For newcomers, Doc Martin, played with effortless skill by Martin Clunes, is a surgeon based in a small Cornish village. But it's not his direct, blunt manner that proves to be his only problem. No, the issue too is that the Doc has a phobia of blood. It's not the handiest problem for a Doctor to have, but it does allow Doc Martin to mix in good chunks of comedy alongside its drama.

The third season of the show, spread across three discs in this set, finds it in terrific form. Boasting a strong cast, with Caroline Catz's Louisa. Stephanie Cole's Joan and Joe Absolom's Al among the standouts, Doc Martin's popularity is easy to understand. Because not only is the acting terrific, and Clunes must really take the plaudits too, but the scripts are of consistent quality.

It should be noted that the end of the third series was the cause of some debate among fans, although this reviewer was certainly impressed by it. But what's less up for debate is that Doc Martin is one of the best mainstream dramas British television has thrown up in recent years, and that this DVD set offers some super entertainment. --Jon Foster