Back in 2004, a very grumpy man in a very sharp suit stepped off a train in Cornwall and changed British television forever. Honestly, looking back at the cast of Doc Martin series 1, it’s kind of wild to see how many future stars were packed into that tiny, fictional village of Portwenn. Most people think the show just appeared out of thin air as this cozy medical drama. It didn't.
It was actually a weird, experimental spin-off from a movie called Saving Grace. But by the time series 1 rolled around, the character had been completely overhauled. Gone was the "chummy" Dr. Bamford from the films. In his place was the stiff, blood-fearing, and socially catastrophic Dr. Martin Ellingham.
The Man in the Center: Martin Clunes
You’ve probably seen Martin Clunes in a dozen different things, but this was the role that cemented him as a national treasure. Before he was the Doc, he was basically the "lad" of British TV thanks to Men Behaving Badly. Moving from a beer-swilling slacker to a high-strung vascular surgeon with a crippling fear of blood (haemophobia) was a massive gamble.
Clunes plays Ellingham with this incredible, literal-minded rigidity. He doesn't do small talk. He doesn't do "bedside manner." Basically, he’s the guy who tells you you’re dying and then gets annoyed that you’re crying because it’s "illogical." In series 1, we see him struggling to adapt to a world where people expect a "hello" before a diagnosis.
The Portwenn Locals: More Than Just Background
The chemistry of the show wasn't just about the doctor; it was about the wall of resistance he hit every time he walked outside.
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Caroline Catz as Louisa Glasson
Louisa is the heart of the show, but in series 1, she’s much more of a foil than a romantic interest. Caroline Catz brings this perfect blend of patience and utter bewilderment to the role. She’s the local primary school teacher who has to explain to Martin that, no, you can’t just insult the entire village and expect them to like you.
Fun fact: Caroline Catz actually changed her name from Caplan because there was already another actress with that name. She chose "Catz" after seeing a doodle of a cat, even though she’s actually super allergic to them. Talk about irony.
The Large Family: Ian McNeice and Joe Absolom
Bert and Al Large are the ultimate Portwenn "fixers." Ian McNeice, who you might recognize from Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls or Dune, plays Bert with this perpetually optimistic—and usually failing—entrepreneurial spirit.
Then there’s Joe Absolom as Al. At the time, Joe was a huge get for the show because he had just come off a massive, dramatic stint as Matthew Rose in EastEnders. Seeing him play a slightly awkward, local lad trying to escape his father's shadow was a total 180 from his soap opera days.
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The Receptionists: Where It All Started
Before the show had the long-running characters we know now, the surgery was a bit of a revolving door.
- Lucy Punch as Elaine Denham: A lot of people forget that Lucy Punch was the original receptionist in series 1. She was hilarious. Elaine was lazy, entitled, and completely unimpressed by Martin’s credentials. Punch eventually moved on to huge Hollywood roles in movies like Bad Teacher and Into the Woods, but her short stint in Portwenn was comedy gold.
- The transition to Pauline: While Katherine Parkinson (of The IT Crowd fame) is the receptionist most fans remember from the early years, she actually didn't join until series 2. In series 1, it was all about the chaos Elaine caused.
Why the Series 1 Cast Still Matters
Honestly, the first series is much "spikier" than the later ones. The villagers aren't just quirky; they're often genuinely hostile to Martin. This tension is what made the show a hit. It wasn't just another "sweet" country doctor show. It was a "fish out of water" story where the fish kept biting everyone.
We also got to meet Stephanie Cole as Aunt Joan. She provided the only real emotional bridge for Martin. Cole is a powerhouse of British acting, and her presence gave the show a sense of history. Without Joan, Martin would have just been a jerk in a suit; with her, we saw a man who was deeply damaged by his past but trying, in his own weird way, to do good.
Hidden Gems and Guest Stars
If you go back and rewatch series 1, keep an eye out for the guest spots.
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- Ben Miller appears as Stewart James, the park ranger who thinks he lives with a giant squirrel.
- John Alderton shows up as an old flame of Aunt Joan’s.
These high-caliber actors showed that the industry took the show seriously from day one. It wasn't just "daytime fodder." It was prestige comedy-drama filmed in the stunning village of Port Isaac (which stands in for Portwenn).
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're looking to dive back into the world of Portwenn, here’s how to do it right:
- Watch the Prequels First: To really appreciate the cast of Doc Martin series 1, you should try to find the 2001 and 2003 TV movies (Doc Martin and The Legend of the Cloutie). It’s like an alternate universe version of the show.
- Track the Evolution: Pay attention to how Martin's suits change. In series 1, he looks like he’s literally wearing armor. As the series progresses over the years, he doesn't necessarily "soften," but the way the cast interacts with him becomes a dance rather than a collision.
- Check Out the "Then and Now": Many of the series 1 actors, like Joe Absolom and Ian McNeice, stayed with the show for nearly 20 years. Seeing their literal aging on screen alongside the character development is one of the rarest treats in television history.
The series 1 cast laid a foundation of dry humor and genuine medical stakes that allowed the show to run for ten seasons. It remains a masterclass in how to cast a "community" so that the lead actor has something substantial to bounce off of. Grab a pasty, ignore the Doc’s advice about your cholesterol for a minute, and give that first season another look.