Doc Martin Is Hanging Up His Stethoscope
The next series of the hugely popular Doc Martin will be the tenth and final, producers have revealed today.
Filming is due to begin on the show, which stars Martin Clunes as the grumpy Cornish GP, early next year for a final time after 16 years on air.
The drama is set in the idyllic, sleepy Cornish village of Portwenn, where Doctor Martin Ellingham spent his childhood holidays.
His on-off love affair and eventual marriage to Louisa, played by long standing co-star Caroline Catz, created rare tender moments between the two characters as Martin often found it difficult to reveal his true feelings for her.
Dr Martin Ellingham and Louisa are parents to baby James Henry. Pic: ITV/Shutterstock
While explaining their decision to make the next season the last, Martin Clunes and producer Philippa Braithwaite asked fans to see the final series as a celebration of the character who has struck a chord with millions of viewers.
“We have loved making nine series of Doc Martin,” the pair said. “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. 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.”
Doc Martin has been on ITV since 2004. It has regularly featured Eileen Atkins, as Martin’s aunt Ruth, Ian McNeice as local businessman Bert Large, and Joe Absolom, as Bert’s son Al.
Martin Clunes is nominated for a Best Actor Award for his role in Doc Martin in this year’s TV Choice Awards and the results will be revealed this evening.
