Doc Martin (2004)

Doc Martin Episode Three review

Eileen Atkins shines in an episode focusing on Ruth's new radio career and a potential secret admirer.

Doc Martin - Series 6, Episode 3 review

After a couple of atypical episodes, Doc Martin returns to form with a full-blown romp, this time with the spotlight on Dr Ruth.

Doc Martin - Series 6, Episode 2 review

After the riotous opening episode in the dark woods last week, Doc Martin returns to sunny Portwenn and its picturesque jumble of dwellings crammed between the hills and the sea.

After last week's honeymoon farce, happily it's back to business as usual in Portwenn this week, with sweet baby James's childcare arrangements top of the agenda. The Doc doesn't trust childminder Mel - then again, he doesn't trust anybody - but when he pushes her too far, the Ellingham family is thrown into chaos. Step forward promising new character Mike Pruddy (Felix Scott), a handyman with many strings to his bow and, more than likely, a broken heart from his past.

After their disastrous honeymoon last week, newlyweds Louisa and Martin return to what passes for normal life in pretty Portwenn. Louisa (Caroline Katz) is back at school and baby James's new childminder Mel, throws the house into chaos when she's late for work. Martin (Martin Clunes) is uneasy about handing over his precious son to her, largely because she's constantly scratching herself. Martin's hopeless beside manner soon sends the new nanny into a fury and the Ellingham family into chaos just as they are about to entertain guests at dinner. Stand by for some comedy business involving a baby monitor.

After the excitement of last week's wedding, back to more prosaic fare for episode two: the titular doc reckons James' latest nanny might have hygiene issues; PC Penhale anonymously gathers some advice from Ruth that prompts a dramatic personality change; and Dennis's apparent fondness for drink turns out to be something altogether more serious and difficult.

As much live-action tourist brochure as TV drama, Doc Martin continues to be as undemanding and old-fashioned as always, while raking in viewing figures that must be the envy of series both more prestigious and nakedly crowd-pleasing. But this sort of gentle farce-cum-melodrama is much harder to pull off than it looks. To its credit, Doc Martin makes it look very easy.

Why does the nation love miserable Doc Martin?

I've always been fascinated by its huge success because it does nothing for me, says Alison Graham.

Doc Martin - Series 6, Episode 1 review

Ensemble incidents with their trademark quirky sparkle are few in this opening episode of the new series, which is driven as much by action as by the characters.

It's a rare thing but the pleasure of Doc Martin (ITV) is in the minor characters, the pepperings of humanity who surround Martin Clunes's borderline sociopathic central figure.

This made the opening episode of the current series rather tough going, as much of it was spent with just the Doc and his new bride, Louisa, traipsing about the woods in their wedding finery - a shotgun-toting spin on the old nightmare honeymoon night chestnut.

Obviously, Doc Martin is a fantasy show - it seems remarkably easy to get an appointment with the Portwenn GP - but it goes off the rails when it strays from its quirky community beat. Many shows get that horribly wrong, with all the supporting characters reduced to caricatures, but Doc Martin has created a credible TV community and it's a shame when it wastes them.

The idea last night was to pack some emotional muscle into Doc Martin and Louisa's oddball romance but it came across as laboured farce. It was back with babysitting Ruth (an underused Eileen Atkins), PC Penhale and a comedy power cut that Doc Martin got its old familiar glow back.

Last night's TV: Doc Martin

As Martin Clunes's melancholic doctor returns for his wedding day, the anthem could be: here comes the bride and gloom.