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Dr. Martin Ellingham is a successful London surgeon who decides to relocate to the seaside village of Portwenn to practice medicine as a GP. His reasons for doing so are his own and even his aunt Joan, who lives locally, isn't quite sure what his motivation is. As Martin settles into the village he comes across the village characters: Bert Large and his son, who as general handymen take on fixing the plumbing in Martin's house; Colonel Gilbert Spencer who has a peculiar medical condition; and Louisa Glasson, the local school teacher who also happens to be the only member of the local medical advisory committee to argue against Martin's hiring in the first place. Martin's gruff demeanor and poor bedside manner brings him into conflict with several locals and he seriously considers packing it in.
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Martin's first official day on the job may be his last when he orders all and sundry, who seem to think the surgery is a town meeting place, out on the street. Having reached the end of his tether, he also fires his receptionist Elaine, only to find that pretty well everyone in village now shuns him. His aunt Joan suggests he should be a little more understanding, but that is not exactly Martin's style. One patient who does remain is Roger Fenn who has a lump in his throat that Martin fears may be cancerous. In a quiet moment, Martin reveals to him the phobia that has caused him to give up surgery and become a GP.
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Martin tries to find the cause when there is a severe outbreak of diarrhea in the village. When his initial suspicion that the water in the swimming pool at the recreation centre proves false, he baldly announces on Caroline Bosman's radio show that the village's water supply must be the culprit. He's unaware however that similar accusations three years before, subsequently proved false, nearly ruined the village's economy. Bert Large sees a business opportunity and sells water from his natural spring, but he also has a falling out with son Al who wants to go away to school to study computers.
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With the the Portwenn Players annual dance coming up, Louisa tries to interest Martin in attending, but when he turns her down she gives her extra ticket to Mark Mylow who immediately misunderstands and thinks they now have a date. When Martin hears about it, he too misunderstands. Martin visits Stewart James, a recluse who thinks he lives with Anthony, a giant 6-foot squirrel. Martin wants to have him sectioned, but reconsiders following a subsequent visit. Young Peter Cronk gets into trouble when he's accused of destroying bird houses and feeders in various back gardens and runs away.
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Martin's aunt Joan receives a visit from an old flame, John Slater with whom 30 years before she had an affair. His visit re-lights old flames but Martin takes an immediate dislike to him. He is concerned as to his true intentions but also his health when medical tests reveal a serious condition. Martin also has his own problems with 15-year old Melanie Gibson who develops an infatuation with him after he repairs her dislocated shoulder. Things get serious however when she shows up in his bed. Al Large finally sees his chance when Elaine apparently breaks up with her boyfriend.
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Martin's secret is finally out and his phobia becomes common knowledge in the village. As villagers begin to question the wisdom of having and MD who can't stand the sight of blood without becoming nauseous, Martin tries to go about his business in a normal way but doesn't take it all very well. When young Peter Cronk suffers a fall at school, Martin diagnoses a ruptured spleen but Peter may not make it to the hospital in time forcing Martin to face his fears.
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With Elaine away with her boyfriend, Martin finds himself with a new receptionist in the form of her cousin, Pauline who arrives unannounced. He assists his aunt Joan by examining her friend, Muriel Steele. Her son, Danny Steele thinks she is displaying early signs of dementia and wants to put her in a home. Martin's initial examination reveals her to be perfectly normal but he must re-evaluate his diagnosis when she behaves oddly. Martin is also concerned when learns that Danny Steele and Louisa were once quite close and that they are apparently seeing each other again. Finally, he deals with the case of Eddie Rix who has a long history of injuries. He diagnoses any number of possible causes but the truth proves to be something completely unexpected.
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To his surprise, Martin learns that he is a governor of the local school. He agrees to serve but when he learns that Louisa Glasson is a candidate for the headmistress position, he warns her that she won't get any special favours. Martin also has to deal with an outbreak of a nasty skin rash among the students. When Mrs. Cronk is hospitalized after an accident in her fish and chip shop, the doctor reluctantly agrees to let her son Peter stay with him. Meanwhile, Bert Large decides to help Mrs. Cronk by keeping her shop open, over son Al's objections. Turns out his fish and chips are quite popular and with good reason.
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Martin has to deal with PC Mark Mylow's sister Sandra, a naturopath who has returned to Portwenn selling her natural remedies. Martin's effort to have her consult before "prescribing" any of her concoctions falls on deaf ears. Martin also has to deal with a odd family where the father is a bit of a ruffian and his two adult sons are in fear of him. They obviously rely on their mother to calm the home situation, but Martin is concerned when he observes that she is kept locked in a room to which he is refused admission. Al Large and receptionist Pauline start dating and a chance remark on the colour of his eyes leads him to believe that Bert may not be his biological father. Aunt Joan helps Al deal with his doubts.
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Martin has to deal with local radio host Caroline Bosman, who seems to be developing an dependence to alcohol and prescription drugs. Several people in the village are concerned about her well-being, but she refuses all help. Her problem may be more serious, however. Martin also has to help Mr. Cooke, who has a particular problem with bad odor. A new arrival in the village, Julie Mitchell, convinces local constable Mark Mylow to give her driving lessons.
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When Helen Pratt dies at home, her husband Phil blames Martin. To make matters worse, the Pratts are aunt Joan's neighbors and in spite, he starts using pesticides near Joan's land thereby threatening her organic license, which is just now up for renewal. Pauline is thrilled to have been invited to join the Portwenn lifeboat squad but she uses the opportunity to flirt with the team captain in the hopes of making Al Large jealous. When he doesn't respond, she wonders if he's really interested. Mark Mylow and Julie Mitchell spend a pleasant afternoon together. Martin is asked to treat Tricia Soames, a teacher at the local school who has obsessive-compulsive disorder. Martin and Louisa make an effort to re-establish their friendship.
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Martin's somewhat difficult parents come to visit from their home in Portugal. They have not spoken to one another for seven years and Martin finds his mother to be very withdrawn. His father, a retired surgeon, is somewhat dismissive of Martin's decision to become a small town doctor. Things come to a head when they all visit aunt Joan and the real reason for his father's visit comes to light. Martin also deals with Maureen Tacy who has been putting on weight despite attempts at dieting. Martin's conclusions are both surprising and delightful. Louisa's friend Danny has a serious attack while renovating his new home, but Martin comes to the rescue.
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With Mark Mylow's wedding fast approaching, Martin is asked to be best man but he is at his abrupt best when he simply says no. Mark then enlist Al Large for the job telling that he doesn't have to organize a stag night as all Mark wants to do is go on an overnight camping trip in the woods. Things go from bad to worse when, after getting lost somewhere in the forest, Mark is bitten by a deadly snake. When Martin goes off to find him, he too gets lost.
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Mark Mylow comes in for his medical check up and Martin is concerned at one particular aspect of his physiology. Combined with fiancée Julie's big news, this could mean some bumps in the road as far as their relationship is concerned. Danny asks Louisa something important but her ambivalence is compounded by the fact that he is also planning to return to London to undertake his dream architectural project. Martin and Louisa have a heart to heart talk and, in his cups, he tells her exactly how he feels. Martin takes pharmacist Mrs. Tishell to task for constantly wearing a neck brace pointing out that in most cases, it isn't required. When she removes it however, it becomes apparent that it is anything but a psychosomatic crutch.
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Martin deals with the case of a young girl who has been acting out. When Louisa Glasson mentions Ritalin to the mother, Martin tries to point out that she is not qualified to give that kind of advice. A new police constable, Joe Penhale, arrives in Portwenn but seems to have a peculiar medical condition. Martin's aunt Joan has a car accident and Louisa faints while teaching a class. Pauline is bored with being a receptionist and desperately wants to give out medical advice so Martin has a proposal for her.
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With Pauline away for a couple days, Martin gets a new receptionist, Poppy. Bert Large takes Martin's advice to change his lifestyle. Only his idea of a changed lifestyle is to give up being a handyman and open a restaurant. He doesn't quite have the hang of it, however and his stress level definitely doesn't go down. Louisa invites Martin for dinner but her plan falls apart when her new cooker doesn't work properly. When many of the villagers fall ill, Martin concludes that the problem is Bert's new restaurant, but the problem lies elsewhere.
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Martin and Louisa are still trying to develop something of relationship, but their plan for dinner is again disrupted this time by Louisa's quirky new neighbors. Martin is particularly perturbed by their approach to child rearing especially when he learns that the child has been vandalizing cars. Martin also learns that in addition to being narcoleptic, Constable Joe Penhale is also agoraphobic. He feels he has no choice but to report him but aunt Joan reminds Martin that many individuals have phobias but are still able to work in their chosen profession.
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Martin confirms to his aunt Joan that she suffers from osteoporosis. When she begins to have a relationship with someone much younger than herself, Martin has great difficulty accepting the fact, but she insists that she is having fun and has no intention of stopping. Carrie Wilson clearly has her sights set on Martin, much to Louisa's annoyance. PC Joe Penhale throws a party for himself. Al Large returns home after having been traveling for a awhile but it may not have been the holiday he makes it out to be.
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Martin and Louisa almost succeed in having a disaster-free date when they attend a outdoor concert together. They kiss but Martin is at his awkward best and ruins the moment. When they arrive back in Portwenn, Louisa announces that there is no possible hope for them as a couple and tells Martin that she will no longer see him. When a visiting friend suffers a serious injury, Martin comes to the rescue and he and Louisa find themselves going in yet another direction. Pauline's addiction to gambling becomes apparent and she is in dire need of assistance.
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The news of Martin and Louisa's engagement spreads throughout Portwenn quickly, courtesy of Dave the postman. The couple find that the only date open at the local church is three weeks away and there is much to do. Pauline really wants to be a bridesmaid. There's a sudden outbreak of a respiratory infection in the village. Martin treats a patient who recently received a knee replacement but is refusing to take antibiotics. She lives with her domineering sister a biochemist that, according to village gossip, was fired from her research job when she experimented on humans. Al Large has a look at the restaurant books and discovers several discrepancies.
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Martin and Louisa's wedding day finally arrives but is everyone and everything ready? Several people ask Martin if he's really serious about this, planting a seed of doubt in his mind. Al and Bert Large are providing the catering but run into a major plumbing problem at the restaurant and have to make alternate arrangements. The florist is arrested for trying to steal a bicycle. Martin has an argument with the vicar over his drinking and then has to find a replacement when the man falls and breaks his leg. One of the bridesmaids, Isobel Brown, has a minor accident requiring Martin's attention but soon goes into labor. Can the couple survive all the disasters?.
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Martin's fear of blood has not decreased and he almost gags when he has to remove a crayon from a school-girl's ear.For all this he is still interested in returning to surgery. Louisa has left town and a visit from ex-student colleague Edith, now a high flyer in private practice, helps sway him. However when Joan's friend Barbara has an accident caused by Mrs. Tishell's husband Clive, who has gone deaf working on oil rigs, Edith wants to operate on her but Martin over-rules her, feeling, correctly, that Barbara can be treated at home. Edith comes to apologize and has not been in Martin's house for more than a few minutes when Louisa returns, extremely pregnant.
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Martin is still in a bit of shock at Louisa's return and her present condition. She makes it quite plain that she expects nothing of Martin and moves into a room at the pub. She also gets a job teaching at the school, but the new headmaster who replaced her, Mr. Strain, is acting quite oddly. Aunt Joan is thrilled at Louisa's return and that she is pregnant and even offers her a place to stay at her cottage. Martin feels left out of it all and doesn't quite know what to do. As for the headmaster, Martin has also noticed some odd behavior and all it takes is a urine sample to diagnose his problem. Martin also has to deal with a patient who asks him if there is a cure for being gay.
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Martin has to put up with PC Joe Penhale's brother Sam in more ways than one. Pauline has hired Sam to paint the reception room, which Martin doesn't agree with, but he also notices that Sam sometimes loses his balance or his motor coordination. He's primarily concerned about the possibility of a hereditary disease and when hypochondriac Joe hears about it, he panics. Louisa meanwhile hopes to move into old Mr. Routledge's house. The old man, who drives Martin mad with his constant complaining, desperately wants to move into a care home, but Martin won't agree to refer him. He inadvertently facilitates the move. Martin and Louisa are barely talking and his friend, Edith Montgomery, thinks he should be returning to London. Meanwhile, Pauline thinks boyfriend Al is too passive and predictable.
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Martin is upset with Louisa and the busy lifestyle she maintains. He thinks she should be resting more and working only three days per week. She on the other hand has every intention of not only working full-time but will be applying for the now vacant Head position. Martin is so opposed to her getting the job that he makes his opposition known to other members of the Board. Martin has to treat Mr. McLynn who claims to have recently lost the use of his limbs. It doesn't take Martin long to learn that the man has been wheelchair-bound for years but it takes a minor accident with Mrs McLynn at the wheel for him to finally realize what is going on. Edith is still after Martin to return to London and recommends a therapist to help him with his phobia.
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Martin travels to London to speak to a colleague about returning as a surgeon and is told they would be very pleased to have him back - provided he can satisfy all concerned that his phobia is a thing of the past. Martin tells him it's no longer an issue. He's made an appointment with the therapist recommended by Edith Montgomery, but the session doesn't go well. Louisa takes the school children to Aunt Joan's farm on a school outing. One of her students, Theo Wenn, is particularly badly behaved forcing Joan to lock him in the chicken coop. When the boy falls ill, his parents consult a solicitor and may take action against her. Martin also has to treat Mrs. Selkirk who claims to be seeing her recently dead husband.
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Martin has to put up with Molly O'Neal, the new local midwife whose patients include Louisa. She convinces Louisa not to take the antibiotics he has prescribed. Molly is something of a feminist and it isn't obvious whether she has the bigger problem with traditional medicine or just with the fact that Martin is a man. Martin has been working on his phobia and seems to be making some progress. He hears from Edith Montgomery that the position in London will be available in six weeks time - provided he can convince everyone his problem with blood is a thing of the past. Meanwhile, Al and Bert Large have to deal with Marigold Marley, whom they've hired as a cook and who seems to specialize in preparing roadkill. Marigold is something of a flirt and Al takes a bit of a shine to the married woman. Their liking of wild game however also means Martin's services will be required.
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Martin receives his formal offer for the position in London and courtesy of Pauline, who steamed open the letter, everyone in Portwenn now knows he's leaving. Unsatisfied with the reference letter Martin has provided her, Pauline decides she will only work according to the letter of her job description. Martin's reaction is simple: he fires her. Martin is also scheduled to attend a medical conference where Edith Montgomery will be giving a lecture. She's only booked one room at the hotel for both of them and Martin doesn't seem at all comfortable. An unexpected encounter with blood in the hotel's kitchen tests him. Back in Portwenn, Al Large throws a baby shower for Louisa, where she is surprised at the large turn out. Aunt Joan meanwhile decides to open up her house as a B&B but her first guest leaves a lot to be desired.
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It's Martin's last day in Portwenn and the surgery is packed. Edith turns up, expecting an apology from Martin for walking out on her but of course does not get one and Joan again rebukes him for distancing himself from his child. As he is about to leave, Tasha, a school-teacher friend of Louisa, collapses. She has been inhaling fumes from an unlawful bio-fuel used by her cab driver husband Tommy. She is all right but Tommy, who is driving Louisa to hospital for the birth, also collapses at the wheel and crashes the car. Martin races to save him and to help deliver the baby. It's a boy, and the whole of Portwenn, who have been listening via Pauline's amplified mobile phone, cheer Martin and Louisa and their new offspring.
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Ruth is disturbed when reclusive neighbour Shirley Dunwich tells her that her surly young son Michael is trying to poison her and,since Ruth has no liking for Michael,who stole her hub caps for his art installation,she believes her,informing Martin. Unfortunately this leads to a siege situation before Martin rectifies matters. Morwenna's eagerness to please does not endear her to Martin,who sacks her for drug-taking though he reinstates her after finding that she is taking her grandfather's Second World war pep pills in order to be efficient. Louisa hands in her notice as she decides to leave Portwenn for London with Martin and their still unnamed baby.
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As the first annual Portwenn charity fun run leads to unfit casualties and a price war between Bert and publican Mark Bridge Louisa's feckless,long-absent mother Eleanor turns up at the surgery. Louisa is not overjoyed to see her but she proves to be a very useful baby-sitter - until it transpires that her soothing herbal infusion that she put in the baby's feed contains alcohol. However,Louisa,sensing that her mother meant well,goes behind Martin's back and asks her to stay around whilst Ruth takes Al on as her permanent farm manager.
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Martin finally marries Louisa with Joe Penhale as best man though neither party has a parent present and Martin is irritated by the gate-crashers at the reception. The villagers club together for a night in an isolated but luxurious lodge for the honey-mooners - whose seclusion they enjoy though Bert drives off with their day clothes and luggage. Following a chimney fire the Ellinghams set out to find a phone but instead run into gun-wielding recluse Bellamy, whose life Martin saves after an accident. Back in the village Ruth is grateful to jack-of-all-trades Mike Pruddy who helps her out with advice for baby James after fixing her electrics following a power cut. However the dishevelled newly-weds still return to find everything in chaos. Written by don @ minifie-1
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With Louisa back at work the Ellinghams hire nanny Mel but she keeps scratching and when Martin tells her she has an infection caused by obesity she leaves. Fortunately Mike Pruddy steps into the breach, impressing Martin and allowing him to take Louisa to the school play. Here they meet chair of governors Dennis Dodd and his younger wife Karen and ask them to dinner. The dinner party is awkward as Martin believes Dennis is drunk and tells Louisa when they have to tend to baby James, unaware that their guests can hear them on the baby monitor. Whilst Morwenna inherits a house and takes Al in as her lodger Ruth is roped into doing a phone-in for local radio and takes a call from Joe Penhale, under an assumed name, worried that he has no friends. She advises him to be nice to everybody so he takes her at her word, reluctantly arresting Dennis, who has crashed his car. But when Dennis later has a fall Martin discovers that his slurred speech is due to his having Parkinson's Disease. Written by don @ minifie-1
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Bert welcomes old flame Jennifer Cardew, Sally Tishell's replacement as pharmacist as his lodger but is less than pleased when pupil Becky Wead claims in the school magazine that she got food poisoning from his restaurant - especially when it turns out that her stomach ache was actually caused by an ulcer. Whilst Mike continues to impress as an immaculate nanny Louisa is slightly perturbed by his obsessive neatness. Meanwhile Robert Campbell, an articulate drifter, is found unconscious on the beach and proceeds to stalk Ruth, eventually getting into her house to declare his love for her. It turns out that he is a former patient of hers, a diabetic, who has developed an obsession with her. Between them Ruth and Martin sedate him but she seriously considers moving. Written by don @ minifie-1
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Following her stalker scare Ruth moves into a new house, next door to cantankerous, asthmatic hoarder John Moysey, who matches Martin in rudeness. When Ruth's attic is flooded Moysey is responsible but when he suffers from excessive nose-bleeds Martin discovers that his unhealthy life-style has given him scurvy. Martin grudgingly takes James to a play-group, where his brusqueness does not go down well with the other mothers, though he does diagnose another baby's eye problem. Bert suspects Jennifer is o drugs when her Botox goes wrong and Morwenna agrees to help a lonely Al find a girlfriend online. Written by don @ minifie-1
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Sally Tishell returns to Port Wenn, apparently cured of her obsession with Martin though she is hostile to Jennifer, whom she sees as a professional rival, and put out that Martin refuses to declare her fit enough to work on her own. Joe Penhale takes part in a survival course in the wilds where he ends up literally shooting himself in the foot whilst Morwenna and Al find that they have unwittingly corresponded with each other on a dating website, causing Al to move out and lodge with Joe. Martin attends to beach-comber Lorna, whose mystery illness turns out to be too much iron in the blood.
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After vying with Jennifer for customer attention Sally learns that she is finally allowed to practice alone and resume her old job so she is keen to see off her rival. Jennifer plans to leave Port Wenn but a marriage proposal from Bert changes her mind. Hypochondriac Malcolm Rayner complains of a cough which Martin, given that Malcolm is a builder, diagnoses as asbestos poisoning. Malcolm, believing he is dying, gets drunk and arrested by Joe, who panics, posting asbestos warnings around the village. When he impales himself on his staple gun Martin rescues him but his blood phobia makes him vomit. A bigger blow for the doctor is the arrival of his mother Margaret, who coldly informs him that his father has died. Nor is she very good with baby James though she seems anxious to make amends. Martin is wary.
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Ruth bumps into Margaret and berates her for being an unloving mother to Martin but even Margaret, like Louisa, is concerned that Martin seems withdrawn and unwell. He attends the school prize giving but his curt manner ends with him stomping off and Louisa, running after him, is hit by a car and hospitalized. Visiting her Martin is concerned that she may have an embolism but is shocked when she announces she wants to take James for a break with her mother Eleanor in Spain. Military policemen visit Port Wenn, looking for Mike, an Army deserter. He is prepared for a life on the run but Martin persuades him that things will go better for him if he gives himself up.
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Martin watches sadly as Louisa and their baby get in a taxi on their way to Spain, after which he seeks advice from Ruth. She believes his emotional detachment and fear of blood both stem from his loveless upbringing and advises him to go after Louisa. As a result he confronts his mother, who has come to stay purely because she is penniless after her bereavement, and he throws her out. Discovering that Louisa has a condition that could be fatal if in flight he gets Penhale to drive him to the airport and gets her off the plane, performing a successful operation on her. Meanwhile Ruth and Al go into partnership in a Bed and Breakfast venture whilst the wedding reception of Bert and Jennifer hits disaster when, due to Bert's penny-pinching, an inferior generator electrocutes DJ Caroline and Morwenna and Al have to save her by phoning Martin for his advice.
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An exasperated Louisa has taken baby James to stay with Eleanor in Spain, hoping for time to think over the future of her marriage. She has only rung Martin once - and to his annoyance the whole village knows. Martin is also concerned for lifeboat captain Steve Barker , whom he believes to have testicular cancer and who is being televised for the lifeboat's centenary. When Steve blacks out and crashes the boat on a deserted cove with Morwenna on board Martin comes to the rescue and discovers that Steve has tried to deceive him in order to keep his position. Finally Martin agrees to see therapist Rachel Timoney to curb his short temper but whilst they are in session Louisa phones.
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As Martin begins an awkward session with Rachel Timoney, Louisa returns with baby James, causing tongues to wag. She suggests a trial separation to save the marriage and Martin moves into a small flat nearby. Al opens his holiday home and has cause to be grateful to silent partner Ruth for disposing of the mouse which freaks out their first guests, a quarrelling couple who end up having to see Martin. However Ruth has her own health problems and Martin dissuades her from taking a job in London whilst Al's guests get Tasered by Joe Penhale following an argument with Bert over a lobster dinner.
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Following another disaster at his restaurant Bert takes drastic action and disappears, leading Al to contact P.C. Penhale, though he is more interested in courting Louisa's baby-sitter Janice. Martin turns down a request by local radio presenter Melanie to do an interview on healthy eating whilst Louisa is less than impressed by Rachel Timoney's suggestion of a couples interview. However after hearing Martin inadvertently save a life on live radio she could change her mind.
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Schoolboy Peter Cronk begins work experience at the surgery. He is enthusiastic and almost as pedantic as Martin himself but he has an ulterior motive for the placement that almost ends in disaster. Sally Tishell's husband Clive reappears after several months' absence, anxious to help her in the chemists though she is less than enthusiastic whilst Bert, hiding out on Ruth's land, attempts to recover the gear from his repossessed restaurant. Martin and Louisa attend a therapy session but it is the shared experience when one of her pupils falls ill that starts to reconcile them.
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After Rachel advises her to take more control Louisa prevents Martin from killing the stray dog that follows him everywhere and takes it to vet Angela Sim at her rescue centre. As Angela's father was Martin's predecessor the pair do not see eye to eye, especially as Angela suggests the dog follows Martin as it recognizes he is lonely, though this proves to be true after Martin has helped Angela through a medical crisis. Elsewhere Ruth is impressed by Bert's home made whiskey and Penhale stages a barbecue to get closer to Janice.
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Though the therapy sessions are progressing well Martin is annoyed when Louisa's old flame Danny returns to the area, leading a group of city kids on a camping holiday, particularly as Danny seems intent on interfering in the marriage. However, when the most obnoxious child in the party falls ill, it is predictably Martin, not Danny, who saves the day. There are further calamities when Clive Tishell, intent on getting his marriage to Sally back on track, self-medicates with a virility treatment and the entertainer at the Ellinghams' baby's birthday party turns out to be contagious.
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New art teacher Erica perturbs Louisa with her unorthodox methods and Martin - when she moves in next door to him - though Martin establishes that her fainting fits may play a part in her odd behaviour. Dr Timoney also becomes a patient when she collapses at the wheel of her car and begins to act strangely whilst an American tourist and devoted elderly wife also give Martin problems. Bert returns to being a handyman after his failed whiskey-making venture and Penhale's offer of a career move to Exeter is much affected by his growing relationship with Janice.
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Louisa and Martin decide to make a go of it, starting with a conciliatory dinner but Louisa is concerned when Martin fails to show up. In fact he has been taken prisoner by elderly Annie Winton, who wants him to save her terminally ill husband Jim, despite Jim's more stoical attitude. Louisa and Joe Penhale track him down and the outcome provides a solution to the Ellinghams' marriage problems. There is good news too for Al, as not only have Ruth and Bert decided to go into business to market Bert's whiskey to promote Al's B & B but he also gets a date with receptionist Morwenna.
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New curate Rosie Edwards arrives to marry Joe Penhale to baby sitter Janice Bone and Martin immediately recognizes that she has a pulmonary embolism. At the pre-wedding party Bert sees the chance to unload his unsold whiskey but it depletes the wedding guests and Ruth is unhappy about her investment. Come the big day Rosie's condition, Janice's cold feet and Joe's kidney stone jeopardize the happy event whilst an over-worked Louisa is frustrated that baby James speaks his first word to everybody except her .
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Martin suspects pub landlord and reformed alcoholic Ken Hollister is drinking again when he exhibits signs of liver failure but when Ken falls downstairs into his rat-infested cellar Martin discovers the true cause of his illness. Ruth considers selling her farm but gets a shock when John Rahmanzai arrives in Portwenn to scatter his father's ashes since the father was once Ruth's lover though, to save his father's reputation, she lies about their parting. Finally Louisa works out the reason for one of her pupil's health problems, leading her to consider a career in child therapy. Martin is not impressed.
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Martin is not happy to discover that Louisa has been accepted for a child therapy course but eventually relents though he is kept busy when sailing instructor Amy Vincent passes out after taking an excess of tonic for hair loss and Clive Tishell drops down dead from over exercising, leaving Ruth concerned at Sally's lack of emotion for her loss. Things start to improve for the Larges when Bert gets work and a home with shop-keeper Caitlin Morgan and Al begins a successful tenancy as the new pub landlord.
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Morwenna's parents, Jack and Tara, arrive back unexpectedly from missionary work in Kenya, explaining that Tara has cancer which she believes to be inoperable. Martin, however, proves her wrong. Another returnee is surly local boy Dan Willis, whose visit coincides with a number of break-ins in which he tears his face out of photographs. Martin enlists Ruth's help in diagnosing his actions. Meanwhile an eccentric old lady, Mary Rawlings, claims multiple ailments which Martin cures by bestowing on her a stray dog and Bert is alarmed by the amatory advances of his landlady and employer Caitlin.
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When vet Angela Sim brings her precocious little nephew Toby, staying with her whilst his parents are in Dubai, to the surgery and Martin diagnoses scarlet fever, he finds the boy's constant questions irritating but Toby proves to be a great help when his aunt collapses with pneumonia and baby James gets a bead stuck up his nose. Meanwhile villagers are perturbed to hear the increasingly reclusive Mrs Tishell talking to herself which Ruth believes is a delayed reaction to Clive's death, requiring a charm offensive by Martin to get through to her whilst Joe gets an offer to sell Large whiskey, though it does mean bringing Al back on board.
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Morwenna's friend Emily stands in for her whilst she takes Al on a glamping holiday at Hannah Butler's farm but quits after rowing with Martin, who is very grateful to Mrs Tishell for taking over when Martin injures his ankle. Louisa does well on her child therapy course, helping hyper-active friend Tina but the glamping holiday is a disaster, especially when Al accidentally burns down the tent. Hannah has another problem - someone is stealing her sheep - but a depressed Penhale somehow manages to catch the thief as well as leading Martin to the cause of a mysterious illness doing the rounds and becoming an accidental hero.
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Portwenn takes on Port Cattan in the annual rowing contest but when rival skipper Alice Taylor's cut head brings on Martin's haemophobia, causing him to faint, the whole village gets to know. Martin is also concerned that Graham Hendy, husband of crèche owner Mel, exhibits signs of alcoholism when he claims to be tee-total but discovers the reason when Graham crashes his car during Louisa's farewell speech as headmistress. The race goes ahead with Portwenn showing considerable sportsmanship but on return to the surgery Martin receives bad news.
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American tourist Beth Traywick returns to the village and flatters Mrs Tishell into helping her trace her family tree but arouses her jealousy when she suggests Martin moves to America. Martin is still suspended from work after Amy's accusation, awaiting his hearing but his representative Chris and Beth both need his help and, whilst his abrupt manner at the hearing does not go well for him, he is thrown a bizarre life-line by Penhale.
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Dr Martin Ellingham's (Martin Clunes) career is hanging in the balance. His future as a GP is under scrutiny from the General Medical Council following complaints about his irascible approach to patients, and his blood phobia. A representative from the GMC, Rebecca Hedden (Hermione Gulliford) has come to assess both Martin and his surgery. The Doc thinks the assessment is a complete waste of time and is quick to make his views clear to Dr Hedden. Meanwhile his wife Louisa (Caroline Catz) is pursuing a new career as a child counsellor. She is also concerned that their son James Henry is becoming too much like his father, and considers whether they should try for a little brother or sister. But is now the right time with her career change and Martin under review? Morwenna (Jessica Ransom) is helping out at the pub, the Crab and Lobster, while Al (Joe Absolom) tries to find extra staff. Morwenna feels taken for granted, and in an attempt to show her his appreciation, Al accidentally proposes to her, setting the village buzzing with their wedding plans. Mrs Tishell (Selina Cadell) decides to go on a date with Donald (Simon Chandler), whom she met at Book Club. But their trip to a lighthouse turns to disaster when Mrs Tishell suffers a terrible accident. The Doc has to commission a fishing boat, with PC Joe Penhale (John Marquez), to sail out to the lighthouse to treat her. Dr Hedden insists on joining them to monitor the Doc at work, but faces a life threatening situation herself.
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Dr Martin Ellingham's GMC report has arrived. He's required to pass three refresher courses, which will then decide whether he is deemed fit to practice, starting with a phlebotomy course. Martin (Martin Clunes) finds it a complete waste of time, but both Ruth (Eileen Atkins) and Louisa (Caroline Catz) point out how detrimental the outcome may be if he does not take it seriously. Not only is there change for Martin, but for Louisa too. Having resigned as head teacher at Portwenn School, she is focused on her new career path as a child and adolescent counsellor. James, however, seems to be struggling to socialise at nursery, and Louisa wonders if having a sibling for him might help. Martin is concerned when Louisa interrupts his phlebotomy course to tell him about a medical emergency; Lorna, (Rosalie Craig),the new head teacher, has collapsed. At the Crab and Lobster Bert Large's (Ian McNeice) cousin, Miles (Jeremy Swift) pops in with his fiancée Shirley (Ruth Gemmell) with a proposed new addition to the pub menu: goat's milk ice cream. Customers are less than keen to try the unusual pudding. Morwenna Newcross (Jessica Ransom) is disturbed to discover from PC Joe Penhale (John Marquez) that Al Large (Joe Absolom) didn't mean to propose to her, and demands to know the truth from Al. Al confesses it was an accidental proposal, but that he does want to marry her. It makes him realise he needs to prioritise Morwenna over the pub, which means finding extra staff. Much to Bert's dismay, Al hires Caitlin Morgan (Angela Curran) who he has been trying to avoid. Morwenna is pleased Al is honest with her about the accidental proposal, and that the wedding is still on. But while practicing her First Aid Responder CPR training a little too vigorously on Al, she manages to crack one of his ribs.
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Ruth is concerned about becoming increasingly forgetful, and is even more perturbed when Martin offers to perform a mini mental state examination. It confirms she is showing early signs of dementia. Meanwhile, Louisa plans a special evening to celebrate Martin's birthday, and Al decides to throw Morwenna a surprise engagement party on the same night. There are also problems when Louisa's class tutorial ends in disaster.
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Louisa panics when Buddy the dog goes missing, but Martin is too busy preparing for his second required medical assessment to help search for their errant pet. Bert and Al learn distressing news about the pub, and Penhale receives an unexpected visitor to the police station.
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Penhale has a real investigation on his hands when a camper is shot, and he feels duty-bound to look after the victim. James's first playdate goes awry, and the Larges' business aspirations fizzle as the pub goes up for sale, but they can't afford to buy it.
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Martin and Louisa attend their first fertility appointment together. Penhale gets a surf lesson while chasing down some vandals. Louisa has her first supervised session and Caitlin gets Al working at the shop. Morwenna responds to a difficult situation.
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Wedding bells are ringing in Portwenn with the preparations for Morwenna and Al's wedding. But some last minute hitches threaten to jeopardize their big day.
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