Martin Clunes

It's been a year since Martin resigned his medical license, and Louisa is now the one seeing patients out of the surgery for her child counseling practice, while Martin looks after James Henry and four-month-old Mary Elizabeth. When the mother of one of Louisa's patients presents with serious symptoms but refuses to allow Martin to examine her, he finally admits that he wants to be a doctor again.

Portwenn is full of festive cheer-until Martin tells Leonard that he needs to stop playing Santa while he awaits the results of his medical tests. Leonard decides to show "Doc the Grinch" the magic of Christmas, with unintended consequences, and Louisa works to arrange a Christmas parade through Portwenn. After a mishap, Martin confronts some of his fears and tries to embrace the holiday spirit.

As the Ellinghams prepare to leave for London, Ruth admits to Martin that she's been writing a paper on his blood phobia, and she thinks he's been misdiagnosed. Ruth is also counseling Mrs. Tishell on how to overcome her obsession with the Doc, while Penhale anxiously arranges their goodbye party. But when Chicken the dog escapes, Martin has a life-threatening accident trying to catch him.

The news of Martin's invitation to be the dean of Imperial College spreads through Portwenn like wildfire, before Martin and Louisa have even decided whether he will take the job. Mrs. Tishell and Penhale are crushed, while Morwenna questions what she wants to do with her life. Can the villagers cope with the Ellinghams' ultimate choice?

While checking on a sick sheep farmer, the Doc runs into Stewart James, a patient who used to suffer from delusions that he lived with a giant squirrel. Stewart is now starting a survival course business, and he invites Al and PC Penhale to join him in the woods for a test run. But when Stewart begins to behave oddly, Al worries he's having a mental breakdown and must figure out how to get help.

When the battered body of French student Amélie Delagrange is found on Twickenham Green, Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton is appointed senior investigating officer, his first big case. Despite objections from his superiors, Sutton believes her murder may be connected to a previous attack on another woman.

The Tiwi Islands of Bathurst and Melville take pride in their ancient customs, and Martin gets a firsthand look at island Aboriginal culture. Then Martin swims at the great Ningaloo Reef while exploring the cluster of islands known as the "Magical Muirons" and visits Carnac Island, home to hundreds of venomous tiger snakes.

On Mundoo Island, Martin spends a day cattle herding; then he heads to Phillip Island, which boasts one of Australia's greatest conservation success stories, despite being a popular tourist destination. Martin also visits Maria Island and works with scientists to learn about the disease threatening Australia's iconic Tasmanian devil.

In Washington State, Martin celebrates the Fourth of July on the San Juan Islands, then journeys down the California coast to the isolated Channel Islands, home to one of the world's largest colonies of seals and sea lions, as well as an endangered population of foxes. In Louisiana, he samples hot sauce at the Tabasco® plant on Avery Island and explores hurricane-ravaged Delacroix Island.

Martin enjoys salsa dancing lessons and rum tasting in Puerto Rico before heading to the Sea Islands off the coast of Georgia, where the inhabitants attempt to preserve the traditional practices of African slaves. On the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Martin learns about the mysterious lost colony of Roanoke, before traveling to Chincoteague, Virginia, to watch the world-famous wild pony swim.