Eileen Atkins

PC Penhale has an unexpected visitor: his ex-wife Maggie, who exhibits strange symptoms. Louisa learns her mother's real reason for returning to Portwenn, and she and Martin finally choose a name for their baby.

Portwenn is buzzing with arrangements for the wedding of Doc Martin and Louisa. Will they finally tie the knot, or will the villagers have to put the confetti back in the box again?

Martin agrees to stay on until a more suitable substitute is found. He moves back into his house and persuades Louisa to join him so he can help raise their child. Martin's aunt Ruth arrives in Portwenn for a funeral. She's almost as cranky as her nephew.

Unaware of her feelings for him, Martin asks Mrs. Tishell, the pharmacist, to babysit James Henry for the day. Fueled by a cocktail of self-prescribed drugs, she takes the baby and disappears. Martin, Louisa, Aunt Ruth, and PC Penhale pursue them to a castle high on a cliff.

PC Penhale takes desperate measures to convince Maggie to stay in Portwenn. When Aunt Ruth discovers old family photos, Martin is reminded of his unhappy childhood. Martin and Louisa can't seem to agree on anything, and tensions reach a breaking point.

Doc Martin's return to London is delayed by the birth of his son, the arrival of an incompetent replacement at his Portwenn practice, and the sad news of a sudden death. He temporarily moves in with Louisa and their still unnamed baby.

Martin and Louisa host a disastrous dinner party, their new nanny quits, and PC Penhale goes on a charm offensive to win friends.

Louisa prepares to leave for Spain, Bert and Jennifer's engagement party goes off with a bang, and Al engages in some heroics.

Martin struggles with the absence of Louisa, who is staying with her mother in Spain and offering no clear return date. At Ruth's suggestion, Martin finally agrees to make an appointment with a therapist. Morwenna prepares for her role in a lifeboat training exercise commemorating the fifth anniversary of a locally famous rescue.

James's first birthday party is approaching and Louisa wants everything to be perfect, but life intervenes. Louisa's ex-boyfriend Danny returns to Portwenn with his London youth group. Mrs. Tishell seems ready to take her husband back, causing Clive to seek help from Martin.