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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 4, Episode 8 - The Wrong Goodbye

Martin and Pauline are surprised by the number of patients coming to see him on the last day before his Surgery closes and he moves to London.

Further details

Doc Martin. Image shows from L to R: Bert Large (Ian McNeice), Al Large (Joe Absolom). Copyright: Buffalo Pictures / Homerun Productions

Edith comes to see Martin to discuss the previous night's events in the hotel. Edith says she will see Martin again when he is settled in London.

Taxi driver Tommy delivers a patient to the Surgery, but complains of migraine headaches himself. Martin checks him for any serious brain conditions, and tells him to make an appointment with the new doctor if the headaches continue.

Martin visits Louisa at the school to finalise financial arrangements for after the birth. Louisa's teaching assistant Tasha is rehearsing a musical number that the schoolchildren will be performing at tomorrow's Harbour Day celebrations.

Bert has cooked up a new scheme to recycle the used vegetable oil from the restaurant. Al has his doubts, but Bert is adamant he is helping save the planet.

Aunt Joan visits Martin in the evening to help him finish packing.

Martin is surprised when Pauline arrives the next day, but she is getting the Surgery ready for the new doctor, who is keeping her on.

Martin helps one of his removal men, Will, with a minor medical condition, and pays a final visit to Mrs Tishell, raising her hopes of a romantic parting. She has made a unique leaving gift for Martin.

Tasha leads the schoolchildren down for their Harbour Day performance, but Louisa will not be able to attend because she has a routine hospital appointment. Tasha appears a little dizzy, and Martin is concerned. He tells her to make an appointment with the new doctor.

Warning: Major Spoiler Follows

Martin is driving out of Portwenn with the removal men when he sees Tasha fall from the Harbour Day stage. With a little bit of help from a guilty Bert and Al, he is able to diagnose Tasha's medical condition, and is shocked to learn that she is married to taxi driver Tommy, who is driving Louisa to her hospital appointment. Louisa's life is in danger.

Martin rushes after Louisa, finding her safe at the scene of a road accident caused by Tommy. Martin and Louisa help Tommy to a nearby inn where his medical condition can be treated.

Martin stabilises Tommy successfully, but due to her exertions, Louisa goes into premature labour...

Broadcast details

Date
Sunday 8th November 2009
Time
9pm
Channel
ITV1
Length
60 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
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
Guest cast
Ruby Pender Little Susie (Student)
June Marlow Mrs Rudd
Sophie Thompson Tasha
Nigel Betts Tommy
Pameli Benham Mrs Wilson
Andy Robb Mick
Darren Clarke Will
Roger Walker Publican
Tim Faraday John (Paramedic)
Amanda Daniels Sarah (Paramedic)
Angela McGowan 1st Patient
Callum Dixon 2nd Patient
Robert Putt Old Man
Writing team
Jack Lothian Writer
Robert Leedham Script Editor
Production team
Ben Bolt Director
Philippa Braithwaite Producer
Mark Crowdy Executive Producer
Nick McPhee Editor
Andrew Purcell Production Designer
Colin Towns Composer

Press

If I had to name a TV guilty pleasure, then Doc Martin would be near the top of the list, if guilt is the right way to describe being swaddled in an eiderdown of cosy eccentricity. Either way, it's been the perfect X Factor comedown, so the Doc's departure last night will leave a grumpy hole in my heart. Except, of course, he'll be back. We'd been led to believe Martin Clunes was packing up his stethoscope and departing Cornwall, lured back to London by daft thoughts of a brilliant career. The subtext being Clunes was yearning to do more documentaries on dogs, or the Orkneys, or whatever. But all it took was a popped sprog and a baleful look from Louisa and his irascible armour, nurtured over four series, collapsed in a mist of paternal pride. Well, for 30 seconds at least.

So we haven't seen the last of Clunes and his coterie of clotted admirers. The love that burns bright in the breasts of Mrs Tishell and PC Penhale - there really is something about a man with a stethoscope - may yet speak its name.

Keith Watson, Metro, 9th November 2009

Dr Martin Ellingham (Martin Clunes) welcomes in a tide of patients for his last day of surgery in Portwenn, in the final episode of this series of the comedy drama about a GP in a sleepy Cornish village. Before his move back to London, Martin dispatches a raft of last-minute medical cases, even tending to one of his removal men. Tasha (Sophie Thompson), too, is suffering a dizzy spell, and it remains to be seen whether Martin can make his departure without Louisa (Caroline Catz), pregnant, requiring his attentions.

Robert Collins, The Telegraph, 7th November 2009

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