After the heart-wrenching decision to call off his marriage to Louisa, life in the beautiful Cornish village of Portwenn has become even more infuriating for DR MARTIN ELLINGHAM.
Louisa has left for a teaching post in London, and Martin has begun to question what keeps him in Cornwall. It’s certainly not his relentlessly annoying patients. It’s certainly not the amorous advances of the infatuated local chemist, MRS TISHELL. Martin has realised that if he is ever to escape, he must conquer his Achilles’ heel – his blood phobia.
Martin creates a self-treatment program for himself, but can he face his worst fear? The issue becomes even more important when he is wounded and requires hospital surgery. At the hospital, he meets his old girlfriend from medical school days, EDITH. She is now a top-ranking doctor in the field of gynaecology with a flourishing private practice. She is surprised and disappointed at how low Martin has fallen.
Martin re-doubles his efforts to cure his phobia and discovers a newly vacant surgery position in London that is perfect for him. But his plans are turned upside-down when LOUISA returns to Portwenn. She wants nothing to do with Martin, but she has big news.
This series will test Martin like never before, and take him into uncharted emotional territory. He will have to forge an entirely new relationship with Louisa, who is determined to keep him at a distance. He will find himself increasingly drawn into the brainy and socially unfettered company of Edith. It feels like a meeting of minds, as if they’re equals. But what if she wants more? Martin is going to have to decide where his future lies, and who he wants to be.
At the same time, his AUNTIE JOAN’s life is going to come crashing down under a deluge of debt. You can’t exist in the modern world on a few organic chickens. But how will she try and turn the tide? And would Martin ever be prepared to compromise his principles to save her?
Other regular characters are facing their own dilemmas. BERT LARGE is everyone’s best friend and can make anyone smile, but who loves him for who he is, deep-down? Bert is looking for love. (Will he accept sex instead?) Martin’s receptionist PAULINE discovers some dark secrets in her own family, and her own part in them. But her biggest challenge will be moving in with the man who adores her, AL LARGE. Al has singlehandedly built the Large & Large restaurant into a thriving business, but it’s not enough for him. PC PENHALE, still officially the world’s worst policeman, has to confront a villain in his own family. Unfortunately, it’s the brother he’s always wanted to be.
And Martin will face another uniquely Cornish collection of unhelpful and bizarre patients. A headmaster who can’t control his arms. A disabled man who claims his wife never pushes his wheelchair into walls and hedges, despite all the scars. A woman who sees her dead husband around every corner.
Really, what’s keeping Doc Martin in Portwenn?
Series 4 aired from Sunday 20th September at 9pm on ITV1.
Episode 1: 7.6 million viewers, 30.4% market share
Episode 2: 7.2 million viewers, 28.4% market share
Episode 3: 8.8 million viewers, 33.4% market share
Episode 4: 8.6 million viewers, 33.1% market share
Episode 5: 9.0 million viewers, 34.7% market share
Episode 6: 8.6 million viewers, 33.7% market share
Episode 7: 9.3 million viewers, 35.1% market share
Episode 8: 9.4 million viewers, 34.0% market share