<P> Martin Clunes originally played a character called "Dr Martin Bamford" in the 2000 film Saving Grace 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 the departure of the village's resident GP, decides to stay and fill the vacancy . In these three films the village is not known as Portwenn . </P> <P> The Martin Bamford character is friendly and laid - back, seeming to enjoy his retreat from the career pressures and conflicts he left behind in London . He drinks and smokes carelessly, including a mild illegal drug, and has no problem getting his hands and clothes dirty by temporarily working as a lobster and crab fisherman aboard a local boat . </P> <P> The original deal had been to produce two television films per year for three years, but Sky Pictures folded after the first two episodes were made, so Clunes' company tried to sell the franchise to ITV . The new network felt that the doctor character should be portrayed as a "townie", a fish out of water who is uncomfortable in the countryside . They also wanted something darker, so Clunes suggested that the doctor be curmudgeonly, socially inept, and formal . The new doctor's surname was changed to Ellingham, an anagram of the last name of the new writer, Dominic Minghella, who was brought in to rework the doctor's background and create a new cast of supporting characters . </P> <P> Along with Clunes, the only actors to appear in both versions of Doc Martin are Tristan Sturrock and Tony Maudsley . </P>

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