Martin Clunes hits out at Churchill advert ban

Martin Clunes, who was disqualified from driving for six months for totting up 12 penalty points, said he said he was shocked to be given the chop from the Churchill car insurance adverts.

Martin Clunes interview

The Men Behaving Badly and Doc Martin star says he prefers interesting roles rather than romantic leads.

Dawn French replaces Martin Clunes on Churchill ads

Dawn French has signed up to be the new face of Churchill Insurance. She takes over from Martin Clunes, who was recently dropped for losing his licence after accumulating points from four speeding offences.

Martin Clunes axed from Churchill adverts

Martin Clunes has been axed from Churchill car insurance adverts after being disqualified from driving.

Martin Clunes on the father he never knew

Martin Clunes, the actor, has spoken frankly about the father he "didn't really know", labelling him a "bit of a p----".

This is one Christmas special from which you can't expect to hear too much goodwill to all men. It may have the jovial Martin Clunes returning for his tenth stint as guest host, but his hearty chuckle will not dull the sharp edge of Ian Hislop's satirical swipes at captains of industry, bankers, the Government, the opposition - anyone he feels he can accuse of hypocrisy basically.

Paul Merton's rants at the absurdities of the lighter side of the news should see Clunes's face crumple into paroxysms of laughter - he's always served as the lighter side to Hislop's more serious tone, but as the series has progressed the steady accumulation of idiocy in the world has proved enough to really get his goat.

Martin Clunes is a veteran host of the topical news quiz - and clearly a favourite, as he is invited back here to present the Christmas special. Never short of material, team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton have had almost too much to play with in 2011, what with the phone-hacking scandal leading to the public airing of the tabloid media's laundry.

Happy 50th, Martin Clunes

The man known, in recent years, for his portrayal of the ornery, cantankerous, cranky (pick one) Doctor Martin Ellingham in the hit British comedy/drama, Doc Martin, turns the big 5-0 today.

Comedies have always been big on friendships, be they soulmates or odd couples. Men Behaving Badly's Gary and Tony were always the former and so it seems are actors Martin Clunes and Neil Morrissey: writer Simon Nye admits that it was sometimes difficult to see where his scripts ended and real-life began. There's a chance to witness some of that spark here thanks to a montage of very funny bloopers. Of course, get the chemistry right and you have a mucker for life - as the 295 episodes of Last of the Summer Wine demonstrate.

High on a cocktail of prescription drugs and faced with the unwelcome prospect of quiet retirement with her dull husband, Mrs Tishell (Selina Cadell) decides it is now or never to discover whether her infatuation with the Doc (Martin Clunes) might be reciprocated. Her idea of seduction - which involves using baby James Henry as bait - proves not only desperate but dangerous, providing a real, er, cliffhanger for the final moments of the series.