Stuart Orme

Farewell Doc Martin

Doc Martin, one of UK's iconic TV characters, hangs up his stethoscope for the final time as the long-running titular series comes to an end. This one-hour retrospective spotlights the longevity and impact locally and around the world of Doc Martin over the years, as well as offering behind the scenes of the final season with the cast and crew. From scripting and pre-production to shooting and delivery, meet the regular characters that live and work in the picturesque Cornish town of Portwenn, the key crew behind the camera, the residents of Port Isaac, the show's real-life setting, and the visitors who come solely because Doc Martin films there.

Arthur & George

In 1906, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, having lost his first wife, was overcome with grief; even Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson refused his call. It was only when his secretary, Woodie, presented him with an apparent real-life miscarriage of justice, that he could be roused to action. The case in question was that of George Edalji, a Parsee solicitor, who was imprisoned for writing obscene letters and killing livestock in Great Wyrley, Staffordshire. George needed Arthur's help to clear his name. However, as the twists and turns of the case unfold, Arthur himself questions George's innocence. It is only by finding the true culprit, that Arthur can finally put the case, and his grief, to rest; whilst simultaneously becoming influential in a major reform to the English judicial system.

Ghostboat

Jack Hardy is the sole survivor of a mysterious submarine disaster in World War II. Now, in 1981, the ill-fated submarine Scorpion has resurfaced, miraculously intact. Naval Intelligence need Hardy's expertise to retrace the course and mission that led to her original disappearance. But what's waiting for them under the grey waters of the Baltic Sea turns out to be much worse than the Russian submarines they're expecting. Wherever Scorpion has been all this time, it's brought some very bad luck back with it...

Colditz

While World War II allied officer Jack Rowe is held prisoner in Germany's notorious Colditz castle, he recruits a band of fellow escape artists in the ultimate break-out only to discover that the greatest betrayal awaits him on safe ground.

Fungus the Bogeyman

BBC adaptation of Raymond Briggs' children's book. Fungus (voice of Mak Wilson)'s job is to venture above Bogeydom and scare dry-cleaners (a Bogey's name for humans). But on one trip disaster strikes and a dry-cleaner discovers their existence in Bogeydom. The dry-cleaner, Jessica (Clare Thomas), strikes up a friendship with Fungus' children and escapes back home to tell her father George (Martin Clunes) all about it. George then decides to stake-out the entrance to Bogeydom, in order to catch a real-life Bogeyman.

Goodbye, Mr. Chips

In the later years of the nineteenth century Latin master Mr. Chipping is the mainstay of Brookfields boys boarding school, a good teacher and a kindly person but he is considered to be married to the job so that it is a surprise when, on a walking holiday, he meets and marries the vivacious Kathie,who becomes his helpmate at the school but sadly pre-deceases him. Just before World War One insensitive new headmaster Ralston tries to edge Chipping out but the boys rally and Sir John Rivers, an old pupil of Chipping's and now head of the board of governors, invites him to stay and,when the war breaks out and Ralston joins up, Chipping becomes the new head.

The Lost World

This Lost World is a splendid BBC TV dramatisation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous adventure story. Bob Hoskins makes an unusually genial Professor Challenger, far less of a bully than Doyle's character, but his slightly stereotyped companions are nicely filled out by a solid cast. James Fox is Challenger's more timid but still covertly adventurous rival, Tom Ward is the moustachioed big game hunter who faces an Allosaurus with an elephant gun, and Matthew Rhys plays the tagalong reporter hoping to impress his faithless fiancée.

The Sleeper

Violet Moon wants to be in control of the circumstances and people in her life. Particularly her son and daughter-in-law who she discovers are considering selling the farm where she has known some of the happiest times of her life. Violet's control is not only threatened by their decision, but also by the sudden reappearance of someone from her past whom she meets at a local spiritualists club. Someone who has the potential to resurrect a long buried secret as well expose her current plot to put a stop to the sale of the farm. When Violet takes the opportunity to silence this person, she doesn't consider that enemies have friends...

The Waiting Time

When British Intelligence Officer Tracy Barnes attacks visiting German politician Dieter Krause, solicitor's clerk Joshua Mantle is called to help unravel the events which led to the assault.

The Puppet Masters

The Earth is invaded by alien parasites—AKA 'slugs'—that ride on people's backs and control their minds.

Don't Leave Me This Way

British academics Loretta and Bridget run into Sandra, an old school friend at a book launch. Although Sandra appears to be gay and carefree, Loretta notices an undercurrent of tension while Sandra stays with her for a few days. Loretta is saddened to learn her friend was killed in a car accident, and comforts Sandra's estranged husband Tom, her daughter Lizzie, and emotionally disturbed son Felix. While doing so she becomes to believe the accident may not be what it seems, spurred on by the information a local policeman provides her.

A Question of Guilt

The brutal murder of a woman appears to be an open and shut case. But while there is a suspect and a signed confession, the lack of a credible motive still nags the investigating officer and prosecuting lawyer.

The Blackheath Poisonings

The investigation of Paul Vandervent into the mysterious death of his father brings further discord among two feuding families tied together in business and marriage, living under the same roof.

Hands of a Murderer

Sherlock Holmes must track down his nemesis, Professor Moriarty, after the villain kidnaps Holmes' brother, Mycroft. The evil doctor is forcing his captive to decode highly classified military documents.

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase

A Dickensian mock-Gothic tale of resourceful children, evil governesses, forged wills, cruel orphanages, and goodness triumphant set against an isolated country house, in an alternate 19th century where savage packs of wolves roam the snowbound countryside.

The Heist

Ex-con Neal Skinner seeks revenge against track owner Ebbet Berens for framing him in an emerald smuggling deal.

Genesis | Three Sides Live

Three Sides Live is a 1981 concert film of the Abacab tour by British rock band Genesis. It tied in with the double live album of the same name. The songs featured are mostly from the group's then most recent albums Duke and Abacab, plus a medley that comprises extracts from The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway ("In the Cage" and "The Colony of Slippermen") and Selling England by the Pound ("The Cinema Show"), leading into "Afterglow" from Wind & Wuthering.

Genesis in Liverpool

Granada Television (UK) documentary, following Genesis on their 1980 Duke tour.

The Edge of the Ceiling

Alan Garner was the author of The Owl Service, one of the key texts within the recent fad for the English Wyrd. This early 1980’s documentary features Garner talking about his life and influences, and comes loaded with narrated excerpts from his books and eerie musical interludes and recorded screams that are curiously reminiscent of The League Of Gentlemen. Other scenes of Garner wandering around his key sites of inspiration – mainly around Alderley Edge in Cheshire – look like they’re from the early days of pop videos, with shaky hand-held footage and sudden zooms into blacked-out windows and strange rock formations. Somehow it all adds to the sincere intention of introducing Garner’s unusual body of work to the unsuspecting viewer.