The popular ITV drama Doc Martin is preparing to air its last ever series. Bosses announced back in 2020 that Doc Martin would be hanging up his stethoscope after 10 seasons.
Created by acclaimed screenwriter Dominic Minghella, and set in the sleepy Cornish fishing village of Portwenn, Doc Martin has been successfully airing on ITV since 2004. It follows the life of the grumpy and lovable Cornish GP, Dr Martin Ellingham, who has a brusque bedside manner and a phobia of blood.
At the end of the last series the Doc decided, after having his medical career scrutinised by the General Medical Council because of his blood phobia, that he would resign from being Portwenn’s GP. This final series sees the Doc making efforts to overcome his phobia and beginning to question whether he made the right decision about resigning - he and Louisa have also welcomed a baby daughter, Mary Elizabeth, who is a sister for four-year-old James Henry.
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But when is the final series airing and how many episodes are there? Here's everything we know.
When does the final series of Doc Martin start?
Series 10 of Doc Martin will kick off on Wednesday, September 7. Viewers will be able to tune into ITV at 9pm for the first hour-long instalment.
Speaking about the final series, Martin said: "I have loved going to Cornwall to make Doc Martin over the last 18 years, and I really looked forward to coming back to this beautiful and unique part of the country this year for the tenth and final series.
"We've been so lucky to get to come here for so many years and the cast and crew have made lasting friendships with a lot of the people who live in Port Isaac. We have some great story lines and amazing guest actors for the new series.
"We're going to miss the place and all the people we have made the series with but it’s a perfect time to say thank you very much, put the back cover on the book of Doc Martin and go and try something new."
How many episodes are in the last series of Doc Martin?
There are eight new episodes of the popular drama produced by Buffalo Pictures. The instalments will air weekly on Wednesday nights at 9pm.
Why is Doc Martin being cancelled?
An exact reason for the show's cancellation was not given when the show announced the news in 2020, but star Martin and producer Philippa Braithwaite said in a statement at the time: "We have loved making nine series of Doc Martin.
"When we launched the series in 2004 we could never have imagined how much our loyal viewers would take to the grumpy Doc like they have.
"The series has avid fans both in the UK and throughout the world and we are thrilled that Doc Martin has topped the ratings every time. However, after sixteen years we now feel that the time has come to say goodbye to Portwenn.
"We will be making the tenth and final series in 2021 and we are very much looking forward to returning to Cornwall to film it."
When did Doc Martin start?
Martin Clunes made his debut as surgeon Martin Ellingham in the first series of Doc Martin which was filmed in the spring and summer of 2004, and launched in September 2004, attracting more than nine million viewers.
Is there a Doc Martin Christmas special?
Yes. While series 10 is the last, ITV has confirmed it will be airing a Christmas special of Doc Martin as a "final farewell". You can read more on this here.
Martin said: "There's a Christmas special which really is special and a great collector's item for our fans." For more showbiz and television stories, get our newsletter here.
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