Doc Martin star Martin Clunes returns in Out There, portraying a farmer battling drug dealers in the Welsh countryside.
Martin Clunes takes on the role of Nathan Williams, a man who operates a family farm in Wales that has been passed down through generations. He is trapped in a monotonous cycle of work and mourning after the loss of his wife, Sabine.
Concerned about his teenage son Johnny (Louis Ashbourne Serkis) and his recent reconnection with old friend and local drug dealer Rhys (Gerran Howell), Nathan finds himself defending his farm and local community from County Lines drug operations.
the new drama will be broadcast on ITV 1 at 9pm on Sunday (January 19), with the entire box set available for streaming on ITVX on the same day.
This is the latest TV venture for Clunes, following his successful roles as Doctor Martin Ellingham in ITV’s Doc Martin, Gary Strang in Men Behaving Badly, and his portrayal of DCI Colin Sutton in the ITV murder drama Manhunt.
Away from the small screen, Martin Clunes enjoys a peaceful rural life with his TV producer wife and supports various local charities and causes.
Men Behaving Badly cast including Caroline Quentin Leslie Ash Martin Clunes Neil Morrissey AT BBC PHOTOCALL ROOF GARDENS KENSINGTON. (Image: Daily Mirror)
Before the premiere of the new series Out There, here’s everything you need to know about Martin Clunes.
Martin Clunes’ early life and rise to fame
Alexander Martin Clunes was born in the south London suburb of Wimbledon in 1961. He hails from a show business family, being the son of actor and theatrical manager Alec Clunes.
Martin Clunes first graced the small screen in an adaptation of The White Guard for the Play of the Month, and has since made numerous appearances in British TV shows, theatre productions and sketch programmes.
His career took a significant leap forward when Harry Enfield recommended him for the role of Gary in the sitcom Men Behaving Badly. His portrayal of Gary Strang earned him a BAFTA, and he went on to star in Staggered, Hunting Venus, The Booze Cruise, Saving Grace, Jeeves and Wooster, and The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin.
Clunes’ career hit another high note in 2004 when he assumed the role of the curmudgeonly Doctor Martin Ellingham in Doc Martin. Audiences quickly warmed to the character, who relocates to the fictional Cornish village of Portwenn after developing haemophobia.
Martin with his two Clydesdales (Image: )
What is Martin Clunes’ net worth?
After being a constant presence on British television for three decades, Martin Clunes’ net worth is estimated to be around £11 million, according to celebritynetworth.com. This website collates data from public sources, private tips and feedback from celebrity representatives to calculate celebrities’ net worth.
Inside Martin Clunes’ home life in rural Dorset
Martin Clunes and his family reside in Beaminster, Dorset, where they operate a farm. Their 130-acre working farm is home to a variety of animals including horses, cows, sheep, chickens, dogs and cats.
Martin Clunes, a renowned figure in West Dorset, is celebrated for his approachable nature and philanthropic efforts, notably hosting Buckham Fair to generate funds for local charities.
In 2021, he garnered attention by planting six acres of sunflowers with the intention of selling them to raise vital funds for Julia’s House hospice, which faced significant financial challenges due to the cancellation of fundraising events caused by the -19 pandemic.
Appearing on the One Show, Martin discussed his inspiration behind the initiative: “All the fetes, dog shows and pony shows, they have all been cancelled and they’re big sources of income (for the charity). We used to have a fair on our farm so I just thought we never planted anything on our farm other than grass.
“We never ploughed a field so we thought it was worth a go. I was out there this morning picking them. I am just selling them locally in Bridport, Beaminster and Rampisham.”
The 63-year-old actively supports Weldmar Hospicecare Trust and serves as a patron for Julia’s House, a Children’s Hospice covering Dorset and Wiltshire.
One of Martin’s notable community appearances involved turning on Christmas lights at a family residence in Bridport, attracting hundreds of locals and benefiting Julia’s House Children’s Hospice. “You don’t want to hear children and hospice in the same sentence but I have spent a lot of time in there and it’s one of the nicest places I’ve been”, he explained.
Actor Martin Clunes poses for a photo after switching on Christmas house lights to raise money for Julias House Children’s Hospi (Image: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)
“The people who work there are special and very unique and they do a wonderful job.
“I think we are lucky to have a special charity in our county and thank you so much for coming to support the work they do as they are struggling as everyone else is at the moment and they need donations. They are the lifeblood.
“I wish you all a very happy Christmas and I will probably switch the lights on now.”
Martin Clunes and his wife Philippa (Image: M. Benett/Getty Images)
Martin Clunes’ TV wife after ‘toxic’ first marriage
Currently, Martin Clunes is married to Phillippa Braithwaite, who has produced many projects including Doc Martin and Out There, with Clunes starring and collaborating as well.
Their joint ventures include the comedy film Staggered, documentaries Martin Clunes: A Man and His Dogs and Martin Clunes: Islands of Australia. The couple tied the knot in 1997 and have a daughter Emily, born in 1999.
Emily Clunes, now in her twenties, is pursuing an equestrian career but also had a brief stint on screen, appearing alongside her father in an episode of Doc Martin, where she delivered a few lines in the fourth series.
Before finding happiness with Braithwaite, Clunes was previously married to actress Lucy Aston from 1990 till their separation in 1997, a marriage that ended just three years later due to an alleged “final straw” incident during a dinner.
Martin later stated that he and Lucy had patched up their relationship enough to develop a friendship, saying: “We had a problem enjoying each other but now I can enjoy Lucy again. We are friends and can appreciate each other.”
However, in 2008, he described their marriage as “rotten”.
He told the Mail’s Weekend magazine: “I don’t know if I was searching for anything. Maybe I was. I kind of found it without looking.
“When I met Philippa I was coming out of a rotten marriage, and was very resistant to the idea of getting involved again.”