Several Deals Completed for Doc Martin Series

LONDON, July 29: Portman
Film & Television, part of the Digital Rights Group, has completed a range
of deals for the series Doc Martin,
including a new Spanish version of the show.

Spanish terrestrial
broadcaster Antena 3 has picked up all 23 available scripts of the format as
well as optioning further seasons. It plans an initial run of eight episodes
for prime-time broadcast later this year. A title for this version has not been
confirmed.

German broadcaster ZDF has
signed for another season of Doktor Martin, planned to air in spring 2009. The second season, currently in
production by Berlin-based Phoenix Film & Television, is being shot in
Neuharlingersiel on the North Sea.

U.K. broadcaster ITV1 has
commissioned a fourth season of the British version, starring Martin Clunes (William
and Mary, The Booze Cruise, Goodbye Mr. Chips) as the doctor. The third season gained an average
of 8.5 million viewers and was the highest-rated drama on ITV last year.

The British version of Doc
Martin, with the third season
recently launched, airs in approximately 100 territories worldwide, including
on ABC in Australia, TV One in New Zealand, VisionTV in Canada, MTV3 in
Finland, NRK1 in Norway and in a range of territories via the Hallmark Channel
such as Italy, Hungary, Russia, Malaysia and Romania. In the U.K., Doc
Martin is produced for ITV1 by
Buffalo Pictures with Homerun Productions. The series is produced by Philippa
Braithwaite, executive produced by Mark Crowdy and directed by Ben Bolt.

The comedy drama follows a
tactless surgeon, Martin Ellingham, as his career falls apart when he develops
a phobia that prevents him from performing operations. He has to retrain as a
general practitioner and moves to a small country town where his lack of
personal skills causes him problems.

—By Jackie Stewart