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Martin Clunes didn't make Out There as direct contrast to Doc Martin
Clunes's gritty new drama sees him take on county lines drug dealers.
ITV
- James Hibbs
Published: Saturday, 11 January 2025 at 8:00 pm
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Martin Clunes may be best known for playing the title character in medical comedy-drama Doc Martin, but he will soon be seen starring in a far grittier ITV series, leading the cast of Out There.
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Out There, which comes from Clunes's previous collaborators on Manhunt, Ed Whitmore and Marc Evans, follows a farmer called Nathan, who has to protect his son Johnny when he finds out he has become caught up in county lines drug dealing.
Given the sharp shift in tone, some might think that Clunes has planned this as a purposeful departure from his 18 years on Doc Martin – however, he has made clear that this is not the case.
Speaking at a Q&A for Out There, Clunes was asked this very question, as to whether the show was planned to be a direct contrast with his previous work, but he responded: "Not really, just the next thing, you know. I've never had a plan, really.
"I've always done other things alongside Doc Martin, be they factual or dramas, mainly written by Ed, actually. But no, it wasn't a conscious thing, was it? I don't think so."
Martin Clunes as Nathan Williams and Louis Ashbourne Serkis as Johnny Williams. Buffalo Pictures
Clunes then joked that he just goes wherever his wife, producer Philippa Braithwaite, "tells me to", imitating her as saying: "Go over there and say that!"
Clunes was later asked again how he chooses his projects, to which he said: "I don't know, I just get offered different things, I guess.
"I really never have had a plan. I’ve just been rolled into the next thing that came along that I liked the idea of."
Read more:
- Martin Clunes and Out There creator address potential for Mr Bates-style impact
- Martin Clunes reveals comical Hollywood movie audition attempt: 'I didn't get a callback'
The rest of the cast of Out There includes Louis Ashbourne Serkis as Nathan's son Johnny and Mark Lewis Jones as his brother Caleb.
Natalia Kostrzewa, Carly-Sophia Davies, Gerran Howell, Michael Obiora and Jack Parry-Jones also star.
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Out There begins at 9pm on Sunday 19th January on ITV1 and ITVX.
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Authors
James HibbsDrama Writer
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
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