ITV comedy-drama series Doc Martin has been on screens for nearly two decades after the first run debuted back in 2004. Since then, the show has built up a firm following both in the UK and in the US with Hollywood A-lister Sigourney Weaver being a huge fan. Doc Martin fans can expect more of the same from the forthcoming series of the show.
How many episodes are in Doc Martin season 9?
Doc Martin will be premiering on ITV in the UK tonight (Wednesday, September 25) at 9pm.
Like the majority of the previous seasons, there will be eight episodes which will be airing on a weekly basis.
Fans can also watch live on the ITV Hub or catch up post-broadcast.
Season nine will reunite viewers with the curmudgeonly Dr Martin Ellingham (played by Martin Clunes), Britain’s grumpiest GP who continues to bring the laughs with his brusque bedside manner and fear of blood.
READ MORE: Doc Martin season 9 ITV air date, cast, trailer, plot
However, his future in Cornwall could be plunged into jeopardy as his career hangs in the balance after he finds himself under scrutiny from the General Medical Council for his manner.
Doc Martin will find himself under the eye of another doctor who will be watching his every move.
This year, the doctor’s wife Louisa (Caroline Katz) will be embarking on a brand new career as a child counsellor after leaving behind her previous job as the headmistress of the local school.
She will be facing challenges in her new chosen profession as well as dealing with her husband’s grouchy demeanour.
Louisa is also concerned about their son James Henry (Elliott Blake), who seems to be picking up his father’s crabby attitude to life.
She will be considering whether they should try for another child so that their son has a brother or sister for company.
Returning cast members for season nine are Dame Eileen Atkins as aunt Ruth, Ian McNeice as Bert Large and Joe Absolom as Al.
Other cast members include John Marquez as PC Joe Penhale, Selina Cadell sd pharmacist Mrs Tishell and Jessica Ransom as doctor’s receptionist Morwenna Newcross.
This season will see some guest actors joining the show including American actor Danny Huston, Game of Thrones’ Conleth Hill, Caroline Quentin and Tom Conti.
Speaking about the new series, Clunes teased: “The Doc is in deep water at the beginning of this new series.
“We left him at the end of the last series under investigation by the General Medical Council.
“We find him, at the beginning of this new series, having to pass an assessment to see if he is competent if he wants to carry on practising as a GP.”
Reflecting on how his character was dealing with his predicament, Clunes explained: “Although the Doc is concerned about his future, his present is living day to day, in the moment, keeping busy.
“But everyone in the village seems to think he is going to be thrown out. Everyone is convinced, saying ‘we heard you were going’.
“But he is adamant he is not. “He does find his patients are actually supporting him. They don’t want to lose him.”
Doc Martin season 9 will be airing on ITV tonight at 9pm