Cornwall’s grumpy Doctor returning to ITV
Martin Clunes is to reprise his role as Doc Martin, as Series 8 begins filming in Cornwall.
Dr. Martin Ellingham, the GP with a brusque bedside manner and a phobia of blood, returns for eight new episodes, alongside Caroline Catz who plays his wife and local school headmistress, Louisa Ellingham.
After having therapy to save their marriage in the last series, they face the challenge of living happily together with their baby James Henry.
The ITV drama, which averages nine million viewers, will also see the return of Dame Eileen Atkins as his formidable Aunt Ruth, who is beginning to doubt the wisdom of going into business with Bert Large (Ian McNeice) and his son Al (Joe Absolom).
Meanwhile, wedding bells are ringing for unlucky in love PC Joe Penhale (John Marquez), who popped the question to the Doc’s nanny Janice Bone (Robyn Addison), in the last series and is looking forward to marital bliss. Will the course of true love run smoothly at last for Portwenn’s police officer?
Jessica Ransom, Selina Cadell and Malcolm Storry will also reprise their roles.
Art Malik will be guest starring as John Rahmanzai, a visitor to Port Wenn, who surprises Ruth with information about someone from her past.
Martin Clunes says: “I’m thrilled to be back on the beautiful North Cornish coast to shoot series eight of Doc Martin. The Doc is as obstinate as ever, but he is trying his best to be a better husband and father.”
Doc Martin is filmed in Port Isaac, Cornwall and Produced by Buffalo Pictures. The series is written by Jack Lothian, Richard Stoneman, Julian Unthank, Colin Bateman and Andy Rattenbury.
