Doc Martin (Martin Clunes) - Lulu and Harry
Burt Large
Morwenna
We left our London flat at 7 AM - our jet lifted off from Gatwick Airport at 9:30. By 11 AM - we were in our rental car trying to find Port Isaac (Port Wenn). It was something new driving on the wrong side of the road and shifting gears with my left hand. The roads in Cornwall are very narrow. In places - there is not room enough for two cars to pass each other. The weather was heavy overcast with just a hint of rain.
At 1 PM - we pulled into the public parking lot at Port Isaac. Since there is not parking in the downtown - we left tour car in the airing lot and walked the ¼ mile down to the public slip. Our hotel is in the center of town - the Slipway Hotel. To our surprise - they were filming the Doc Martin TV Series. They were shooting scenes right in front of our hotel.
If you watch Doc Martin on Netflix - you know is the number one TV show in England - and Martin Clunes is the top TV personality. We actually needed up being in a few of the scenes. Our hotel restaurant was used as background. When they called for quiet on the set - we were told to talk to each other but do not look at the action. So we will be in one of the shows - maybe more.
The characters we saw were - Doc Martin - his Aunt Ruth Ellingham (she is played by Dame Eileen Atkins). Atkins also played Queen Mary in The Crown - and she was in Calendar Girls. We saw magistrate PC Penhale. Also- Morwenna - Doc Martin's receptionist.
What was so remarkable was how it did not bother the actors or crew one bit that there were people all over. They were all very professional and courteous - everyone was having a good time - cast - crew - onlookers. No one stopped you from taking pictures or video.
We retreated to our room many times - only to be summoned by another call to action. It was so surreal. We felt like participants. They were still filming at 7 PM - and we had supper outside watching them. Finally - Lulu and I got the courage to ask Doc Martin to pose with us. He was most gracious to us and everyone.
We are in bed now - looking out our window at the harbor - wondering if all that really happened today. We will spend tonight and tomorrow night here and fly back to London Friday evening.
It is 11 PM - the tide went out - and all those boats in the harbor are sitting on the bottom. What a strange and wonderful place.
Beautiful stonework
Filming in the harbor - Port Wenn
Our hotel - The Slipway
Morwenna in boat in orange
Doc Martin's Surgery
Louisa's School
The Surgery is a private cottage
They do not film inside the building.
Harbor from the cliffs
Filming in the harbor - director in yellow boat
The school
The ice cream shop.
Martin posed with everyone
Martin petted every dog
He posed with every kid
Cornwall Orchard Cider in front of
Mrs. Tishell's Pharmacy.
Constable PC Penhale
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