‘Doc Martin’ is set to return for one final series.
The medical comedy drama – which sees Martin Clunes starring in the title role – has been given the go-ahead for series eight following the success of last year’s ratings.
Ian McNeice, who plays larger-than-life Bert Large in the show, has confirmed fans will be able to see the adventures of the highly-strung doctor early next year.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror newspaper, he said: "We were invited by ITV to a dinner to thank us for the ratings we had in October and November. They were the best we have had so far with seven million viewers – on a par with ‘Downton Abbey’ and everybody was thrilled about that.
"Everybody in the cast was there and then the Head of ITV gets up and says, ‘We love ‘Doc Martin’ and as a vote of confidence we would like to give you one more show.’
"So there will be series eight and we will make it in the year 2017 because we always have a break in between."
However, Ian has admitted news there will be another series came as a nice surprise to the cast as they believed the broadcasting channel would axe the show last year.
He explained: "We all thought at the end of season seven it was well received in England, but we all thought that was going to be the end. At the end of the series we had a wrap party with the best drinks and food ever and we were thinking this is looking pretty – is this a goodbye?
"We were getting a little nervous. Then we had a cast and crew photograph and we had never had that before, and it was slightly unnerving that the end of this series we wrap things up nicely. But it is not over and we are thrilled."
Doc Martin set for one final series
