Doc Martin is a British comedy-drama that has aired on ITV since 2004, with a first series of six episodes. The episode number for the second series increased to eight. This was followed by a special bonus TV film and a third series of seven episodes. The next four series aired eight episodes each. Therefore, 54 episodes (from the series plus the stand-alone TV Film) have aired so far.
Louisa buys two tickets to the Portwenn Players Dance and invites Martin. He doesn't want to go so Louisa offers the ticket to Mark instead. Peter Cronk, a boy at Louisa's school, causes trouble on a wildlife trip and Martin meets the Park Ranger Stewart, who believes he lives with a 6 foot squirrel named Anthony.
John Slater, an old flame of Joan's, returns to the village hoping to rekindle his love affair with her, but Martin discovers he has a life-threatening heart condition. Fifteen-year-old Melanie Gibson (Stephanie Leonidas) has a crush on the doctor after he mends her dislocated shoulder.
An old man, inexplicably emanating a horrible stench, consults Doctor Ellingham; and the local radio host, Caroline, seems to have a serious drinking problem. Julie Mitchell arrives in Portwenn and immediately catches the attention of PC Mark Mylow.
Martin examines Helen Pratt, but she collapses and dies. Her husband, Phil, is angry with the doctor and blames him for his wife's death. A feud develops between Phil and Helen's long-time friend Joan after Phil becomes convinced that Joan knew something secret about him. Joan encourages Martin to explain the circumstances of Helen's death to Phil, having previously been extremely cold and insensitive following her death. Pauline begins training to become a member of the lifeboat crew, flirting with her instructor, Ross, in the process, causing Al to become jealous.
Martin's cold and difficult parents come to stay with him. He hasn't seen them for seven years, and is puzzled as to why they should turn up out of the blue. Mark and Julie get engaged. Danny Steel's lung collapses whilst renovating a house and Martin examines a woman with what she claims is a thyroid, but the results turn out to be rather different.
Dr. Martin Ellingham struggles to deal with Louisa's news, and is conflicted over what action to take. But Louisa is adamant she does not want Martin involved. Auntie Joan, however, is highly insistent that she help Louisa through the pregnancy. Louisa takes a job back at Portwenn Primary School, where the headmaster is creating suspicion and public concern over his increasingly erratic behaviour. Martin realises the schoolmaster is unwell when he evacuates blue urine. Things come to a frightening turn when he takes a class of schoolchildren to the beach.