rather rough manner. If your parents have been very cold towards you and just factual, then that's very hard for you to grow up being—'loving' is too strong a word—an affectionate person." Cast and characters Final main cast Martin Clunes as Martin Ellingham – village GP "Doc" Martin has no bedside manner. He despises small talk, and is straightforward with patients, delivering his diagnoses and advice without trying to protect their feelings, though he is genuinely concerned about their health. Clunes also plays Martin's father in a flashback to Martin's childhood in one episode. Caroline Catz as Louisa Ellingham (née Glasson) – teacher at Portwenn Primary School, later becomes school headmistress Ian McNeice as Bert Large – plumber and local entrepreneurial businessman Joe Absolom as Al Large – Bert's son, who works in a variety of jobs during the series Selina Cadell as Sally Tishell – pharmacist, who overtly displays unrequited romantic feelings about Ellingham John Marquez as Joe Penhale (series 3–10) – police officer Penhale greatly admires Ellingham, and believes they have a great working relationship, an optimistic assessment not shared by the doctor. Penhale has proudly referred to Ellingham and himself as "The Dynamic Duo". Eileen Atkins as Ruth Ellingham (series 5–10) – retired forensic psychiatrist, who is also one of Martin's aunts Jessica Ransom as Morwenna Large (née Newcross) (Series 5–10) – surgery receptionist Previous main cast Stephanie Cole as Joan Norton – Martin's aunt (series 1–4) Stewart Wright as Mark Mylow – police constable, later promoted to sergeant (series 1–2, one episode in series 9) Lucy Punch as Elaine Denham – the original surgery receptionist (series 1) Katherine Parkinson as Pauline Lamb – surgery receptionist (series 2–4) Other previous cast Original character Martin Clunes originally played a character called Dr Martin Bamford in the 2000 film Saving Grace—written by Mark Crowdy and Craig Ferguson—and its two made-for-TV prequels, Doc Martin and Doc Martin and the Legend of the Cloutie, which were made by British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB). The prequels show Bamford as a successful obstetrician, rather than a surgeon, who finds out that his wife has been carrying on extramarital affairs behind his back. After confronting her with his discovery, he escapes London and heads for Port Isaac, a small coastal town in Cornwall which he remembers fondly from his youth. Shortly after he arrives, he is involved in the mystery of the "Jellymaker" and, following