On his own wedding day, Dr. Martin Ellingham (Martin Clunes, Men Behaving Badly) is all scowls. Following a calamitous honeymoon, he and Louisa (Caroline Catz, Murder in Suburbia) must learn to cohabit, raise a child together, and manage two careers. It's a big adjustment for both, especially Martin, who's unaccustomed to clutter and noise. But even he's not as picky as their OCD manny, Mike (Felix Scott, Inception). Factor in the Doc's usual string of batty patients - including a hypochondriac, a hoarder, two elderly tattoo artists, and a bumbling constable with a string of self-inflicted injuries - and Martin is soon more ill-tempered than ever. Plus his crippling blood phobia is back. It's a bad time for his ghastly mother (Claire Bloom) to show up at the Ellinghams' door. With much at stake, Martin turns for advice to his Aunt Ruth (Emmy®-winner Eileen Atkins, Cranford), perhaps the sanest person in Portwenn, but it may already be too late. 8 episodes, approx 384 min. on 2 DVDs.

Episodes

Disc 1
Episode 1: Sickness and Health
Martin and Louisa finally tie the knot. The villagers surprise them with a honeymoon at a lodge, which goes horribly awry. Back in Portwenn, Ruth finds babysitting James Henry a challenge, but an ex-army man turns out to be an expert in both children and power outages.

Episode 2: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
With Martin and Louisa back at work, James Henry needs looking after, but the irascible doctor scares prospects away. Martin makes a sudden decision that riles Louisa, and the Ellinghams host a painfully awkward dinner party. Ruth appears on Radio Portwenn and gives on-air advice to PC Penhale.

Episode 3: The Tameness of a Wolf
Mike, the new sitter, cares for James Henry and reorganizes the Ellinghams' kitchen. Al Large moves in with Morwenna, and Bert rents Al's room to Portwenn's new pharmacist. A man is found collapsed on the beach, and Ruth has a secret admirer.

Episode 4: Nobody Likes Me
Louisa persuades Martin to take James Henry to a playgroup at the library, but the Doc's behavior is appalling. Ruth moves from the farmhouse into the village, only to find that her next-door neighbor is a cranky loner. Bert makes a disturbing discovery about his lodger, Jennifer.

Disc 2
Episode 5: The Practice around the Corner
Mrs. Tishell returns to Portwenn and her pharmacy, seemingly cured of her obsession with Martin. PC Penhale embarks on a survival course that quickly goes downhill. Al joins an online dating site, with embarrassing results. Ruth advises Martin about his blood phobia.

Episode 6: Hazardous Exposure
Both Martin and Louisa have trouble sleeping. Dismissed by Mrs. Tishell, Jennifer makes plans to leave Portwenn, but Bert convinces her to stay. Martin's treatment of a hypochondriac leads to widespread panic and a confrontation with Louisa. Ruth gives Al a pep talk, and Martin's mother, Margaret, arrives with devastating news.

Episode 7: Listen with Mother
Relationships are strained among the Ellinghams. Martin won't open up to Louisa, who is deeply hurt by his rejection. Ruth is suspicious of Margaret's sudden desire to be with her son. Louisa's insistence that Martin help out at a school event ends in near tragedy. Meanwhile, two military policemen arrive in Portwenn, looking for Mike.

Episode 8: Departure
With his marriage on the critical list, Martin has a heart-to-heart with Ruth. He confronts his mother and learns the real reason she came to Portwenn. Al Large pitches Ruth on a new business plan, and Bert throws an engagement party on the beach. Enlisting PC Penhale's help, Martin races against time to save Louisa and himself.

• Behind-the-scenes segments
• Cast filmographies
• Photo gallery

Details

Packaging: Boxed set
Run Time: 384 minutes
Format: Widescreen
Number of Discs: 2
Language: English
Subtitles: No
Color or B&W: Color
CC: No
SDH: Yes
Region Code: 1
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Rating: NR. Contains graphic medical scenes.

Press

"Sweet, stirring, and completely addictive" --Slate

"One of the funniest, most entertaining shows on television" --Sunday Express (UK)

Disc 1
Episode 1: Sickness and Health
Martin and Louisa finally tie the knot. The villagers surprise them with a honeymoon at a lodge, which goes horribly awry. Back in Portwenn, Ruth finds babysitting James Henry a challenge, but an ex-army man turns out to be an expert in both children and power outages.

Episode 2: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
With Martin and Louisa back at work, James Henry needs looking after, but the irascible doctor scares prospects away. Martin makes a sudden decision that riles Louisa, and the Ellinghams host a painfully awkward dinner party. Ruth appears on Radio Portwenn and gives on-air advice to PC Penhale.

Episode 3: The Tameness of a Wolf
Mike, the new sitter, cares for James Henry and reorganizes the Ellinghams' kitchen. Al Large moves in with Morwenna, and Bert rents Al's room to Portwenn's new pharmacist. A man is found collapsed on the beach, and Ruth has a secret admirer.

Episode 4: Nobody Likes Me
Louisa persuades Martin to take James Henry to a playgroup at the library, but the Doc's behavior is appalling. Ruth moves from the farmhouse into the village, only to find that her next-door neighbor is a cranky loner. Bert makes a disturbing discovery about his lodger, Jennifer.

Disc 2
Episode 5: The Practice around the Corner
Mrs. Tishell returns to Portwenn and her pharmacy, seemingly cured of her obsession with Martin. PC Penhale embarks on a survival course that quickly goes downhill. Al joins an online dating site, with embarrassing results. Ruth advises Martin about his blood phobia.

Episode 6: Hazardous Exposure
Both Martin and Louisa have trouble sleeping. Dismissed by Mrs. Tishell, Jennifer makes plans to leave Portwenn, but Bert convinces her to stay. Martin's treatment of a hypochondriac leads to widespread panic and a confrontation with Louisa. Ruth gives Al a pep talk, and Martin's mother, Margaret, arrives with devastating news.

Episode 7: Listen with Mother
Relationships are strained among the Ellinghams. Martin won't open up to Louisa, who is deeply hurt by his rejection. Ruth is suspicious of Margaret's sudden desire to be with her son. Louisa's insistence that Martin help out at a school event ends in near tragedy. Meanwhile, two military policemen arrive in Portwenn, looking for Mike.

Episode 8: Departure
With his marriage on the critical list, Martin has a heart-to-heart with Ruth. He confronts his mother and learns the real reason she came to Portwenn. Al Large pitches Ruth on a new business plan, and Bert throws an engagement party on the beach. Enlisting PC Penhale's help, Martin races against time to save Louisa and himself.