Tuesday 13 September 2011

LIFE, DEATH, INFINITY

There are dramas you must really deserve. Doc Martin came back yesterday night on ITV1 after a two-year hiatus, with the beginning of its highly awaited Series Five.

« They'd manage without you. They'd manage if you died. »

Martin Clunes is back as Dr Martin Ellingham, the grumpy GP of the picturesque village of Portwenn, after a two-year break to allow him to pursue other factual and drama projects (including Reggie Perrin for BBC One). Series Four of the ITV1 hit dramedy left the doc as he was about to take on a consultant's position in London but Louisa (Caroline Catz) gave birth to their son.

In the start of the fifth series, social disaster Martin adapts to fatherhood by dealing with it through its medical aspects. PC Joe Penhale (John Marquez) has a problem he's hesitating to reveal to the new GP, Dr Di Dibbs (Joanna Scanlan). But she and her husband Gavin (Robert Daws), the practice manager, have problems of their own and some may affect the Portwenn community. The still unnamed baby, Dr Di's incompetence and a personal tragedy force Martin Ellingham to stay in the village a little longer.

« She wants to be here. You want to be there.
- That's none of your business. »

A superb return written and directed by Ben Bolt, with all the necessary subtle balance between comedy and emotion, and also this stunning ability to relaunch Doc Martin after the interruption. Episode One of the 8 X 60-minute new series averaged an impressive and deserved 8.43m (32.4%) for ITV1 in the 9pm hour. Meanwhile, the French adaptation of the show's format ends filming its second series this week for TF1.
Lien
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a340120/doc-martin-returns-to-itv1-with-nearly-85m.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2035156/Doc-Martin-s-known-sunny-disposition-years-baby-later-TV-s-grumpiest-GP-adopt-better-bedside-manner.html
http://www.ouest-france.fr/ofdernmin_-Doc-Martin-le-retour-a-Quimperle-en-Finistere-sud_40771-1966280-pere-bre_filDMA.Htm (In French)

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