Well, MC is still looking very lean in his blue suit.

I must say, your newspapers sure show A LOT of photos in their news stories.

S3E5 The Holly Bears a Prickle

For my money, this is the most important DM episode of them all. And what a rollercoaster of emotions in a 44 minute span.

http://portwennonline.com/wordpress/...ears-a-prickle

I found myself at TV Tropes for Doc Martin by mistake. Nonetheless I decided to read some of what is written there.

I came across this: "Although Aunt Ruth, herself a psychologist, proposes that his coldness is as much rooted in childhood neglect as neuroses. Martin's father (also played by Clunes) was an ogre, his gold digger mother detested him utterly, and it's even hinted that she's not his biological mum in any case. What a mess."

Where was it ever inferred that Margaret was not DM's actual mom? I think that is clearly a totally wrong statement. Who is the author of TV Tropes articles?

Mona

Wow, who makes this stuff up? Of course Margaret was his Mom........perhaps not happy about it...but no hint otherwise. Weird....as well as the other errors.

The only time MC played his father was in the dream sequence in S5 where as a child he runs into his father's study to show off the butterfly he caught in his net. Clunes played his father with his ears pinned back. Because of the very short scene, and in a dream, it was probably decided MC would play the part of his father.

Apparently, the person who wrote in TV Tropes never saw Series 2 E6 wherein his father was played by actor John Woodvine. I would have remembered if there was doubt that DM's mother (played by Claire Bloom) was his biological mother.

Right, right. We're all very clear on DM and his whole family fiasco. It's a huge part of the show, and it amazes me the author got it so wrong!

WHY don't sites like that visit a fan forum, like this, and ask resident fan experts to edit their comments?

I wonder how many other inaccurate statements are up there about DM?

Any news when the next series is on?

I think it's two years--2018 I suppose.

Really?!?!?! I thought it had already been filmed! I noticed they were repeating series 7 on friday nights at 9(i think). Thought it was the new one at first and i had just missed the promotion for it, then thought it was to refresh peoples memory before the next series. Oh well. That's a hell of a gap between series.

The new series will probably come out next year. There is mostly a two year gap between each one.

Fall of 2017. Filming takes place next summer.

Have you guys ever discussed some of the recurring idioms or phrases in the show that have appeared over the years. Things like:

- "This is NOT a medical problem!"

- "One week. Two at the most." (Week is interchangeable with other concepts.)

Jeez, I had like 4 of these saved up but took too long to post and forgot them! Any others?

S4E1 Better the Devil

Just one day late this week 😉

http://portwennonline.com/wordpress/...tter-the-devil

This is the latest article about MC, he said there are probably two more series of DM.

http://www.dorsetmagazine.co.uk/peop...play_1_4653193

Lovely article! Thanks for posting it.

I hope he doesn't get more speeding tickets noting there are no traffic lights from his home to Delabole!

Mona

I spoke briefly with Phillipa Braithwaite at Buckham Fair, and she would only say that they are deep in the writing for Series 8. When I apologized for being overly inquisitive, she laughed and said I was nothing compared to her mother. She then introduced me to her mother, and we had a nice conversation about Doc Martin.

Thank for that information. When I spoke to Philippa that day I forgot to ask her about that. It's good to know they're working on it. It's hilarious though, she doesn't even share that information with her MOTHER!!!! Now that's secrecy! LOL.

Did you enquire if it was going to be a funny, light-hearted series? That would have been my immediate question to her statement they are writing Season 8.

I first asked if the series was going to open with a funeral. I was concerned that it could be for either Aunt Ruth or Bert Large. She said "no funerals," but they were depp in writing the series. They have to start casting characters for each episode by October to make sure they can get commitments from actors. I asked if a therapist -- marriage or individual - would appear. She laughed and held up her hand in a gesture of "stop." I then apologized and she made the comment about her mother who was walking toward her. She said to her mother "you two can talk about Doc Martin." I chatted with the mother for about 2 minutes, but we only gushed to each other about how much we liked the show.

https://vimeo.com/180974095/25d744f424

Caroline's appearance on a British morning show, promoting the new season of DCI Banks.

But after that part, she makes some comments about Doc Martin. My take is that there will be a lot of "muddling" along in the marriage, and she wants us to think there'll be some suspense about the outcome.

What does anyone else think?

I was never a fan of DCI Banks, even with CC in it-- shown on one of the PBS stations awhile ago.
As to her comments re: DM, I think she has a hint of what BP wants to accomplish in S8 as to the relationship. I thought I heard MC mention somewhere the past few months about him playing a patient, then sort of moved on in that particular conversation. As far as the marriage is concerned, I think it will limp along with them together, hopefully more togetherness than S7. In S7 I never thought Louisa wanted a divorce but wanted to put Martin as close to the edge as possible; to change him to her liking, never thinking she, herself, had issues. In S8, I wonder if he will tackle the blood phobia once again and have a serious think about returning to surgery in some fashion.

I agree. I never have particularly liked the character CC plays in DCI Banks, and having read the original detective series, I'm not really a fan of the actor who plays Banks. In fact, I think Louisa may be where CC is at her best as an actress. I think BP have had very good directors, with some consistency over time, and she's benefited from that, and increasingly it seems that CC has had some input into how her character is shaped, and has developed a pretty full understanding or theory of Louisa.

I like the way you put it -- that Louisa was not really interested in a divorce but was just pushing Martin as far as she could so that he would change to better fit her idea of a husband. But a couple of things happened by the end of the series: Martin had decided he had been pushed far enough, and he threw in the towel, suggesting that maybe they had better start making concrete arrangements for a permanent separation, and she came to the realization that accepting Martin as he was, was for her a better option than divorcing him.

NP: I never have particularly liked the character CC plays in DCI Banks
In fact, I think Louisa may be where CC is at her best as an actress. I think BP have had very good directors, with some consistency over time, and she's benefited from that, and increasingly it seems that CC has had some input into how her character is shaped, and has developed a pretty full understanding or theory of Louisa.

Fortunately, many do not share that opinion.

More from NP:I like the way you put it -- that Louisa was not really interested in a divorce but was just pushing of a husband.Martin as far as she could so that he would change to better fit her idea But a couple of things happened by the end of the series: Martin had decided he had been pushed far enough, and he threw in the towel, suggesting that maybe they had better start making concrete arrangements for a permanent separation, and she came to the realization that accepting Martin as he was, was for her a better option than divorcing him.

Yeah, right. As if Louisa was the one with all the problems.In fact, Louisa wasn't much to blame with how things went in that marriage. She was just an observer for much of 6. The show may want us to forget the zombie of series 6 and how terribly he failed as a husband and father (and a GP vomiting on patients in public) but many have not forgotten the REAL problems in that marriage. Read Martin Clunes' own words on the subject. Oh, wait. Nevermind. Continue turning and twisiting. Don't confuse some of you with the facts. His Mother, his father's sudden death, the return of his blood issue. Just a couple of the itty bitty issues of 6. But - let's put Louisa under the microscope.
LOL what nonsense. Utter nonsense. As always.... Oh, and NP, this is rich: "Push him to better fit her idea of a husband" How about a FUNCTIONING husband, etc. LOL amazing observation skills.

To Roscarrock (the only breath of fresh air in a long while)
My fave idiom (well, whatever): Its Ms. Glasson

New Park, are you telling me that you seriously can discount what was on our screens?

Are you telling me that the woman that sat across from him at dinner (her return) was only "playing" at this conundrum. Her words that she thought of nothing else and didn't know how they could go forward...Eh, forget it.

Wow. Just wow. But, I couldn't be more pleased. I knew it all along.

Happy Dance.

I'm hoping that BP productions has the ***** to put Louisa Glasson back into the village. I think the ratings will increase. Louisa Glasson was far more interesting, better written - as was he. That was the gold mine...

Idiots. The Ellinghams are the drag of this show. Apart, they were a hoot!

The writers blow. The misogynistic producer MarkC is gone. WooHoo (I hope)