'Doc Martin' Returns with Season 5 (And Some Season 6 News)

Martin Clunes poses with a tourist in Port Issac | Watch clips of my behind-the-scenes look at Season 5 here

More "Doc Martin"

• Watch: Behind the of Scenes of Season 5
  
• Episode Guide: Quick guide to all episodes, all seasons

The wait is over.  Season five of everyone's favorite irascible, smarmy, sharp-tongued general practitioner -- Doc Martin -- is back. I'll admit that I've already watched the first episode, "Preserve the Romance," three times over and have bursted out laughing so hard that my office mates ran in to find out if I was okay.  

Ben Bolt wrote and directed the episode and there is so much intrigue and multiple plotlines crammed into the 50-minute story that you'll want to watch the episode all over again.  And that's why I'm happy to announce that you can catch the season premiere Thursday on KCET at 8 p.m., then enjoy the episode again on Friday at 2:30 p.m., and on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.

I'm not going to give away any of the plot twists and turns in season five, but I can tell you that you'll meet a few new characters.  Dame Eileen Atkins, for instance, joins the cast as Martin Ellingham's other aunt, Ruth. Portwenn remains as gorgeous a backdrop for the mischief and mayhem as always.

I can't wait for you to see episode one of Doc Martin season five. Please email me and let me know what you think.

P.S.  There's one other thing you should know.  The sixth and final season of "Doc Martin" starts filming in Cornwall next spring.