Doc Martin. Image shows from L to R: Louisa Glasson (Caroline Catz), Dr Martin Ellingham (Martin Clunes). Copyright: ITV
Doc Martin

Doc Martin (2004)

  • TV comedy drama
  • ITV1
  • 2004 - 2022
  • 79 episodes (10 series)

Comedy drama following the trials and tribulations of a socially challenged surgeon turned GP working in Cornwall. Stars Martin Clunes. Also features Caroline Catz, Ian McNeice, Joe Absolom, Selina Cadell, John Marquez and more.

Episode menu

Series 4, Episode 3 - Perish Together As Fools

Martin is shocked to find Louisa and Aunt Joan knocking at his door before the Surgery has opened. Louisa has had a medical scare and wants Martin's reassurance that everything is fine.

Further details

Doc Martin. Image shows from L to R: Dr Martin Ellingham (Martin Clunes), Edith Montgomery (Lia Williams). Copyright: Buffalo Pictures / Homerun Productions

PC Penhale, still officially the world's worst policeman, has an unexpected visitor: the older brother Sam, who he has always idolised.

Trying to show off in front of his brother, Penhale injures a tourist, and when they take the tourist to Martin, Sam learns from Pauline that the Surgery needs re-painting. Sam volunteers for the job.

Martin and Edith go to a restaurant to discuss her medical research, which she wants Martin's help with. It isn't a date, but Edith teases Martin playfully. When she drops him off outside the surgery afterwards, Edith gives Martin a kiss.

Bert notices that Pauline is going stir-crazy living with Al, and tries to offer the younger man some relationship advice. But when Al tries to act on the advice, his ham-fisted efforts make the situation even worse.

Martin is called to the home of Mr Routledge who is complaining of chest pains. But Mr Routledge is a nuisance-caller and there's never anything wrong with him. Mr Routledge wants Martin to put him into a nursing home so he can be looked after all day long and Martin refuses.

Martin notices that Sam has some problems with his memory and co-ordination. It's probably just a virus, but when Martin takes Sam's family history, he decides there is a very small possibility that Sam has a rare genetic disease.

When Sam tells his brother, Penhale becomes convinced that he has the disease too and is going to die. Penhale takes his brother for a tearful farewell drink at the Crab & Lobster. However, Sam's blood tests reveal he doesn't have the genetic disease, but Martin diagnoses a different illness that will change Penhale's opinion of his brother forever.

Louisa visits Edith for a check-up, and Edith elicits a very personal and embarrassing piece of information from Louisa. Later, tired of renting, Louisa is looking for somewhere to live in the village. Aunt Joan suggests she visits Mr Routledge to ask him about his plans, but when Martin discovers Louisa there, something unexpected happens.

Broadcast details

Date
Sunday 4th October 2009
Time
9pm
Channel
ITV1
Length
60 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Friday 23rd July 2010 9:00pm ITV1
Tuesday 13th November 2012 9:00pm ITV3
Friday 29th November 2013 8:00pm ITV3
Saturday 22nd March 2014 8:00pm ITV3
Saturday 7th February 2015 3:05pm ITV1
Saturday 18th April 2015 7:00pm ITV3
Wednesday 18th November 2015 8:00pm ITV3
Saturday 28th May 2016 7:00pm ITV3
Friday 25th November 2016 8:00pm ITV3
Monday 27th March 2017 8:00pm ITV3
Monday 2nd September 2019 8:00pm ITV3
Friday 26th June 2020 9:00pm ITV3
Friday 26th March 2021 8:00pm ITV3
Friday 17th December 2021 9:00pm ITV3
Friday 7th April 2023 9:00pm ITV3

Cast & crew

Cast
Martin Clunes Dr Martin Ellingham
Caroline Catz Louisa Glasson
Ian McNeice Bert Large
Joe Absolom Al Large
John Marquez PC Penhale
Stephanie Cole Joan Norton
Katherine Parkinson Pauline Lamb
Lia Williams Edith Montgomery
Guest cast
Martin Marquez Sam Penhale
John Macneill Landlord
Ewan Hooper Mr Routledge
Richard Derrington Tourist
Sidney Kean Maitre d'
Writing team
Richard Stoneman Writer
Production team
Ben Bolt Director
Philippa Braithwaite Producer
Mark Crowdy Executive Producer
Nick McPhee Editor
Andrew Purcell Production Designer
Colin Towns Composer

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