DOC MARTIN SEASON SIX EPISODE 6

UK | ITV 1 | 60 minutes | Monday 17 October 2011 @ 9.00pm

Just three episodes of this current season of Doc Martin left and things are building towards a nice crescendo and in this episode it is PC Joe Penhale who is once again at the centre of things as he tries his best to prove to Maggie that he has genuinely changed and can be the all action husband she wants him to be. What he doesn’t know though is that once she gets the all clear from the doc she is planning to return to Bude. Once he finds out he embarks on a desperate quest to convince her to stay – even resorting to paying people to act nastily to her so he can step in and show her how strong he is but a final act of daring which goes wrong promises to ruin everything.

Meanwhile Mr Coley is becoming increasingly muddled, and puts the children at risk by spraying poisonous fertiliser. He becomes so confused that he decides to climb onto the school roof, and doesn’t know why he’s there. Seeing Mr Coley swaying precariously on the roof, Dr Martin Ellingham bravely scales the ladder to rescue him. The root of Mr Coley’s problem lies in his potting shed where a paraffin heater has been giving off toxic fumes.

Aunt Ruth uncovers a chest of family heirlooms when she clears out a barn at the farm, including photos as Martin as a six year old schoolboy. The photos bring back poignant memories of an unhappy childhood for Martin.

It prompts Martin to think of registering James Henry for boarding school. But Louisa is horrified at the thought of sending their son miles away to school and before you can say – ooh big finish coming up soon Martin and Louisa are very much at loggerheads once again.

Tension is mounting between Louisa and Martin. They can’t seem to agree on anything, from the schooling for their son, to what to cook for supper. The final straw for Louisa comes when she discovers Martin has set a date for their baby’s christening without even consulting her. Louisa decides she has had enough. She packs a bag, and takes the baby back home to her mum.

Great to see the very fab Brian Pettifer with a poignant role here as Mr Coley.