Doc Martin series 10 had been hit by unavoidable delays due to ‘The C Word’ but – good news! – filming has finally begun. Hu-bloody-rrah!
Series 9 of Doc Martin ended on an explosive cliffhanger in November 2019 and, ever since, fans have been waiting for more episodes.
ITV has confirmed the cast – headed by Martin Clunes as grumpy Dr Martin Ellingham – and crew are working on eight new instalments in Port Isaac, Cornwall – the location for the fictional hamlet of Portwenn.
And there’s even going to be a Christmas special as loyal fans bid farewell to the much-loved show.
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There’s also a documentary in the pipeline. Doc Martin: A Celebration – its working title – will ‘highlight the amazing longevity and impact both locally and around the world of Doc Martin over the years, as well as giving the audience a glimpse behind the scenes of the final series with the cast and crew’.
What could be better than that? Well, besides not ending the series…
How did Doc Martin series 9 end?
Last series, Martin was under investigation by the General Medical Council.
The finale saw surgeon Bernard Newton (Tom Conti) arrive in Portwenn to assess the doctor and his practice.
After resigning, he anxiously braced himself to return home and tell his wife Louisa the news.
But when he got to the house, she had even bigger news – Louisa, who had quit her job at the school, was pregnant.
Which Doc Martin cast are back for series 10?
Caroline Catz returns as Martin’s wife Louisa who, at the end of series 9, resigned from her job as headmistress at the local school to pursue a new career in child counselling.
Dame Eileen Atkins is also back as Aunt Ruth, Ian McNeice returns as Bert Large, alongside son Al, played Joe Absolom.
John Marquez as PC Joe Penhale, Jessica Ransom as the GP receptionist Morwenna Newcross and Selina Cadell as pharmacist Mrs Tishell are also back.
What happens in the final Doc Martin series?
This final series sees Doc Martin questioning his decision to resign. He makes efforts to overcome his blood phobia.
He’s also adapting to life as a father-of-two as he and Louise have welcomed a baby daughter, Mary Elizabeth, a sister for four-year-old James Henry.
Martin finds himself being a very hands-on dad, while Louisa becomes breadwinner.
Will Doc Martin become a GP again?
Speaking on This Morning back in 2020, Martin hinted that his character would finally try to get to grips with his phobia in series 10.
Martin explained: “He does have that problem with blood and he did let himself down a bit, but rather than be put through an exam by the General Medical Council he just pulled the rug on it, he was fed up with it.
“But I’m guessing he’s going to get back in the saddle… yes he will, he will. We’ll find a way.”
Martin Clunes on Doc Martin series 1o
Star of the show Martin Clunes says: “I have loved going to Cornwall to make Doc Martin over the last 18 years, and I have looked forward to returning to this beautiful county this year for the tenth and final series.
“The people of Cornwall, and Port Isaac in particular, have always been so helpful to us when we are making the series.
“We have some great story lines for the new series, and for the Christmas special, which I hope Doc Martin fans will love.
“I shall miss Cornwall, and all the lovely people we have worked with. But it is the right time to say farewell to the Doc, and Portwenn.”
Doc Martin series 10 Christmas special
ITV’s Head of Drama Polly Hill adds: “If this really has to be the final series of Doc Martin, we thought we’d also commission a Christmas special!
“It’ll be sad to see the series come to an end after entertaining audiences on ITV for the last 18 years, but we’ll make sure the finale is memorable and befitting such a success story. Our thanks to Martin Clunes, Philippa Braithwaite and the amazing cast and crew for creating such a special series.”
Why is series 10 the last for Doc Martin?
After the end of series 9, Martin Clunes said in a joint statement with writer Philippa Braithwaite: “We have loved making nine series of Doc Martin.
“When we launched the series in 2004 we could never have imagined how much our loyal viewers would take to the grumpy Doc like they have.
“The series has avid fans both in the UK and throughout the world and we are thrilled that Doc Martin has topped the ratings every time. ‘However, after sixteen years we now feel that the time has come to say goodbye to Portwenn.
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“We will be making the tenth and final series in 2021 and we are very much looking forward to returning to Cornwall to film it.”
And during a chat on Lorraine in 2020, he revealed it was the right time to finish the show.
“I think everyone will probably appreciate it’s time to finish, but it feels like a really good time to finish,” he said.
Is Doc Martin based on a real person?
Doc Martin is based on the real life experiences of Dr Martin Scurr.
The retired doctor was a GP for 25 years before recently deciding to retire.
He has consulted on every single series of Doc Martin to date.
During an interview on This Morning, he revealed how he got involved with the hit series.
“Well at the start [the first writer] came two see me,” he said.
“He said he’d won the gig to write this series and he admitted he had no idea where to begin with general practice.
“So we took ourselves down to Portobello Road with an exercise book and sat in a cafe and I told him funny stories from my life.
“Most of them outrageous, unpronounceable and perhaps not to be revealed on screen.”
Dr Martin added: “I never thought it could go on so long and yet as we got to the second and third series, I began to realise that we’d happened upon a really good seam go gold here.
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“Educational, worthwhile and teaching everybody that the doctor can be a bit stranger but he can still be very competent.
“And what matters is that he’s available and that he can communicate and gives continuity.
“That’s a good message for general practice, I think.”
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This article was updated to include new pictures.