Editing Doc Martin (section)

==Plot==
{{stack|[[File:Port Isaac 2.jpg|thumb|''Doc Martin'' is filmed in the Cornish village of [[Port Isaac]]]]}}
Dr Martin Ellingham (Martin Clunes), a brilliant and successful [[Vascular surgery|vascular surgeon]] at [[Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust|Imperial College London]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://visionary-thinking.net/serije/doc-martin/ | title=Doc Martin – Visionary Thinking }}</ref> develops [[Blood phobia|haemophobia]] – a fear of blood – forcing him to stop practising surgery. He obtains a post as the sole [[general practitioner]] (GP) in the sleepy [[Cornwall|Cornish]] village of Portwenn, where he had spent childhood holidays with his Aunt Joan ([[Stephanie Cole]]), who owns a local farm. Upon arriving in Portwenn&nbsp;– where, to his frustration, the locals address him as "Doc Martin"&nbsp;– he finds the [[doctor's office|surgery]] in chaos and inherits an incompetent receptionist, Elaine Denham ([[Lucy Punch]]). In series 2–4, she is replaced by Pauline Lamb ([[Katherine Parkinson]]), a new receptionist, and later also a [[phlebotomist]]. In Series 5, Morwenna Newcross ([[Jessica Ransom]]) takes up the post.

The programme revolves around Ellingham's interactions with the local Cornish villagers. Despite his medical excellence, Ellingham is grouchy and abrupt, and lacks [[social skill]]s. His direct, emotionless manner offends many villagers, made worse by his invariably unpleasant responses to their ignorant, often foolish, comments. They perceive him to be hot-tempered and lacking in a [[Doctor-patient relationship#Bedside manner|bedside manner]]. In contrast, he feels he is performing his duties professionally and by-the-book, not wasting time chatting. Ellingham is very [[deadpan]] and dresses formally in a business suit and tie, regardless of the weather or the occasion, and he never takes off his jacket, even when delivering babies. He has no hesitation in pointing out the risks of unhealthy behaviours (e.g. smoking), both in private and in public gatherings.

The villagers eventually discover his fear of blood and the frequent and debilitating bouts of nausea and vomiting it causes. Despite this handicap, Ellingham proves to be an expert [[Medical diagnosis|diagnostician]] and responds effectively to various emergencies in his medical practice; thus, he gradually gains grudging respect from his neighbours.

Ellingham does not get on with his parents but has a warm relationship with his Aunt Joan, who provides emotional support. When she dies after a heart attack, her sister Ruth ([[Eileen Atkins]]), a retired [[psychiatrist]], comes to Portwenn to take care of her affairs and eventually decides to use the village as a permanent retreat, offering Martin the support Joan had provided.

A major theme throughout the series is Ellingham's relationship with a primary school teacher (eventually school headmistress) Louisa Glasson ([[Caroline Catz]]). Due to his difficulty in expressing feelings and his insensitive nature, the relationship has many ups and downs, though they eventually have a baby and later marry.
{{stack|[[File:The Golden Lion Pub, Port Isaac - geograph.org.uk - 1630623.jpg|thumb|The [[Golden Lion, Port Isaac|Golden Lion]] doubled as Portwenn's local pub, The Crab & Lobster]]}}
Other series regulars are father and son duo Bert and Al Large, who are always trying to run a small business of some type; pharmacist Sally Tishell who is infatuated with Martin; and Mark Mylow, a quirky police officer who is replaced in Series 3 by the bumbling and inept Joe Penhale.

Regular cast members have characterised Ellingham's personality thus:
::Joe Absolom: "The Doctor is ... slightly autistic, probably, on the spectrum."<ref name="DMBS">{{Citation|title=Doc Martin behind the scenes - Clunes as Doc Martin|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBac3MNMnDw| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/OBac3MNMnDw| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2020-03-11}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
::Martin Clunes: "Lots of people say that he is Aspergic or something to some degree—which, yes, I think he is."<ref>"Script to Screen," a behind-the-scenes featurette on the Series 8 DVD (2017).</ref> He has also said, "He's wired the way he's wired, but growing up being loathed by both your parents is going to leave a footprint. That's why he's so dysfunctional with relationships, 'cause there's gaps in his makeup. A sad little boy in there comes out a lot, and that's what a lot of that frowning is."<ref name="DMBS"/>
::Eileen Atkins: "He's unable to connect with people. He can't understand why people can't just take the truth, in a rather rough manner. If your parents have been very cold towards you and just factual, then that's very hard for you to grow up being—'loving' is too strong a word—an affectionate person."<ref>"Dame Eileen Atkins", a behind-the-scenes featurette on the Series 8 DVD (2017)</ref>