Episodes cast for
"Doc Martin" (2004) More at IMDbPro »

Season: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
Year: 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011

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Season 1

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Season 1, Episode 1: Going Bodmin

2 September 2004
Dr. Martin Ellingham is a successful London surgeon who decides to relocate to the seaside village of Portwenn to practice medicine as a GP. His reasons for doing so are his own and even his aunt Joan, who lives locally, isn't quite sure what his motivation is. As Martin settles into the village he comes across the village characters: Bert Large and his son, who as general handymen take on fixing the plumbing in Martin's house; Colonel Gilbert Spencer who has a peculiar medical condition; and Louisa Glasson, the local school teacher who also happens to be the only member of the local medical advisory committee to argue against Martin's hiring in the first place. Martin's gruff demeanor and poor bedside manner brings him into conflict with several locals and he seriously considers packing it in.

Season 1, Episode 2: Gentlemen Prefer

9 September 2004
Martin's first official day on the job may be his last when he orders all and sundry, who seem to think the surgery is a town meeting place, out on the street. Having reached the end of his tether, he also fires his receptionist Elaine, only to find that pretty well everyone in village now shuns him. His aunt Joan suggests he should be a little more understanding, but that is not exactly Martin's style. One patient who does remain is Roger Fenn who has a lump in his throat that Martin fears may be cancerous. In a quiet moment, Martin reveals to him the phobia that has caused him to give up surgery and become a GP.

Season 1, Episode 3: Sh*t Happens

16 September 2004
When an epidemic of diarrhea strikes the village the doctor takes immediate action. This, however, does not go down well with the population.

Season 1, Episode 4: The Portwenn Effect

23 September 2004
The doctor pays a visit to the forester, who apparently shares his shack with a giant squirrel. Little Peter Cronk gets into trouble over some nest boxes.

Season 1, Episode 5: Of All the Harbours in All the Towns

30 September 2004
An old friend of Aunt Joan's turns up, stirring up old memories. In the meanwhile both Doc Martin and Elaine are struggling with other people's affections.

Season 1, Episode 6: Haemophobia

7 October 2004
Word is getting out in the village about the doctor's 'little problem' with blood. When Peter Cronk is hurt concern about him brings Martin and Louisa closer together.

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Season 2

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Season 2, Episode 1: Old Dogs

10 November 2005
With Elaine away with her boyfriend, Martin finds himself with a new receptionist in the form of her cousin, Pauline who arrives unannounced. He assists his aunt Joan by examining her friend, Muriel Steele. Her son, Danny Steele thinks she is displaying early signs of dementia and wants to put her in a home. Martin's initial examination reveals her to be perfectly normal but he must re-evaluate his diagnosis when she behaves oddly. Martin is also concerned when learns that Danny Steele and Louisa were once quite close and that they are apparently seeing each other again. Finally, he deals with the case of Eddie Rix who has a long history of injuries. He diagnoses any number of possible causes but the truth proves to be something completely unexpected.

Season 2, Episode 2: In Loco

17 November 2005
When his mother has to go to hospital, Peter Cronk needs a place to stay. The doctor isn't too keen, but Louise is busy with her candidature for headmistress.

Season 2, Episode 3: Blood Is Thicker

24 November 2005
Martin has to deal with PC Mark Mylow's sister Sandra, a naturopath who has returned to Portwenn selling her natural remedies. Martin's effort to have her consult before "prescribing" any of her concoctions falls on deaf ears. Martin also has to deal with a odd family where the father is a bit of a ruffian and his two adult sons are in fear of him. They obviously rely on their mother to calm the home situation, but Martin is concerned when he observes that she is kept locked in a room to which he is refused admission. Al Large and receptionist Pauline start dating and a chance remark on the colour of his eyes leads him to believe that Bert may not be his biological father. Aunt Joan helps Al deal with his doubts.

Season 2, Episode 4: Aromatherapy

1 December 2005
Martin has to deal with local radio host Caroline Bosman, who seems to be developing an dependence to alcohol and prescription drugs. Several people in the village are concerned about her well-being, but she refuses all help. Her problem may be more serious, however. Martin also has to help Mr. Cooke, who has a particular problem with bad odor. A new arrival in the village, Julie Mitchell, convinces local constable Mark Mylow to give her driving lessons.

Season 2, Episode 5: Always on My Mind

8 December 2005
When Helen Pratt dies at home, her husband Phil blames Martin. To make matters worse, the Pratts are aunt Joan's neighbors and in spite, he starts using pesticides near Joan's land thereby threatening her organic license, which is just now up for renewal. Pauline is thrilled to have been invited to join the Portwenn lifeboat squad but she uses the opportunity to flirt with the team captain in the hopes of making Al Large jealous. When he doesn't respond, she wonders if he's really interested. Mark Mylow and Julie Mitchell spend a pleasant afternoon together. Martin is asked to treat Tricia Soames, a teacher at the local school who has obsessive-compulsive disorder. Martin and Louisa make an effort to re-establish their friendship.

Season 2, Episode 6: The Family Way

15 December 2005
Martin's somewhat difficult parents come to visit from their home in Portugal. They have not spoken to one another for seven years and Martin finds his mother to be very withdrawn. His father, a retired surgeon, is somewhat dismissive of Martin's decision to become a small town doctor. Things come to a head when they all visit aunt Joan and the real reason for his father's visit comes to light. Martin also deals with Maureen Tacy who has been putting on weight despite attempts at dieting. Martin's conclusions are both surprising and delightful. Louisa's friend Danny has a serious attack while renovating his new home, but Martin comes to the rescue.

Season 2, Episode 7: Out of the Woods

22 December 2005
With Mark Mylow's wedding fast approaching, Martin is asked to be best man but he is at his abrupt best when he simply says no. Mark then enlist Al Large for the job telling that he doesn't have to organize a stag night as all Mark wants to do is go on an overnight camping trip in the woods. Things go from bad to worse when, after getting lost somewhere in the forest, Mark is bitten by a deadly snake. When Martin goes off to find him, he too gets lost.

Season 2, Episode 8: Erotomania

5 January 2006
Mark Mylow comes in for his medical check up and Martin is concerned at one particular aspect of his physiology. Combined with fiancée Julie's big news, this could mean some bumps in the road as far as their relationship is concerned. Danny asks Louisa something important but her ambivalence is compounded by the fact that he is also planning to return to London to undertake his dream architectural project. Martin and Louisa have a heart to heart talk and, in his cups, he tells her exactly how he feels. Martin takes pharmacist Mrs. Tishell to task for constantly wearing a neck brace pointing out that in most cases, it isn't required. When she removes it however, it becomes apparent that it is anything but a psychosomatic crutch.

Season 2, Episode 9: On the Edge

25 December 2006
Christmas special. The tranquility of Portwenn is disturbed when a group of birdwatchers descends on the village in search of a rare bird. Pauline announces that she wants to go to university, so Martin has to start looking for another receptionist. Louisa's father Terry arrives unannounced in Portwenn - could this have an effect on the relationship between Martin and Louisa?

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Season 3

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Season 3, Episode 1: The Apple Doesn't Fall

24 September 2007
Martin deals with the case of a young girl who has been acting out. When Louisa Glasson mentions Ritalin to the mother, Martin tries to point out that she is not qualified to give that kind of advice. A new police constable, Joe Penhale, arrives in Portwenn but seems to have a peculiar medical condition. Martin's aunt Joan has a car accident and Louisa faints while teaching a class. Pauline is bored with being a receptionist and desperately wants to give out medical advice so Martin has a proposal for her.

Season 3, Episode 2: Movement

1 October 2007
With Pauline away for a couple days, Martin gets a new receptionist, Poppy. Bert Large takes Martin's advice to change his lifestyle. Only his idea of a changed lifestyle is to give up being a handyman and open a restaurant. He doesn't quite have the hang of it, however and his stress level definitely doesn't go down. Louisa invites Martin for dinner but her plan falls apart when her new cooker doesn't work properly. When many of the villagers fall ill, Martin concludes that the problem is Bert's new restaurant, but the problem lies elsewhere.

Season 3, Episode 3: City Slickers

8 October 2007
Martin and Louisa are still trying to develop something of relationship, but their plan for dinner is again disrupted this time by Louisa's quirky new neighbors. Martin is particularly perturbed by their approach to child rearing especially when he learns that the child has been vandalizing cars. Martin also learns that in addition to being narcoleptic, Constable Joe Penhale is also agoraphobic. He feels he has no choice but to report him but aunt Joan reminds Martin that many individuals have phobias but are still able to work in their chosen profession.

Season 3, Episode 4: The Admirer

15 October 2007
Martin confirms to his aunt Joan that she suffers from osteoporosis. When she begins to have a relationship with someone much younger than herself, Martin has great difficulty accepting the fact, but she insists that she is having fun and has no intention of stopping. Carrie Wilson clearly has her sights set on Martin, much to Louisa's annoyance. PC Joe Penhale throws a party for himself. Al Large returns home after having been traveling for a awhile but it may not have been the holiday he makes it out to be.

Season 3, Episode 5: The Holly Bears a Prickle

22 October 2007
Martin and Louisa almost succeed in having a disaster-free date when they attend a outdoor concert together. They kiss but Martin is at his awkward best and ruins the moment. When they arrive back in Portwenn, Louisa announces that there is no possible hope for them as a couple and tells Martin that she will no longer see him. When a visiting friend suffers a serious injury, Martin comes to the rescue and he and Louisa find themselves going in yet another direction. Pauline's addiction to gambling becomes apparent and she is in dire need of assistance.

Season 3, Episode 6: Nowt So Queer

29 October 2007
The news of Martin and Louisa's engagement spreads throughout Portwenn quickly, courtesy of Dave the postman. The couple find that the only date open at the local church is three weeks away and there is much to do. Pauline really wants to be a bridesmaid. There's a sudden outbreak of a respiratory infection in the village. Martin treats a patient who recently received a knee replacement but is refusing to take antibiotics. She lives with her domineering sister a biochemist that, according to village gossip, was fired from her research job when she experimented on humans. Al Large has a look at the restaurant books and discovers several discrepancies.

Season 3, Episode 7: Happily Ever After

5 November 2007
Martin and Louisa's wedding day finally arrives but is everyone and everything ready? Several people ask Martin if he's really serious about this, planting a seed of doubt in his mind. Al and Bert Large are providing the catering but run into a major plumbing problem at the restaurant and have to make alternate arrangements. The florist is arrested for trying to steal a bicycle. Martin has an argument with the vicar over his drinking and then has to find a replacement when the man falls and breaks his leg. One of the bridesmaids, Isobel Brown, has a minor accident requiring Martin's attention but soon goes into labor. Can the couple survive all the disasters?.

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Season 4

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Season 4, Episode 1: Better the Devil

20 September 2009
Martin's fear of blood has not decreased and he almost gags when he has to remove a pencil from a schoolgirl's ear. For all this he is still interested in returning to surgery. Louisa has left town and a visit from ex-student colleague Edith, now a high flyer in private practice, helps sway him. However, when Joan's friend Barbara has an accident caused by Mrs. Tishell's husband Clive, who has gone deaf working on oil rigs, Edith wants to operate on her, but Martin overrules her, feeling, correctly, that Barbara can be treated at home. Edith comes to apologize and has not been in Martin's house for more than a few minutes when Louisa returns, extremely pregnant.

Season 4, Episode 2: Uneasy Lies the Head

27 September 2009
Louisa tells Martin she wants to be independent of him and moves into the pub. Tongues wag; Martin's admirer Sally Tishell is cold towards Louisa but Joan welcomes her with open arms and tells Martin to do his duty by her. Joan also offers Louisa accommodation as she has rented her house to new head Mr. Strain, who is acting VERY oddly, telling Martin that Louisa, who has gone back to the school as a teacher, wants his job. Joan takes Louisa for a scan - by Edith. Joan recalls Edith from the past and has never liked her. Strain has porphyria, hence his lunacy, and Martin slaps him and has him carted off after he has hit Louisa.

Season 4, Episode 3: Perish Together as Fools

4 October 2009
P.C. Joe Penhale's older brother Sam arrives and Martin employs him to paint the waiting room and surgery, but his lack of coordination leads the doctor to believe he is not well. Joe panics, believing the brothers have an hereditary disease but Sam's illness is actually caused by lead poisoning, as a result of his illegal side-line. Louisa gets nearer to renting a house in town, owned by an old hypochondriac whilst Martin is strangely touched when he sees her X-ray photo of the baby.

Season 4, Episode 4: Driving Mr McLynn

11 October 2009
Mr. McLynn asks Martin to help him apply for a disabled sticker for his car, claiming that he has been in a wheelchair for just over a year but Martin finds out that it's more like seven years and when Mrs. McLynn bangs into Joan's truck, it becomes obvious which partner really needs the doctor's help. Martin falls out with the rest of the PTA when he disapproves of Louisa getting her old job back and becoming a single working mother, but he does kiss Edith after she has recommended a therapist for his haemophobia.

Season 4, Episode 5: The Departed

18 October 2009
Martin lies about his haemophobia whilst interviewing for a surgeon's job in London, which he gets. Returning to Port Wenn by train, he sits next to Jim Selkirk, who drops down dead. Jim's widow visits the surgery, claiming Jim is telling her that she is ill. . .which she is, but not in the way she thinks. A grasping couple try to sue Joan when their brattish son falls sick after a visit to her farm but Martin proves their own lack of hygiene is the cause. A session with a very young therapist to cure the haemophobia is less successful however and Martin walks out on him.

Season 4, Episode 6: Midwife Crisis

25 October 2009
New midwife Molly O'Brien arrives in Portwenn and instantly clashes with Martin over care of Louisa.Fortunately Louisa comes to see that Molly is exploiting the situation for her feminist views and that it is Martin who really has her interests at heart. Martin tells Joan he has got the London job and Joan stresses the importance of staying in touch with his child.He drives to Truro to clinch the appointment but is side-tracked when he has to attend to an emergency involving Bert's cook's husband but Edith comes to his house to confirm the news, and Louisa overhears her.

Season 4, Episode 7: Do Not Disturb

1 November 2009
Annoyed that the reference Martin has given her terms her merely 'competent', Pauline works to rule. Chaos ensues. Joan starts a bed and breakfast, her first guest being Ted Nugent, a neighbour who has lost his farm. His breath smells vile and, after he collapses, Martin finds that it is due to his eating his hair in worry. Martin accompanies Edith to a conference where she is giving a speech. She has plans to spend the night with him but, after administering to the ills of the hotel staff, he returns to Portwenn instead.

Season 4, Episode 8: The Wrong Goodbye

8 November 2009
It's Martin's last day in Portwenn and the surgery is packed. Edith turns up, expecting an apology from Martin for walking out on her but of course does not get one and Joan again rebukes him for distancing himself from his child. As he is about to leave, Tasha, a school-teacher friend of Louisa, collapses. She has been inhaling fumes from an illegal bio-fuel used by her cab driver husband Tommy. She is all right but Tommy, who is driving Louisa to hospital for the birth, also collapses at the wheel and crashes the car. Martin races to save him and to help deliver the baby. It's a boy, and the whole of Portwenn, who have been listening via Pauline's amplified mobile phone, cheer Martin and Louisa and their new offspring.

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Season 5

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Season 5, Episode 1: Preserve the Romance

12 September 2011
Martin drives Louisa and their baby son back to her house in Portwenn,where the locals bring them presents. Diana Dibbs, Martin's nervous replacement,has already arrived,with her husband Gavin as her receptionist but Martin is not impressed by her competence - especially as she seems to have numerous ailments herself. Then he learns that Joan has died,causing him to stay for a week for her funeral. During that time he finds himself having to see to all the patients that Diana has misdiagnosed in addition to saving her life when she collapses. It looks as if he is still Portwenn's doctor,whether he likes it or not.

Season 5, Episode 2: Dry Your Tears

19 September 2011
Portwenn gathers to pay its last respects to Joan at a less than perfect funeral where the hearse is late,young pall-bearer Harry collapses,dropping the coffin and Joe Penhale's phone goes off. Martin's oration is also more of a health lecture. His parents do not show up but Joan's sister Ruth does,and is surprised to find Joan has left her the small-holding. With Al as her farm-hand and much relieved that her supposedly terminal illness was misdiagnosed,she decides to stay a while. Harry's condition worsens but Martin spots its cause as being his keep fit obsession though,with Pauline now moved to Bristol,chaos reigns at the surgery where Louisa and Martin are now living. Exhausted by motherhood Louisa gamely attempts to be Martin's receptionist but it is too much so she recommends yet another flaky local girl,Morwenna Newcross. Martin gets a call from London to say that a locum has been found for his new post there and he can stay in Cornwall until October.

Season 5, Episode 3: Born with a Shotgun

26 September 2011
Ruth is disturbed when reclusive neighbour Shirley Dunwich tells her that her surly young son Michael is trying to poison her, and, since Ruth has no liking for Michael, who stole her hub caps for his art installation, she believes her, informing Martin. Unfortunately this leads to a siege situation before Martin rectifies matters. Morwenna's eagerness to please does not endear her to Martin, who sacks her for drug-taking though he reinstates her after finding that she is taking her grandfather's Second World war pep pills in order to be efficient. Louisa hands in her notice as she decides to leave Portwenn for London with Martin and their still unnamed baby.

Season 5, Episode 4: Mother Knows Best

3 October 2011
As the first annual Portwenn charity fun run leads to unfit casualties and a price war between Bert and publican Mark Bridge Louisa's feckless,long-absent mother Eleanor turns up at the surgery. Louisa is not overjoyed to see her but she proves to be a very useful baby-sitter - until it transpires that her soothing herbal infusion that she put in the baby's feed contains alcohol. However,Louisa,sensing that her mother meant well,goes behind Martin's back and asks her to stay around whilst Ruth takes Al on as her permanent farm manager.

Season 5, Episode 5: Remember Me

10 October 2011
Joe Penhale is shocked when his ex-wife Maggie,seemingly amnesiac and believing that they are still married,arrives in Portwenn. Not to upset her,he plays along but eventually has to seek Martin's advice. Martin also treats fisherman Paul Hale,an old flame of Eleanor,who has Addison's disease but Louisa is shocked to find her mother is still playing the field. Heavily in debt Bert Large falls in with the local loan shark but at least Louisa and Martin get round to naming the baby - James Henry.

Season 5, Episode 6: Don't Let Go

17 October 2011
As Maggie regains her memory and aims to leave Portwenn,a desperate Joe tries to impress her into staying by being assertive. Louisa returns to school where the children fall prey to a mystery illness which Martin links to dementing caretaker Mr. Coley,who has inhaled carbon monoxide fumes and cleaned the school floors with fertilizer. When the confused old man climbs onto the school roof Joe sees it as his chance to impress Maggie by rescuing him but humiliates himself by getting stuck and it is Martin who saves the day. However Louisa is annoyed to find that Martin has arranged a date for James's christening without telling her.

Season 5, Episode 7: Cats and Sharks

24 October 2011
Al is shocked to hear that his father is in debt to loan shark Alistair Tonken and his menacing son Norman, and lends him the money Ruth gave him to buy a new fence. When the Tonkens demand interest, Bert plans a money-making Spanish evening suggested by Eleanor. But Eleanor not only annoys Louisa and Martin by farming their baby out to an irresponsible young girl, she also keels over with a hernia, requiring Martin to perform emergency surgery. Eccentric Mrs. Dingley, who runs a cat sanctuary, is also in debt to the Tonkens but Penhale proves himself to be an unexpected hero in getting the greedy pair to back off. Martin, meanwhile, is more perturbed than he lets on about Louisa's decision after their row to stay in Cornwall with James and not accompany him to London.

Season 5, Episode 8: Ever After

31 October 2011
With Eleanor recovering from her operation and half the school down with the flu Martin agrees to baby-sit James for Louisa. When her husband seeks Martin's advice pharmacist Mrs. Tishell volunteers to mind the child but she has long nurtured a hidden love for Martin - even creating a shrine to him in her wardrobe - and now,after an excess of self-prescribed drugs,she totally flips and runs off with James,leaving a note for Martin to follow so they can elope together. In persuading her to return his son Martin declares his supposed love for her,which does the trick. In reality he is at last opening up about his true feeling for Louisa and,with James safely returned,announces that he will not be going to London after all.