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Doc Martin says farewell to Portwenn and Port Isaac, as the Cornish series wraps up 10 seasons

Headshot of Geoffrey Thomas
Geoffrey ThomasThe West Australian
Geoffrey Thomas with Ian McNeice who plays Bert Large in the smash hit Doc Martin.
Camera IconGeoffrey Thomas with Ian McNeice who plays Bert Large in the smash hit Doc Martin. Credit: Geoffrey Thomas

“Excuse me sir, can you stand to one side, you’re walking into shot!”

Wow. I had wondered if we might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the filming of the smash hit series Doc Martin ... but just after breakfast on our first morning in Port Isaac, Cornwall, we literally walk straight on to the set, just outside our hotel.

I’m a Doc Martin tragic. Perhaps its because of the fabulous acting of Martin Clunes, who plays a role that is the complete opposite of his real-life personality. Perhaps it’s the huge cast of fascinating characters, the funny scripts and the gorgeous setting. The tiny town of Port Isaac, dubbed Portwenn for the series, clings precariously to the sides of steep hills, looking on to a pretty harbour.

Whatever the mix, like tens of millions around the globe, I’m hooked — and the opportunity, after visiting the Farnborough Airshow on the south coast of England, to dash across west to Cornwall was too much to resist. The impact on the once sleepy town of Port Isaac has been immense. When filming started in 2004 the town had one coffee shop — now it has a dozen plus some top-class restaurants. There are numerous shops selling Doc Martin memorabilia.

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I had tried to ascertain the filming schedule through various Facebook sites. They only gave clues as to locations and possible dates, but all seemed to point to a conclusion of filming before my arrival.

But I can thank the hundreds of fans for slowing the filming schedule. Hundreds of fans turn up each day to watch the filming and the production company hires more than 20 security staff to keep the crowd under control — or at least managed — and this all slows production. One US Doc Martin fan club, called Bert’s Babes, arrived at Port Isaac in a 30-strong contingent complete with Bert Large face masks. while a Queensland tragic, Susan, told us it was her fifth year coming to see filming.

The crowd of fans are like seaweed in a heavy swell, with the security team moving them from here to there to keep them out of shot. That process goes on all day. For each scene there can be five or six different angles to shoot and, of course, many takes for each angle.

The streets are barely single-lane with no parking anywhere. It creates a host of problems for visitors and locals, let alone film crews. But residents and business owners are trying to go about their day, so filming constantly stops to let cars or vans go past.

In some cases, such as Doc Martin’s surgery, the street is closed off to vehicles for filming, but hikers and even surfers are let through about every 30 minutes or so.

All of these logistics mean that, when I arrive, the filming schedule is way behind, particularly as fans have been flying in from around the globe to catch a piece of television history. Every hotel and restaurant was booked out.

Between takes, the fans’ patience and loyalty is rewarded, as the stars are happy to have selfies taken. Ian McNeice (Bert Large) goes one better, and carries around a small bucket and asks for a gold coin donation to the local sea rescue group for a selfie. He tells me that, during this series, he had raised nearly $9000.

The light evenings of English summer allow filming to go on until 8pm, so on our last night, we had dinner at 6pm at the restaurant next to the centre of the major farewell party scenes, and came out at 7.30pm to meet Mr Clunes and his on-screen admirer Mrs Tishell, played by Salina Cadwell.

The Doc Martin series was first released in 2004 and nine seasons of the award-winning series have aired since then. Filming for the 10th and final season was wrapped up last week with a couple of days shooting at the seaside location of Treyarnon Bay — just south of Port Isaac. In that scene Doc Martin is called to a cliff edge to help save a woman who has fallen into the sea.

According to website Flipboard “as holidaymakers looked on, the final ‘cut’ from the director rang out followed by a cheer and a round of applause from Clunes, his co-stars and the crew. Mr Clunes appeared to give a speech and they were all then seen hugging to celebrate completing the long-running show.”

Locals are not sure what the impact of the conclusion of the series will be on Port Isaac. Some suggest that the publicity of the beautiful location will continue to draw visitors, while numerous tour operators offering behind-the-scenes Doc Martin tours will also be an attraction.

But, after almost 20 years of the role of Dr Martin Ellingham, Clunes has previously said that it’s “the right time” to wind up the series. He told the UK media recently that “the people of Cornwall, and Port Isaac in particular, have always been so helpful to us when we are making the series”.

“We have some great storylines for the new series, and for the Christmas special, which I hope Doc Martin fans will love,” he said. “However, it is the right time to say farewell to the Doc, and Portwenn.”

The final series is expected to air in the UK next month and the Christmas special in December.

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