Show Trivia

Martin Clunes wife, Philippa Braithwaite, produced the show through their company Buffalo Pictures and brought their young daughter Emily on location in the fishing village of Port Isaac in North Cornwall.
Martin said "It would have been a battle to keep me away from making another series after the way people took to the first series. It was very gratifying.
I love working on Doc Martin, being in Cornwall and being able to work with my wife Philippa. At the end of the day's filming we were able to go back to a beautiful house along the coast with stunning sea views.
"And it means I was home before my daughter Emily had to go to bed, which doesn't happen when I am filming in London. We had our spaniels with us too, Mary and the new puppy Tina.
"When we were filming in Cornwall we did consider buying a property. We are still looking and if we found the right place, we would buy. It's a perfect holiday retreat. We loved the place we rented during filming but it is not for sale."




Martin Clunes interview regarding Series 2


Why is Doc Martin such a popular show?
Because its got me in it. I really dont know. Id be nervous trying to define it. When we were developing it, it was just us and the network really and we didnt have any other programmes we were trying to sell to the network. That means its quite a frank relationship Im not saying we yelled at one another but wed all say what we do and dont want. I love doing it as well. Im very moved about the scenery round that part of the world.
Are you tempted to move down there full time?
I live in Dorset and were quite happily installed here. But if one was allowed to plan ones life, Id love to keep doing Doc Martin for a lot longer and it would make sense to get somewhere down there. Each time I go there its my fourth time in Cornwall I love it a bit more. It gets under your skin.
You went through a rigorous fitness regime for the first show. Did you do that again this time round?
I wasnt in too bad a shape and I had a template from the first time round. The getting fit thing is more a question of getting fit going into one of these things because you wont be on the way out. Theres no opportunity to take exercise. Youre out of the house at half-six in the morning, back at half seven. Im not saying I come back an hour later. Then youve got all your lines to learn for the next day, and theres all this medical stuff.
Doc Martin has a phobia of blood. Is there anything youre squeamish about?
Ive become more squeamish since I became a parent, but I think thats pretty common. I get convinced that 300 year old bridges will collapse as were walking under them. Heights I dont like at all, and they never used to bother me. I seem to get convinced that Ill just fling myself off. But I havent got any real phobias.
Do you identify with certain traits in Doc Martins character?
Yes. Hes a crisp perfectionist. And nobody likes to be plagued by fools do they? And his complete refusal to entertain fools is quite liberating. At times hes quite vitriolic. Hes vile.
Do you prefer playing someone like that or do you prefer to play someone like Gary?
I dont mind, Im self-employed. We did develop this part with me in mind and Id been involved in that. I enjoy acting and that way of behaving. But in all honesty I dont mind. It all means Im employed.
So is there any character you wouldnt play?
I still, however many years later, get a lot of sub Men Behaving Badly or things like that. Because I played a TV lad, people seem to think that I give a rats arse about football. Ill pretty much entertain anything. Extremes are good because theyre fun to act. Its great to act someone whos 85 or someones who a Nazi or a boxer. If you play a boxer or someone whos retarded in any way, youre going to get a BAFTA or an Oscar. Theyre the parts to get.
Have you found it difficult to shake off the character of Gary?
Not personally. But I think some people think it was more than just playing a part. Our actions sometimes got mistaken for political comment and we were just trying to be funny. It was a funny show I guess thats why it has endured. I dont feel smug saying that because it was so long ago that the characters feel like strangers. Strangely enough, I was once asked if I was like John Hague, the acid bath murderer I played.
I hope you said yes
Well, I havent killed anyone.
Have you ever been tempted to move away from TV and go into movies?
Not really. Theyre such arse ache to put together. The time, the people, the lawyers. There an awful lot of people who put them together. I once heard someone say that doing a film was like trying to herd cats.
So where would you like to go from here?
Well, Im not that ambitious at the moment. Ive got plenty of work on. I would like to direct at some point. Theres a book Id like to adapt but the option isnt up on it at the moment.
Ok, so if you were a doctor in the real world, who would you operate on, what would you do to them and why?
What?! Um, I dont know. Ive got a neighbour, Id like to put a brain into his skull.
(Source=http://www.itv.com)