Doc Martin - Series 9
From Saturday 8 February 7.30pm
Martin Clunes returns to play the nation’s favourite grumpy medic in a brand new series of Doc Martin.
He stars as Dr Martin Ellingham, the GP with a brusque bedside manner and a phobia of blood, in eight new episodes of the successful drama produced by Buffalo Pictures, and set in the idyllic hamlet of Portwenn in Cornwall.
Picturesque Port Isaac provides the beautiful backdrop for the popular series, with all regular members of the cast reprising their roles.
Caroline Catz plays Doc Martin’s wife, Louisa Ellingham, who has resigned from her job as headmistress at the local school to pursue a new career in child counselling.
Returning to this ninth series, Dame Eileen Atkins plays Doc Martin’s formidable Aunt Ruth. Ian McNeice is back to play Bert Large, with Joe Absolom as his son Al . John Marquez is PC Joe Penhale, Jessica Ransom is the doctor’s receptionist Morwenna Newcross and Selina Cadell is pharmacist Mrs Tishell.
They are joined by special guest stars Danny Huston, Conleth Hill, Caroline Quentin and Tom Conti. Danny plays Robert Brooke, a man who is shot by a farmer who thinks he is stealing eggs. Caroline returns to the series to star as vet Angela Sim, Conleth plays a GP who comes to assess Martin and Tom Conti plays Bernard Newton, an eminent surgeon who is also assessing the Doc.
Griff’s Great Australian Rail Trip
From Tuesday 4 February 8.30pm
In 2015, Griff took a very successful train journey through Africa. Now he’s going to immerse himself in modern Australia, unravel its pioneering history, delight in its Indigenous culture, meet some of its more unique characters, and journey through its most isolated towns and spirited cities. Along the way, Griff will discover the history of the railroads, the people that operate them and the communities that rely on them – because it’s the railways that made modern Australia. This series follows his journey on some of Australia’s most impressive long-distance trains– The Indian Pacific, The Spirit of the Outback, The Spirit of Queensland and the Iconic Ghan - travelling across the expansive outback and along spectacular coastlines.
To kick off the series, Griff explores the unique Australian continent aboard the legendary Indian Pacific. The first of two parts that will take him on a journey 4,352 kilometres across the country- from Perth in the state of Western Australia to Sydney in New South Wales. In this episode, Griff reaches as far as the golden town of Kalgoorlie. Along the way he meets quokkas, miners, an Aboriginal guide, and highland dancers, all the while exploring the state’s vastness and riches. Griff seeks to uncover what defines the West from the rest-and perhaps most importantly- what is a sandgroper?
Gardening Australia - Series 31
From Friday 7 February 7.30pm
Australia’s Most Popular Lifestyle series returns for another season of gardening knowhow and inspiration. So, let’s get stuck in!
Costa visits the legendary permaculture demonstration garden ‘Melliodora’ to meet the couple that kicked it all off and the young people they share the property with. Sophie visits a community project that is providing waterfront accommodation for native bees. Tino is at The Patch to show how and when to prune stone fruit.
Josh visits a primary school where students are playing an important role in growing and saving the seed of locally rare and endangered plants.
Gardening Australia presenter Clarence Slockee leads us through Bundjalung country to explain his deep running connection to plants.
Jerry Coleby-Williams shares his tips for growing a diverse collection of bromeliads, Millie Ross shows us how she keeps her chooks cool over summer, and Jane Edmanson keeps her lavender looking fresh with a prune.