He’s been gracing our TV screens for decades and is famous for his roles in TV hits like Men Behaving Badly, Manhunt and, of course, Doc Martin. Now Martin Clunes is back on our TV screens as he embarks on an epic journey to explore the ocean’s islands.
ITV documentary Martin Clunes’ Islands of the Atlantic begins on Friday, may 2 with with tropical jungles and grassland savannah off the western coast of Africa.
The series follows on from his jolly travels around France with his former Men Behaving Badly co-star Neil Morrissey on U&Gold but this time he gets a bit more serious as he explores some of the lesser-known islands in the Atlantic Ocean.
But what about his life off-screen?
End of first marriage
London-born Martin married Lucy Aston in 1990, but their relationship reportedly came to an abrupt end just three years later after a dramatic confrontation at a Chinese restaurant when Lucy found out he’d been to a party without her.
In April 1997, Lucy told The Mirror: “He told me I was boring and different and I just thought: ‘No more.’ I stood up and said ‘thanks for dinner – this is the end’ and stormed out. I sat in the car shaking with rage.
“Later I went back and Martin was sitting there, surrounded by takeaway cartons filled with our meal. He just looked at me. I took off my gold wedding ring, slammed it on the table and walked out.”
Famous second wife
Martin, 63, is now married to TV producer Philippa Braithwaite, who is behind some huge film and TV hits like Sliding Doors, Manhunt and Doc Martin.
The couple, who have been married since 1997, met the same year that Martin divorced his first wife. They prefer to keep their personal life private. Martin and Philippa, who liveon a 130-acre farm in Dorset, had a small wedding ceremony in London.
They have one child together, Ellie, who appeared in an episode of Doc Martin as a child but has since pursued a career in equestrianism. In past interviews, Martin has said that he enjoys working with Philippa and is happiest when she is by his side.
Martin is an animal-lover and the family has a number of dogs including Laura, the retired guide dog who he rehomed. The beautiful story was captured in the TV show, A Dog Called Laura with Martin Clunes, The Secret World of Guide Dogs.
New TV series
In Martin Clunes’ Islands of the Atlantic, the actor embarks on an epic journey to explore the ocean’s islands, beginning with tropical jungles and grassland savannah off the western coast of Africa.
He encounters giant snails and helps rescue endangered sea turtles in equatorial Sao Tome and Principe, which is also known as the African Galapagos.
He then treks through savannah on the remote Bijagos Islands off Guinea Bissau to meet ferocious predators and a tribe in which the women hold the power.