American Public Television to Distribute New Doc Martin Series and Specials

Portwenn’s most irritable resident returns to public television, beginning with a behind-the-scenes special in November

BOSTON (September 24, 2015): American Public Television announces plans to distribute the highly anticipated seventh season of the international hit series Doc Martin to public television stations nationwide in January 2016. APT will also provide stations with a “sneak peek” at the new season with the behind-the-scenes special Doc Martin – Seven Grumpy Seasons, releasing this November.

Doc Martin stars BAFTA winner Martin Clunes (Arthur & George; Men Behaving Badly) as Dr. Martin Ellingham, an ill-mannered G.P. living in the fictional Cornish village of Portwenn. Already a ratings winner in the UK, the new season will be releasing on public television stations in the U.S. beginning January 1, 2016 ̶ with some stations offering a “sneak peek” of episode #701 before the end of the year. (Nearly 90 stations have already licensed the new season for broadcast ̶ check local listings.)

Series 7 finds a heartbroken Martin ready to make some changes and win his family back following Louisa’s (Caroline Catz) departure at the end of the last season. Also returning are Dame Eileen Atkins (Aunt Ruth), Selina Cadell (Mrs. Tichell), Ian McNeice (Bert Large), Joe Absolom (Al Large), John Marquez (PC Penhale), and Jessica Ransom (Morwenna). Guest stars include Tristan Sturrock (Saving Grace) and Caroline Quentin (Jonathan Creek, Men Behaving Badly), with a cameo appearance from Sigourney Weaver (Alien). Releasing concurrently with the new season is the complementary Doc Martin Series 7 Filler Package, which contains 10 short vignettes of cast members, production staff, townspeople, and fans discussing Doc and Louisa, baby James Henry, the on- and off-screen bond between the cast and crew, the possibility of an eighth season, and more.

Beginning November 26, 2015, APT will also distribute Doc Martin – Seven Grumpy Seasons, public television’s third behind-the-scenes look at the wildly popular drama. Shot on location in the picturesque seaside village of Port Isaac during the filming of Series 7, the hour-long special features exclusive interviews with producers, cast members, and director Ben Gregor.

Fans can also find Doc Martin VII on Acorn TV beginning October 5, 2015. Available at Acorn.TV and on a variety of devices, Acorn TV is the premier streaming service for world-class television from Britain and beyond from RLJ Entertainment. Acorn will release the Series 7 DVD on December 8, 2015.

Doc Martin VII was acquired by American Public Television from Acorn Media Group for syndication to public television stations nationwide, and Doc Martin – Seven Grumpy Seasons and the Doc Martin Series 7 Filler Package were co-produced by American Public Television and Acorn Media Group for syndication to public television stations nationwide. For further information, a full list of episodes, or to screen these programs online later this fall, please contact Erin_Couse@APTonline.org or 617-338-4455 ext. 150. Viewers can also visit our Doc Martin fan page at docmartinapt.tumblr.com.

About APT:
American Public Television (APT) has been a leading syndicator of high-quality, top-rated programming to the nation’s public television stations since 1961. For 10 years, APT has annually distributed one-third or more of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles in the U. S. Among its 300 new program titles per year, APT programs include prominent documentaries, news and current affairs programs, dramas, how-to programs, children’s series and classic movies. America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated, Rick Steves’ Europe, Front and Center, Doc Martin, Nightly Business Report, Midsomer Murders, Vera, NHK Newsline, Lidia’s Kitchen, Globe Trekker, Simply Ming, and P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home join numerous documentaries and performance programs popular with public television viewers. APT licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service. Now in its 10th year, CreateR TV — featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming — is distributed by APT. APT also distributes WORLD™, public television’s premier news, science and documentary channel. To find out more about APT’s programs and services, visit APTonline.org.

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