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Doc Martin, series 9 episode 1 review: The grump returns as unchallenging yet entertaining as ever

Martin Clunes returned as the irascible Doc Martin  - Television Stills
Martin Clunes returned as the irascible Doc Martin - Television Stills

As ITV’s Doc Martin returned to our screens after its traditional two-year gap, irascible doctor Martin Ellingham’s (Martin Clunes) career was hanging in the balance. His bad bedside manner had caught up with him. Not that he was aware of it.

“I know everyone thinks you’re a t----r, Doc, but I’ll be sorry to see you go,” said one grateful patient on being rescued from a cattle crush. When our flawed hero insisted that he wasn’t going anywhere, another local said he’d heard the rumours too. Thus was the foundation laid for the ninth series.

Martin’s nemesis came in the form of Dr Rebecca Hedden (Hermione Gulliford), a stiff-as-starch supervisor dispatched by the General Medical Council to decide whether the good doc was fit for purpose. Predictably he didn’t want her there. Predictably she insisted on staying. Predictably getting rid of her would be no easy task.

As ever, Doc Martin’s absurd convolutedness was part of the appeal.  Every minute Dr Hedden spent sitting by his desk was a minute closer to the retribution we knew awaited her. The more strictly she spoke, the more painful we knew it would be. Even so, near-fatal electrocution halfway up a lighthouse out at sea while rescuing a pharmacist with a screwdriver impaled in her arm was outlandish even by Doc Martin’s standards. But he’s not out of the woods yet.

Caroline Catz and Martin Clunes
Caroline Catz and Martin Clunes

There was plenty going on in pretty Portwenn, too. Ellingham’s walking-on-eggshells relationship with his wife Louisa (Caroline Catz) has never sat comfortably with the more absurd elements of comedy-drama, but it does serve to anchor the series emotionally and looks set to continue as the couple consider having another baby.

Elsewhere, emotions are primarily there for the cringeworthy comedy they supply. Such as Mrs Tishell’s (Selina Cadell) nicely observed crush on the doctor. Or bar-owner Al Large’s (Joe Absolom) unintentional proposal to his partner Morwenna (Jessica Ransom). Which will doubtless have ramifications that will enhance what looks like being another entertaining if unchallenging series.