Doc Martin is a British comedy-drama that has aired on ITV1 since 2004, with a first series of six episodes. The episode number for the second series increased to eight. This was followed by a special bonus Christmas episode and a third series of seven episodes. The next two series aired eight episodes each. Therefore, 38 episodes (from the 5 series plus the stand-alone Christmas Special) have aired so far. The latest series had it's original UK broadcast in 2011 and commisioning of a sixth series has yet to be announced.
Contents |
| Series | Episodes | Originally aired | DVD Release | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series premiere | Series finale | Region 2 (UK) | Region 1 (USA) | |||
| 1 | 6 | 2 September 2004 | 7 October 2004 | 31 October 2005[1] | 12 June 2007[2] | |
| 2 | 8 | 10 November 2005 | 5 January 2006 | 3 April 2006[3] | 28 July 2009[4] | |
| Christmas Special | SPECIAL | 25 December 2006 | 29 September 2008[5] | 28 July 2009[4] | ||
| 3 | 7 | 24 September 2007 | 5 November 2007 | 18 February 2008[6] | 2 February 2010[7] | |
| 4 | 8 | 20 September 2009 | 8 November 2009 | 1 March 2010[8] | 6 July 2010[9] | |
| 5 | 8 | 12 September 2011 | 31 October 2011 | 5 March 2012 | TBA | |
| # | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Viewers (millions)[10] |
Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Going Bodmin" | Ben Bolt | Dominic Minghella | 9.93 | 2 September 2004 |
| Martin attends an interview for the post of GP. Having unwittingly offended local teacher Louisa Glasson, he spontaneously diagnoses her glaucoma. Although pleased to renew his acquaintance with his Auntie Joan with whom he spent holidays as a boy, he is less than enamoured of the other locals he encounters and the state of his predecessor's surgery. He also inadvertently uncovers an affair between a teenager and the wife of the Lieutenant Colonel, leading to a divorce, a reconciliation and then a punch on his nose. Disillusioned he decides that he has made a mistake and will return to London.[11] | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Gentlemen Prefer" | Ben Bolt | Dominic Minghella | 8.98 | 9 September 2004 |
| Martin's surgery officially opens for business, but patients continue to treat it as a drop-in cafe. Former teacher Roger Fenn is hoarse and has a lump on his neck, so Martin refers him to a specialist for a biopsy. Martin also sacks Elaine as his receptionist for her general attitude and incompetence after she inaccurately takes down the name or phone number of a boy with suspected appendicitis.[11] | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Sh*t Happens" | Ben Bolt | Dominic Minghella | 8.91 | 16 September 2004 |
| A stomach bug sweeps the village and patients fill Martin's surgery. Roger Fenn is diagnosed with cancer and must have surgery which may cost the former singer his voice. Martin appears on the local radio station in an attempt to alert the village to a potential health scare, but his efforts misfire. Bert Large and his son have an argument over college and the future of the family businesses.[11] | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "The Portwenn Effect" | Ben Bolt | Dominic Minghella | 9.31 | 23 September 2004 |
| Louisa buys two tickets to the Portwenn Players Dance and invites Martin. He doesn't want to go so Louisa offers the ticket to Mark instead. Peter Cronk, a boy at Louisa's school, causes trouble on a wildlife trip and Martin meets the Park Ranger Stewart, who believes he lives with a 6 foot squirrel named Anthony.[11] | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Of All the Harbours in All the Towns" | Ben Bolt | Kirstie Falkous & John Regier | 9.45 | 30 September 2004 |
| John Slater, an old flame of Joan's, returns to the village hoping to rekindle his love affair with her, but Martin discovers he has a life-threatening heart condition. 15 year old Melanie Gibson has a crush on the doctor after he mends her dislocated shoulder.[11] | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Haemophobia" | Ben Bolt | Dominic Minghella | 9.31 | 7 October 2004 |
| Martin is forced to confront his fear of blood, both when the town plays a prank on him involving ketchup as a fake injury, and when Peter, a young lad of the town suffers a ruptured spleen that needs to be urgently operated on.[11] | ||||||
| # | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Viewers (millions)[10] |
Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1 | "Old Dogs" | Ben Bolt | Dominic Minghella & Edana Minghella | 8.86 | 10 November 2005 |
| Louisa's old flame, Danny Steel, comes to Portwenn hoping to rekindle their romance. He is furious with Martin for interfering with his mother's move to a nursing home. A man who has a habit of inexplicably injuring himself consults Martin.[12] | ||||||
| 8 | 2 | "In Loco" | Ben Bolt | Richard Stoneman | 8.19 | 17 November 2005 |
| Louisa interviews for a position as headmistress and crosses Martin by insisting that children with a highly contagious disease should still come to school against the doctor's wishes. Peter stays with Martin after Peter's mother suffers serious burns.[12] | ||||||
| 9 | 3 | "Blood is Thicker" | Ben Bolt | Jack Lothian | 9.26 | 24 November 2005 |
| Al discovers that Bert is not his natural father; Martin diagnoses food poisoning for a rural family with a mysterious unseen mother.[12] | ||||||
| 10 | 4 | "Aromatherapy" | Ben Bolt | Dominic Minghella & Edana Minghella | 8.99 | 1 December 2005 |
| An old man, inexplicably emanating a horrible stench, consults Doctor Ellingham; and the local radio host, Caroline, seems to have a serious drinking problem. Julie Mitchell arrives in Portwenn and immediately catches the attention of PC Mark Mylow.[12] | ||||||
| 11 | 5 | "Always on My Mind" | Ben Bolt | Richard Stoneman | 8.56 | 8 December 2005 |
| Martin examines Helen Pratt, but she collapses and dies. Her husband, Phil, is angry with the doctor and blames him for his wife's death. A feud develops between Phil and Helen's long-time friend Joan after Phil becomes convinced that Joan knew something secret about him. Joan encourages Martin to explain the circumstances of Helen's death to Phil, having previously been extremely cold and insensitive following her death. Pauline begins training to become a member of the lifeboat crew, flirting with her instructor, Ross, in the process, causing Al to become jealous.[12] | ||||||
| 12 | 6 | "The Family Way" | Ben Bolt | Dominic Minghella & Edana Minghella | 8.83 | 15 December 2005 |
| Martin's cold and difficult parents come to stay with him. He hasn't seen them for seven years, and is puzzled as to why they should turn up out of the blue. Mark and Julie get engaged. Danny Steel's lung collapses whilst renovating a house and Martin examines a woman with what she claims is a thyroid, but the results turn out to be rather different.[12] | ||||||
| 13 | 7 | "Out of the Woods" | Minkie Spiro | Jack Lothian | 8.11 | 22 December 2005 |
| PC Mark Mylow spends his stag night sleeping rough in the woods with Al Large and gets bitten by an adder. The doctor doesn't have a clue where they are and his only hope lies with the area's park ranger - Stewart.[12] | ||||||
| 14 | 8 | "Erotomania" | Minkie Spiro | Dominic Minghella & Edana Minghella | 8.60 | 5 January 2006 |
| Martin tries to persuade Mrs. Tishell, the pharmacist, to remove her collar, which she has worn for years. Louisa breaks up with Danny after career disagreements. A man from the Salvation Army arrives in Portwenn trying to trace a girl who left her home. Who could he be after?[12] | ||||||
| # | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Viewers (millions)[10] |
Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | SPECIAL | "On the Edge" | Ben Bolt | Jack Lothian | 5.88 | 25 December 2006 |
| Martin learns that he is under investigation for rude and condescending behavior with the end result that he may have to go on a 2 week course to improve his people skills. Pauline advises him that he will have to find a new receptionist as she is returning to university to study nursing. Bert Large thinks he's struck gold when word gets out that a rare bird is nesting in the local cliffs so he borrows the police van to offer guided tours. Louisa Glasson's father Terry suddenly re-appears in the village accompanied by his bi-polar friend, Jonathan. Terry had left the village under a cloud when he was accused of stealing money from the lifeboat fund but he has always maintained his innocence and Louisa remains his staunchest defender. Things get serious when Jonathan stops taking his medication and takes Martin, Louisa and Pauline prisoner.[13] | ||||||
| # | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Viewers (millions)[10] |
Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 1 | "The Apple Doesn't Fall" | Ben Bolt | Richard Stoneman | 8.10 | 24 September 2007 |
| Martin believes Louisa may be anaemic after she passes out in front of her class. A young girl is treated for her hyperactivity when its discovered she's been taking her Mum's diet pills. And PC Joe Penhale arrives in Portwenn, arousing attention from the doc, who discovers him unconscious at the wheel of his police car.[14] | ||||||
| 17 | 2 | "Movement" | Ben Bolt | Nick Vivan | 8.58 | 1 October 2007 |
| Bert Large abandons his plumbing business in favour of running a restaurant. Following the restaurant's opening, several cases of food poisoning occur with Louisa being one of the victims.[14] | ||||||
| 18 | 3 | "City Slickers" | Ben Bolt | Richard Stoneman | 8.84 | 8 October 2007 |
| A couple and their son move in next door to Louisa causing problems for her, Martin and the local people. Residents also begin to discover something unusal about PC Penhale[14] | ||||||
| 19 | 4 | "The Admirer" | Ben Bolt | Jack Lothian | 8.81 | 15 October 2007 |
| Hotel owner Carrie Wilson has her sights on Martin much to Louisa's chagrin. Joan has an admirer in painter Edward Melville, who is 30 years younger than she.[14] | ||||||
| 20 | 5 | "The Holly Bears a Prickle" | Ben Bolt | Ben Bolt | 9.21 | 22 October 2007 |
| Martin and Louisa go out on a date, but it is ruined by an inappropriate remark, and Louisa ends their relationship. Louisa's friend, Holly, injures her back while walking in Portwenn.[14] | ||||||
| 21 | 6 | "Nowt So Queer" | Ben Bolt | Keith Temple | 9.92 | 29 October 2007 |
| Martin and Louisa finally get engaged, and plans are made for the wedding. Mushrooms turn out to be the cause of ill health in the village.[14] | ||||||
| 22 | 7 | "Happily Ever After" | Ben Bolt | Jack Lothian | 10.37 | 5 November 2007 |
| On the day of their wedding, Louisa's bridesmaid is hit in the eye with a party popper; Martin suggests the vicar has a drink problem and later catches him with a bottle of whisky. The vicar ends up in hospital after falling over and fracturing his hip. Martin has to find a replacement.[14] | ||||||
| # | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Viewers (millions)[10] |
Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 1 | "Better the Devil" | Ben Bolt | Jack Lothian | 8.30 | 20 September 2009 |
| Life in the beautiful Cornish village of Portwenn has become ever more infuriating for Dr. Martin Ellingham since the heart-wrenching decision to call off his marriage to local headmistress Louisa. Louisa has left the village, and Martin has begun to question what keeps him in Cornwall. It's certainly not his relentlessly annoying patients. Mrs Tishell's husband Clive returns to his wife and concerns the doctor with his lack of hearing. Martin's ex-fiancee Dr. Edith Montgomery aids a patient of his, and the pair immediately come to a disagreement over the patient's need for an operation.[15] | ||||||
| 24 | 2 | "Uneasy Lies the Head" | Ben Bolt | Ben Bolt | 8.03 | 27 September 2009 |
| Dr. Martin Ellingham struggles to deal with Louisa's news. But Louisa is adamant she does not want Martin involved. Auntie Joan, however, is highly insistent that she help Louisa through the pregnancy.[15] | ||||||
| 25 | 3 | "Perish Together as Fools" | Ben Bolt | Richard Stoneman | 8.71 | 4 October 2009 |
| Dr. Martin Ellingham is shocked to find Louisa and Aunt Joan knocking at his door before the Surgery has opened. Louisa has had a medical scare and wants Martin's reassurance that everything is fine. PC Joe Penhale's big brother Sam comes to Portwenn. Louisa moves in with an old man who wants to move to a nursing home but Martin refuses his request. The doctor is less than pleased when he hears the surgery needs to be re-decorated. Al Large goes to lengths in order to convince Pauline he is good enough for her.[15] | ||||||
| 26 | 4 | "Driving Mr. McLynn" | Minkie Spiro | Richard Stoneman | 9.21 | 11 October 2009 |
| Dr. Martin Ellingham is called to Louisa's new home after she has a dizzy spell while shifting furniture. Martin urges her to slow down, but is shocked to learn that Louisa has applied to be her school's headteacher again, with the previous one getting porphyria and having to leave. Martin refuses an application to an elderly couple for a disabled parking badge when the wheelchair bound man refuses to prove he is indeed disabled, thus when Martin tries to gain proof anyway, he ends up stabbing the man in his hand with a needle.[15] | ||||||
| 27 | 5 | "The Departed" | Minkie Spiro | Jack Lothian | 9.49 | 18 October 2009 |
| Dr. Martin Ellingham is in London to meet Robert Dashwood, who is leading the selection process for the prestigious Imperial College London surgeon's job that Martin has applied for. 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 blood phobia. Robert is confident that Martin will get the job. Meanwhile, a family sues Joan after she locks their highly troublesome child in her chicken coop.[15] | ||||||
| 28 | 6 | "Midwife Crisis" | Ben Bolt | Ben Bolt | 9.23 | 25 October 2009 |
| Dr. Martin Ellingham meets Portwenn's new midwife, Molly, who will be looking after Louisa. Martin is dismissive of her profession and irritated by her sexist attitude towards him and by her insistence that men aren't needed to help pregnant women. Thus the two of them do not hit it off.[15] | ||||||
| 29 | 7 | "Do Not Disturb" | Ben Bolt | Richard Stoneman | 9.95 | 1 November 2009 |
| Dr. Martin Ellingham seeks out Louisa to talk about his new surgeon's job at Imperial College London, but they are interrupted by Bert, who wants to plan a baby shower for Louisa. Joan opens up her house to the public as a B&B, and her first guest is an old friend with disgusting breath and a constipation issue. Martin and Pauline exchange angry words when she discovers a letter offering him a job at Imperial College London, with Martin incensed that she opened his mail in the first place.[15] | ||||||
| 30 | 8 | "The Wrong Goodbye" | Ben Bolt | Jack Lothian | 10.29 | 8 November 2009 |
| Dr. Martin Ellingham 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, but after a series of mishaps, including the taxi driver crashing his car with Louisa inside it, Louisa goes into labour and the Doc is facing a dilemma; should he move away or stick around to support Louisa and their newborn child?[15] | ||||||
On 1 April 2010, ITV confirmed the commissioning of a fifth series of Doc Martin.[16] Series Five began airing at 9pm on Monday 12 September 2011.
| # | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Viewers (millions)[10] |
Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 1 | "Preserve the Romance" | Ben Bolt | Ben Bolt | 9.85 | 12 September 2011 |
| Curmudgeonly GP Martin Ellingham's plans to resume his career as a consultant in London are put on hold with the birth of the baby he fathered with his now estranged partner, Louisa Glasson. At the surgery, new GP Dr Diana Dibbs is excited to begin work, but Martin begins to have serious doubts about her competency after she misdiagnoses a patient and dishes out prescriptions for totally inappropriate drugs. Aunt Joan dies of a heart attack while driving. | ||||||
| 32 | 2 | "Dry Your Tears" | Ben Bolt | Richard Stoneman | 10.31 | 19 September 2011 |
| Determined to get to grips with fatherhood he asks Louisa to move into his house so he can help to raise their child. He even suggests that Louisa and 'baby' could move to London with him. Louisa is none too sure about the move to London. Meanwhile, Aunt Joan's sister Ruth Ellingham turns up at Portwenn for Joan's funeral, she has no intentions of staying until Martin reveals that Joan's farm is all Ruth's. | ||||||
| 33 | 3 | "Born With a Shotgun" | Ben Bolt | Jack Lothian | 10.05 | 26 September 2011 |
| New receptionist Morwenna fails to make a good impression on the doc by arriving late on her first day. Her grandfather William gives her some 'magic pills' to make sure she is on time, and bright as a button at work. Sleepless nights are taking their toll on Martin and Louisa. Tempers are frayed as they try to find ways to comfort their constantly wailing baby. Meanwhile, Aunt Ruth is dealing with an intruder on the farm who has stolen the hub caps from her car. | ||||||
| 34 | 4 | "Mother Knows Best" | Ben Bolt | Chris Hurford, Tom Butterworth | 10.08 | 3 October 2011 |
| It's Portwenn Fun Day and the village is buzzing with excitement about this major fund raising event. PC Penhale is in his element rallying the runners and whipping up support. The event sparks culinary rivalry between Bert Large who runs Large's restaurant with son Al and Mark, the landlord of the Crab and Lobster pub. They are both keen to take advantage of the day to boost their takings by providing food for the runners and spectators. Also, Louisa's mother arrives unexpected, And Martin and Louisa find their baby is sleeping through usual feeds until they find out her mother gave the baby some of her brew to calm it down. | ||||||
| 35 | 5 | "Remember Me" | Paul Seed | Jack Lothian | 10.29 | 10 October 2011 |
| PC Joe Penhale has an unexpected visitor in the shape of his ex-wife Maggie, who appears to have completely forgotten that they split up a couple of years ago. Joe takes her to Large's restaurant, where fellow diner Martin quickly spots that Maggie is showing symptoms of amnesia. Louisa's mother Eleanor catches up with her old school friend Paul, a local fisherman, who takes her out on a date. Morwenna arrives at the surgery with an injured foot and the doctor grimaces at the sight of the blood as he treats the wound. PC Penhale warns Martin and Louisa that if they do not register a name for their baby soon, the state will be forced to step in. In the end they name their son James Henry Ellingham. | ||||||
| 36 | 6 | "Don't Let Go" | Ben Bolt | Chris Hurford, Tom Butterworth | 10.49 | 17 October 2011 |
| In an effort to get Maggie to stay in Portwenn after she gets the all-clear, PC Joe Penhale tries to prove that he is the man for her - and even engineers situations where he can show off his macho side to impress her. Maggie does eventually leave but she and PC Penhale part on good terms. Martin steps in when school caretaker Mr Coley becomes confused after breathing carbon monoxide and puts the children of the school at risk. Tensions mount between Martin and Louisa as they find themselves unable to agree on anything, from schooling for their son to what to have for dinner. Feeling that things will never change, not wanting to move to London and that Martin is incapable of showing affection Louisa takes James Henry and moves in with her mother. | ||||||
| 37 | 7 | "Cats & Sharks" | Paul Seed | Richard Stoneman | 10.48 | 24 October 2011 |
| Bert Large's restaurant business is in financial trouble. He can't even afford the food and drink for a charity event to raise money for Florence Dingle's cat sanctuary. Mrs Dingle is distraught. She desperately needs the money to continue to look after the cats and kittens in her care. Bert is also being chased by loan sharks Alastair Tonken and his son Norman for the repayment of £1,000 they gave him to clear his debts, warning of repercussions if he doesn't pay up. Mrs Tishell's infatuation for Martin increases, encouraged by his continued separation from Louisa. Martin, assisted by Morwenna, performs an emergency hernia operation on mother-in-law Eleanor and saves her life, when the ambulance's arrival is delayed. | ||||||
| 38 | 8 | "Ever After" | Ben Bolt | Jack Lothian | 10.26 | 31 October 2011 |
| Pharmacist Sally Tishell remains enamored of Martin, fuelled by a cocktail of drugs that are affecting her judgement. Martin asks her to babysit James Henry for the day. Mrs Tishell mis-dispenses eyedrops to PC Penhale causing him to crash his Land Rover. Mrs Tishell mistakenly thinks that Martin has sent her a covert message through a young couple he has treated and vanishes on a bus with James Henry to a nearby holiday home. Martin, Louisa, Aunt Ruth and PC Penhale chase after her. To coax her out of the locked house Martin pretends to profess his love for Sally and a desire to stay in Portwen, while actually aiming his remarks at Louisa. James Henry is rescued, Martin and Louisa profess their love, kiss and reconcile. | ||||||