
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.
- Series 6, Episode 1 repeated Saturday at 10:50am on ITV3
Streaming rank this week: 1,132
Episode menu
Series 4, Episode 5 - The Departed
Further details

Robert can tell that Martin is excited to be back in the world of surgery, and is pleased that Martin has finally conquered his debilitating haemophobia. Robert is confident that Martin will get the job.
On the train back to Cornwall, Martin is annoyed to be seated next to one of his patients, a sheep farmer named Jim Selkirk. Jim is a noisy eater, and when he falls asleep, he slumps on to Martin's shoulder. But when Martin tries to rouse him, he discovers that Jim has died of heart failure.
On his arrival in Portwenn, Martin is immediately summoned to Aunt Joan's farm. Louisa has taken some schoolchildren there on an educational trip, but one of the boys, Theo Wenn, has been naughty behind her back, and Aunt Joan has punished him by locking him inside the chicken coop. The boy, Theo, is having a panic attack.
In his Surgery, Martin is visited by Jim's widow, Mrs Selkirk. She is looking for emotional comfort, but Martin is not the person to provide it.
When Theo falls ill in Louisa's class, and is taken home, Theo's parents - Juliet and Richard Wenn - are certain that their child picked up the illness in Joan's chicken coop, and Martin cannot deny it is a possibility. The Wenns announce their intention to sue Aunt Joan.
Despite what he allowed Robert to think, Martin has not fully conquered his blood phobia, and he must visit Dr Milligan, a highly-rated cognitive behavioural therapist recommended by Edith. The session does not go according to plan, but Dr Milligan is charm personified, even when Martin walks out.
Mrs Selkirk returns to Martin's Surgery, and tells him she is now seeing visions of her dead husband. Martin orders her to get some rest.
Joan receives a threatening letter from the Wenns' solicitor and, on top of all her other financial difficulties with the farm, it causes her to collapse. Martin attends, but once he has left, Joan hurries to the Wenns' home to try and make things right. The Wenns are unsympathetic, and Joan - on the spur of the moment - lies to them about Theo's medical test results clearing her of any responsibility for his illness. Martin is furious with Joan when he discovers she has lied.
Martin receives a CD recording by Dr Milligan to help overcome his phobia.
When Mrs Selkirk is found collapsed in her sheep pen, Martin is able to uncover the medical reason behind her hallucinations, and when he receives Theo's test results, they do point to Joan's innocence and Martin is finally able to identify the real source of Theo's sickness.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Sunday 18th October 2009
- Time
- 9pm
- Channel
- ITV1
- Length
- 60 minutes
Cast & crew
Martin Clunes | Dr Martin Ellingham |
Caroline Catz | Louisa Glasson |
Ian McNeice | Bert Large |
Joe Absolom | Al Large |
Selina Cadell | Mrs Tishell |
John Marquez | PC Penhale |
Stephanie Cole | Joan Norton |
Katherine Parkinson | Pauline Lamb |
Lia Williams | Edith Montgomery |
Nicholas Le Prevost | Robert Dashwood |
Gwen Taylor | Mrs Selkirk |
Dave Hill | Jim Selkirk |
Sylvestra Le Touzel | Juliet Wenn |
Anthony Calf | Richard Wenn |
Andrew Byrne | Theo Wenn |
Paul Ready | Dr Milligan |
Sian Brooke | Claire |
Jack Lothian | Writer |
Robert Leedham | Script Editor |
Minkie Spiro | Director |
Philippa Braithwaite | Producer |
Mark Crowdy | Executive Producer |
John Stothart | Editor |
Andrew Purcell | Production Designer |
Colin Towns | Composer |
Mark Hadfield | Conductor |
Press
Surely that can't be seaside doctor Martin Ellingham striding across Westminster Bridge? Yes, that's him, walking as usual like a man who's just got off a horse, heading for a crucial interview that could clinch him the surgeon's job at a posh hospital in the capital. It's a successful visit, though Martin lies about overcoming his blood phobia, but the journey home on the train is more eventful, when an expansive Portwenn drunk drops dead in front of him. There are nice scenes involving a philosophical train guard: "I suppose it reminds you how precious life is...to live each moment like the last, carpe diem, hakuna matata," but the drama barely dents Martin's breeze-block facade. It's hard to believe Martin wants to turn his back on Portwenn and its deranged inhabitants. Who'd want to leave irritating, clingy schoolteacher Louisa, even though she's pregnant with Martin's baby? And surely Martin could never turn his back on his daft aunt, who imprisons a horrible schoolchild in a chicken coop.
Alison Graham, Radio Times, 18th October 2009