British Comedy Guide
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.

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Series 1, Episode 1 - Going Bodmin

Doctor Martin Ellingham, new to Cornwall and the fishing village of Portwenn, doesn't have the easiest of starts when every aspect of local life seems to go against the grain, and male patients appear to be growing breasts.

Further details

Doctor Martin Ellingham (Martin Clunes) has given up his career as an eminent London surgeon and retrained as a GP. A vacancy arises in the Cornish village of Portwenn following the death of the local doctor. Martin has fond memories of the little fishing port where he spent happy childhood holidays with his Aunt Joan, and makes the move south-west some 30 years since his last visit.

Flying down to interview for the post, Martin takes a close interest in a woman whom he is sitting opposite. His intense scrutiny unsettles the woman and she moves down the cabin, after a few annoyed words.

When he arrives to be interviewed, he finds the woman is schoolteacher Louisa Glasson, the lay member of the interviewing panel. Louisa is particularly tough in her questioning of Martin. As he leaves the interview Louisa begins to offer a stern warning on his conduct in the village - and Martin advises Louisa to see an eye specialist as he has detected acute glaucoma.

However, Martin quickly finds that the idyllic seaside life he had imagined is not forthcoming: the interview was the easy part. He is faced with hostile locals unwilling to play by his rules, a surgery out of the 1850s, crazed drivers, a stray dog, annoying youths - and a curious case of local men growing breasts. All before helping to wreck the marriage of two pillars of the community.

He's not even formally opened his practice yet, and Doctor Ellingham has already had more than he can take of Portwenn...

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 2nd September 2004
Time
9pm
Channel
ITV1
Length
60 minutes

Upcoming repeats

  1. Friday 13th December 2024 at 8:00pm on ITV3

Cast & crew

Cast
Martin Clunes Dr Martin Ellingham
Caroline Catz Louisa Glasson
Ian McNeice Bert Large
Joe Absolom Al Large
Stephanie Cole Joan Norton
Stewart Wright PC Mark Mylow
Lucy Punch Elaine Denham
Guest cast
Celia Imrie Susan Brading
Richard Johnson Colonel Gilbert Spencer
Felicity Montagu Caroline Bosman (Radio Presenter)
Vincent Franklin Chris Parsons
Finlay Robertson Ross
Eddie Webber Mover
Paul Worden Fisherman 1
Roy Wilson Fisherman 2
Richard Harvey Bob
Hamish Hamilton Marcus
Mackenzie Thorpe Courier
Writing team
Dominic Minghella Writer
Production team
Ben Bolt Director
Philippa Braithwaite Producer
Mark Crowdy Executive Producer
Nick McPhee Editor
Anthony Ainsworth Production Designer
Colin Towns Composer

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