In DOC MARTIN, Martin Clunes plays the abrasive and tactless Dr. Martin Ellingham, a successful London surgeon who begins working as a G.P. in the seaside village of Portwenn after developing a problematic phobia of blood.
EPISODE GUIDE:
Episode 1: "Going Bodmin" repeats Friday, April 20, 2018 at 9 p.m. - As Martin moves in and meets the locals, he realizes that adjusting to village life is not going to be smooth sailing. In his sharp suits and flashy car, he's a fish out of water.
His first patient is Sir Gilbert Spencer, a retired lieutenant colonel, with an embarrassing problem – he's grown breasts.
Meanwhile, it's Lifeboat Day in Portwenn, and the harbor is alive with stalls, fairground rides and a jazz band, but Martin has become the butt of jokes among the bevy of teenage girls from the village.
Just when he thinks the day couldn't get any worse, Martin is forced off the road and into a ditch on his way out of the village. He's rescued by local police constable, Mark Mylow, who takes him home. But as Martin opens the door, he finds the hall ankle deep in sludgy water.
It's the final straw. Martin decides he is not cut out to be a village G.P., and decides to tender his resignation. Can anything or anyone change his mind?
Episode 2: "Gentlemen Prefer" repeats Friday, April 27, 2018 at 9 p.m. - Despite his disastrous introduction to life in the sleepy village of Portwenn, the former surgeon has decided to stay and give it a go.
The waiting room is full with patients enjoying tea and biscuits served by Elaine. It seems the previous doctor allowed his patients to treat his office as a drop-in café to share their ailments, but not necessarily to seek medical treatment.
Elaine's inefficiency pushes Martin over the edge and he fires her. News of her dismissal spreads around the village like wildfire, and Martin becomes universally disliked. The café won't serve him, patients are cancelling appointments and Elaine leaves town, missing her father's wedding.
Martin confides in a patient, telling him about the phobia that prevented him from continuing his surgical career. Elaine returns in time for the wedding and Martin asks her to return to work, but on the strict understanding that she adheres to his ground rules.
Episode 3: "Sh*T Happens" repeats Friday, May 4, 2018 at 9 p.m. - Dr. Martin makes his on-air debut at Radio Portwenn, the local radio station, and, no surprise, he's not a natural in front of the microphone.
Meanwhile, a nasty stomach bug is sweeping through Portwenn. People are dropping like flies, and filling Martin's office.
Martin decides he must try to track the source of the bug, and looks to the public swimming pool. When the pool staff refuses to shut it down, Martin makes an announcement to everyone in the pool about something dangerous in the water, creating mass panic.
Episode 4: "The Portwenn Effect" repeats Friday, May 11, 2018 at 9 p.m. - It's time for the Portwenn Players Dance, an auspicious event in the village's social calendar, and Bert the plumber is in charge of selling tickets.
Louisa buys two tickets and invites Martin. But Martin doesn't dance, and most certainly not at social occasions.
At the office, Martin meets with a patient, Mark the constable, who confesses an embarrassing dilemma – he fears his lack of success with the ladies has something to do with size, and wants to hear the doctor's opinion of what is "normal."
Later, Martin makes a house call to the park ranger, Stewart James (Ben Miller, "Primeval"). The two seem to have a lot in common until Stewart introduces Martin to his “friend” Anthony, who just happens to be a six-foot, red … squirrel!
Episode 5: "Of All The Harbors In All The Towns" repeats Friday, May 18, 2018 at 9 p.m. - An old flame of Martin's Aunt Joan sails back into her life and whisks her off her feet.
But her suitor, John Slater, is seriously ill with a life threatening heart condition, as Doc Martin discovers when he insists on running tests on him.
Slater wants to rekindle the love affair with Joan and sail off into the sunset with her. But Martin is anxious for Joan that she will have to nurse a very sick man.
Schoolgirl Melanie Gibson, one of Port Isaac's bevy of teenage beauties, develops a crush on the doctor. He's her hero after he puts her dislocated shoulder back, and stops the agonizing pain she has been suffering.
There's romance in the air between Al and Elaine. He's always had a soft spot for her. Thinking that she has split with her boyfriend, Al tries to woo her, by downloading a special selection of music onto an expensive iPod for her.
Episode 6: "Haemophobia" repeats Friday, May 25, 2018 at 9 p.m. - The tourist season has arrived in Portwenn. Disgruntled by the invasion of holidaymakers, Martin grimaces as he makes his way through the crowds.
Then he notices an attractive woman, and stops to stare … at her chest! She can't believe it when he says he'd like to examine her chest.
Martin was actually trying to warn the woman about the dangers of sunbathing for fear of skin cancer, but his usual abrupt and quirky manner has caused offense.
Gossip about the blood phobia which forced Martin to terminate his brilliant career as a surgeon seems to have spread round the village like wild fire. Two patients in the surgery can't resist mentioning the "b" word to Martin.
Then he gets an urgent call from the pub. Bert has had a terrible accident while working there, and he's bleeding profusely.
The sight of blood pouring from Bert's wound begins to trigger the all too familiar panic attacks for Martin.
But on closer examination he realizes the blood is actually tomato ketchup!
