dr. Martin Ellingham (Martin Clunes), a brilliant and successful vascular surgeon at Imperial College London, develops haemophobia (a fear of blood), forcing him to stop practising surgery. He obtains a post as the general practitioner (GP) in the sleepy Cornish village of Portwenn, where he spent childhood holidays with his Aunt Joan (Stephanie Cole). Upon arriving in Portwenn, Ellingham - whom, to his frustration, the locals address as "Doc Martin" - finds the surgery in disarray. He inherits an incompetent receptionist, Elaine Denham (Lucy Punch). In series 2-4, Pauline Lamb (Katherine Parkinson), a new receptionist and later phlebotomist, replaces Elaine. In 2011, Morwenna Newcross (Jessica Ransom) takes up the post.

The show revolves around Ellingham's interactions with the local Cornish villagers. Despite his medical brilliance, Ellingham is gruff, ill-mannered, and lacks social skills. His cold, abrasive manner offends many of the villagers. They perceive him to be short tempered and lacking in a bedside manner, whereas he feels he is performing his duties in a professional and no-nonsense manner, not wasting time chatting with the villagers. The villagers eventually discover his haemophobia and the frequent and debilitating bouts of nausea and vomiting it causes. Ellingham's aunt, Joan Norton, provides emotional support in the face of the disquiet his abrupt manner causes among the villagers. Ellingham also finds it difficult to express his romantic feelings to primary school teacher Louisa Glasson (Caroline Catz), often spoiling a rare tender moment with, for example, a comment about an unpleasant medical condition or requesting a stool sample.

Original character [edit]

Martin Clunes originally played a character called "Dr Martin Bamford" in the 2000 film Saving Grace and its two made-for-TV prequels, Doc Martin and Doc Martin and the Legend of the Cloutie, which were made by British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB). The prequels show Bamford, a successful obstetrician rather than surgeon, finding out that his wife has been carrying on extramarital affairs behind his back. After confronting her with the news, he escapes London and heads for Cornwall, which he remembers fondly from his youth. Shortly after he arrives, he is involved in the mystery of the "Jellymaker" and, following the departure of the village's resident GP, decides to stay in Port Isaac and fill the gap. In these three films the village is not known as Portwenn.

The original deal was to produce two such television films per year for three years, but Sky Pictures folded after the first two episodes were made, so Clunes' company tried to sell the franchise to ITV. ITV felt the Martin Bamford character should be portrayed as a "townie", out of his depth and uncomfortable in the country. They also wanted something edgier, so Clunes suggested the doctor be very grumpy and socially inept. The new doctor's surname was to be Ellingham, an anagram of the last name of the new writer, Dominic Minghella, who was brought in to rework the doctor's background and create a new cast of supporting characters.

Along with Clunes, the only actors to appear in both versions of Doc Martin are Tristan Sturrock and Tony Maudsley.

Episodes [edit]

Main article: List of Doc Martin episodes

Thirty-eight episodes aired on ITV in the UK between 2004 and 2011, in five series with about seven episodes in each series. Episodes are 50 minutes, except the 2006 Christmas special which is 92 minutes. In the US, American Public Television provides the 2006 Christmas special as a two-part episode with the second episode airing the week after the first.

The first three series were broadcast from 2004 through 2007; subsequent series have aired only in odd-numbered years.

Series 4-5 [edit]

Interviewed about the release of the Series 3 DVD, Clunes indicated he would take a break from acting in 2008, to allow his daughter a family summer holiday, which she missed during the programme's filming. Clunes's wife is Philippa Braithwaite, Doc Martin's producer. In February 2009, ITV confirmed plans for a fourth series with eight episodes.[3] Series 4 aired on ITV from 20 September to 8 November 2009,[4] and was a ratings success for ITV. STV originally did not broadcast Series 4 in Scotland due to financial issues surrounding a dispute with ITV.[5] In 2011 STV resolved its issues with ITV [6] and has since broadcast Series 4 during July and August 2011.

Series 4 was released on DVD in the UK on 1 March 2010.[7]

In the US American Public Television (a US syndicator that supplies the programme to public television stations) confirmed that Series 4 would be available to stations from 1 March 2010.[8]

In New Zealand, Series 4 began broadcasting on 25 January 2010 on TVNZ.[9]

In Australia, Series 4 began broadcasting from 12 June 2010 on ABC1.[10]

In an interview published in the Manchester Evening News on 15 September 2009,[11] Clunes said, "It looks like ITV will give the go-ahead to a fifth series but that won’t be filmed until 2011."

On 2 March 2010 during an interview on the BBC's The One Show, Clunes stated that Series 5 will be filmed in 2011.[12] ITV confirmed the commissioning of a fifth series of Doc Martin in a press release on 1 April 2010. Dame Eileen Atkins will join as Doc Martin's Aunt Ruth and Jessica Ransom is the new surgery receptionist, Morwenna Newcross. Martin Clunes, Caroline Catz, Ian McNeice, Joe Absolom, John Marquez and Selina Cadell will all return to the series.

[13] Series 5 was produced in 2011 and has eight episodes.[14] The series began airing on all ITV regions on Monday 12 September.[15]

In Australia, Series 5 began broadcasting from 15 October 2011 on ABC1.[citation needed]

In the USA Series 5 began broadcasting in March and April 2012 [16]

Series 6 [edit]

Martin Clunes announced a sixth series of Doc Martin on The Alan Titchmarsh Show (5 March 2012). It will be filmed in the spring of 2013, and broadcast that autumn. He had previously stated that a sixth series would probably be the final one.[17]

Ratings [edit]

In the UK, Doc Martin has been a ratings success for ITV with the third series achieving ITV's best midweek drama performance in the 9 PM Monday slot since December 2004.[18] The final episode of the third series was watched by 10.37 million viewers, which is the programme's highest-ever viewing figure for a single episode.[19]

In 2009, Doc Martin was moved to a 9 PM Sunday time slot for the broadcast of Series 4. That change meant that it followed-on from ITV's The X Factor programme. Series 4 ratings were adversely impacted by STV not screening the majority of ITV drama productions in Scotland. The final episode of Series 4 had ratings of 10.29 million[20] viewers. STV went back on its decision not to screen ITV drama in Scotland. Series 4 of Doc Martin was broadcast on Sunday afternoons in August 2011.

Foreign adaptations [edit]

Notro Films produced a Spanish version under the title Doctor Mateo for Antena 3 Televisión. It aired in 2009 and was shot in Lastres, Asturias, with the fictional name of San Martín del Sella twinned with Portwenn.

French television producers Ego Productions, in cooperation with TF1, have produced a French version of the series starring Thierry Lhermitte as Dr Martin Le Foll, with the series based in the fictional Breton town of Port-Garrec, twinned with Portwenn.[21][22]

In Germany, Doktor Martin an adaptation of the original series, airs on ZDF with Axel Milberg as Doktor Martin Helling, a surgeon from Berlin. The counterpart of Portwenn was the real existing village of Neuharlingersiel in East Frisia.

In Greece, Kliniki Periptosi an adaptation of the original series, was aired in November 2011 on Mega Channel with Yannis Bezos as Markos Staikos, a surgeon from New York.

In the Netherlands Dokter Tinus based on the original series began airing in late August 2012 on SBS6 with the main role being played by actor Thom Hoffman.

A Russian version is mentioned in the Series 5 bonus material.

Cast and characters [edit]

Actor Character Duration
Martin Clunes Dr. Martin Ellingham M.B. B.S. F.R.C.S. 2004–
Caroline Catz Louisa Glasson 2004–
Ian McNeice Bert Large 2004–
Joe Absolom Al Large 2004–
Selina Cadell Mrs. Sally Tishell 2004–
John Marquez PC Joe Penhale 2007–
Eileen Atkins Dr. Ruth Ellingham B.Sc. Ph.D. 2011–
Jessica Ransom Morwenna Newcross 2011–
Louise Jameson Eleanor Glasson 2011–

Past characters [edit]

Actor Character Duration
Lucy Punch Elaine Denham 2004
Felicity Montagu Caroline Bosman 2004–2005
Stewart Wright PC Mark Mylow 2004–2006
Stephanie Cole Joan Norton 2004–2009
Angeline Ball Julie Mitchell 2005–2006
Tristan Sturrock Danny Steel 2005–2006
Katherine Parkinson Pauline Lamb 2005–2009
Joseph Morgan Mick Mabley 2007
Lia Williams Dr Edith Montgomery 2009

Guest stars [edit]

Guest stars have included Celia Imrie, John Alderton, Hugh Lloyd, Jeff Rawle, Doreen Mantle, Margaret Tyzack, Christian Rodska, Roger Lloyd-Pack, Anne Reid, Mary Woodvine, Miriam Margolyes, John Woodvine, Stephanie Leonidas, Ben Miller, Chris O'Dowd, Robert Daws, Kenneth Cranham, David Bamber, Claire Bloom, Mathew Horne, Lucy Robinson, Gwen Taylor, Sylvestra la Touzel, Anthony Calf, Richard Johnson, David Haig, Phyllida Law, Benjamin Whitrow, Louise Delamere, Nicholas Le Prevost, Sophie Thompson, Mathew Baynton, Andrew Lee Potts, Julie Graham, John Duttine, Julia St. John and Tony Maudsley.

International broadcasters [edit]

  • In Africa, Doc Martin airs on the Hallmark Channel on DSTV.
  • In Argentina, Doc Martin airs on Film & Arts channel.
  • In Australia, series 1-5 were broadcast on ABC1. It was shown on Australian PayTV channel, UKTV. Repeat episodes from series one to three have been shown on 7Two from 5 May 2011.
  • In Belarus, Doc Martin (Doktar Marcin) airs on Belsat TV channel.
  • In Belgium, Doc Martin airs on the public channel Eén.
  • In Brazil, Doc Martin airs on Film & Arts channel.
  • In Bulgaria, all Doc Martin series aired on the Hallmark channel.
  • In Canada, Doc Martin airs on VisionTV and Knowledge in British Columbia.
  • In Chile, Doc Martin airs on Film & Arts channel.
  • In Colombia, Doc Martin airs on Film & Arts channel.
  • In Czech Republic, Doc Martin (Doktor Martin) airs on the CT1 since 1 October 2009.
  • In Denmark, Doc Martin airs on the public commercial channel TV2 Charlie.
  • In Finland, Doc Martin airs on the public commercial channel MTV3.
  • In France, the adaptation Doc Martin airs on TF1.
  • In Iceland, Doc Martin airs as 'Martin læknir' on Sjónvarpið.
  • In Ireland, Doc Martin airs on TV3.
  • In Italy, Doc Martin also airs on the public channel RAI.
  • In Italy, Hungary, Russia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and other countries where available, Doc Martin airs on the Hallmark Channel.
  • In Mexico, Doc Martin airs on Film & Arts channel.
  • In Netherlands, the adaptation Dokter Tinus airs on SBS6.
  • In New Zealand, Doc Martin aired on TV One. It was also shown on New Zealand PayTV channel, UKTV
  • In Norway, the first season of Doc Martin aired on the public channel NRK1 with reruns on VOX in 2012.
  • In Poland, Doc Martin (Doktor Martin) airs on the public channel TVP2 since 4 November 2009 and a portal IPLEX since 2010.
  • In Romania, all Doc Martin series aired on the Hallmark channel.
  • In Saudi Arabia, and other countries in the Middle East , Doc Martin airs on the Orbit Showtime Network OSN.
  • In Serbia, Doc Martin (Doktor Martin) airs on TV Avala channel.
  • In Slovenia, Doc Martin series 4 airs on the SLO1 (Slovenia 1) channel.
  • In Spain, the adaptation Doctor Mateo (Doctor Mateo in Spanish) airs on Antena 3 TV channel.
  • In Sweden, Doc Martin aired on commercial broadcaster Kanal 9 from late 2008 through 2012.
  • In Turkey, Doc Martin airs on Dizimax Enteriantment
  • In Uruguay, Doc Martin airs on Film & Arts channel.
  • In the United States, Doc Martin is distributed by APT to subscribing local stations. Reruns can be viewed on PBS (Public Broadcasting Service). Series 1-5 DVD, can also be viewed in the US on Netflix, Amazon streaming and Hulu.
  • In Venezuela, Doc Martin airs on People & Arts.

DVD releases [edit]

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 This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (January 2011)

Series 1, 2 and 3 and "On the Edge" were released separately on Region 1 and 2 and in the "complete Series 1 to 3" box set. Series 3 was released on 2 February 2010 and Series 4 was released for region 1 and 2 on 6 July 2010. Series 5 was released in Region 1 on 5 June 2012.

In region 4, Series 1, 2, 4, and "On the Edge" were released separately and in a nine-disc boxset entitled "Doc Martin: Comedy Cure", as well as an earlier seven-disc boxset not including Series 4. The two Sky Pictures telefilms were individually released in Region 4 (as 'Doc Martin: volume 1' and 'Doc Martin: volume 2, the Legend of the Cloutie') on the Magna Pacific label, but are now out-of-print.

Awards [edit]

In 2004 Doc Martin won the British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Drama, having also been nominated as Best New TV Comedy. In the same year, Martin Clunes won the Best TV Comedy Actor award, primarily for his portrayal of Doc Martin.

References [edit]

  1. ^ "ITV's Doc Martin kicks Spooks into touch". The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-04-28. 
  2. ^ "'Doc Martin' star Martin Clunes on the making of the British series". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-04-28. 
  3. ^ "Contemporary | Doc Martin | Series four coming soon - ITV Drama". Itv.com. Retrieved 2010-06-29. 
  4. ^ Source: RadioTimes.com listings
  5. ^ Reid, Georgina (12 September 2009). "It's Doc Smartin'; TV Clunes slams STV for snubbing series". The Sun (London). p. 3. Retrieved 25 April 2010. 
  6. ^ Sweney, Mark (27 April 2011). "STV comes to £18m settlement with ITV". The Guardian (London). 
  7. ^ "Doc Martin - Series 4 - Complete [DVD] [2010]: Amazon.co.uk: Martin Clunes, Caroline Catz, Lia Williams, Stephanie Cole, Ian McNeice, Joe Absolom, Katherine Parkinson, John Marquez, Selina Cadell, David Haig, Malcolm Storry, Georgie Glen, Ben Bolt, Minkie Spiro, Craig Ferguson, Dominic Minghella, Jack Lothian, Mark Crowdy, Richard Stoneman: DVD". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-06-29. 
  8. ^ "DOC MARTIN IV - American Public Television". Aptonline.org. Retrieved 2010-06-29. 
  9. ^ "Television New Zealand | News, Sport, Weather, TV ONE, TV2". TVNZ. Retrieved 2010-06-29. 
  10. ^ Butler, Dianne (7 April 2010). "At last ABC1 has the right show on the right night at the right time". The Courier-Mail. p. 20. 
  11. ^ Ian Wylie (15 September 2009). "Doc Martin in rudest health". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2010-06-29. 
  12. ^ "Martin Clunes on the One Show (2/3/10)". YouTube. 2 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-29. 
  13. ^ "ITV recommissions Doc Martin" (Press release). ITV Press Centre. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-29. 
  14. ^ "Contemporary | Doc Martin | New series - ITV Drama". Itv.com. Retrieved 2010-06-29. 
  15. ^ "Doc Martin | Series 5 - 1. Preserve the Romance". Radio Times. Retrieved 2012-09-09. 
  16. ^ "Doc Martin Returns to American Audiences in 2012".  Text "12-19-2011" ignored (help)
  17. ^ Brownstein, Bill. "The'bunny-hugger' behind heartless Doc Martin". Retrieved 12 March 2012. 
  18. ^ Dowell, Ben (30 October 2007). "Doc Martin breaks 9m barrier". London: Media Guardian. Retrieved 2007-11-01. 
  19. ^ "Weekly viewing summary". BARB. Retrieved 2007-11-22. 
  20. ^ "Weekly Top 10 Programmes". Barb.co.uk. 20 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-29. 
  21. ^ "Thierry Lhermitte est "Doc Martin"". TF1. Retrieved 10 September 2010. 
  22. ^ Episode 1.

External links [edit]

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Doc_Martin&oldid=556381709"