Portwenn - Episodes - Series 4-5

Series 4-5

Interviewed about the release of the Series 3 DVD, Clunes indicated he would take a break from acting in 2008, to allow his daughter a family summer holiday, which she missed during the programme's filming. Clunes's wife is Philippa Braithwaite, Doc Martin's producer. In February 2009, ITV confirmed plans for a fourth series with eight episodes. Series 4 aired on ITV from 20 September to 8 November 2009, and was a ratings success for ITV. STV originally did not broadcast Series 4 in Scotland due to financial issues surrounding a dispute with ITV. In 2011 STV resolved its issues with ITV and has since broadcast Series 4 during July and August 2011.

Series 4 was released on DVD in the UK on 1 March 2010.

In the US American Public Television (a US syndicator that supplies the programme to public television stations) confirmed that Series 4 would be available to stations from 1 March 2010.

In New Zealand, Series 4 began broadcasting on 25 January 2010 on TVNZ.

In Australia, Series 4 began broadcasting from 12 June 2010 on ABC1.

In an interview published in the Manchester Evening News on 15 September 2009, Clunes said, "It looks like ITV will give the go-ahead to a fifth series but that won’t be filmed until 2011."

On 2 March 2010 during an interview on the BBC's The One Show, Clunes stated that Series 5 would be filmed in 2011. ITV confirmed the commissioning of a fifth series of Doc Martin in a press release on 1 April 2010. Dame Eileen Atkins joined as Doc Martin's Aunt Ruth and Jessica Ransom as the new surgery receptionist, Morwenna Newcross. Martin Clunes, Caroline Catz, Ian McNeice, Joe Absolom, John Marquez and Selina Cadell all returned to the series.

Series 5 was produced in 2011 and has eight episodes. The series began airing on all ITV regions on Monday 12 September.

In Australia, Series 5 began broadcasting from 15 October 2011 on ABC1.

In the USA Series 5 began broadcasting in March and April 2012