In a way, making Martin Ellingham the way he is was a corrective exercise for my acting - to keep a bit still and show a little control. I do like it - it's like having an instrument that you can play and that you can pick up and enjoy playing.
I live on a farm in Dorset. The nearest neighbour is a quarter of a mile away. It's really quiet, with an amazing view - can't see a pylon, can't see a road. Blockbuster's an event in our house, when the little blue envelope comes in.
Nobody just flops a complete 'Doc Martin' script on the desk. They all have to be taken apart and all the apologizing taken out. Because it's hard to have a protagonist that doesn't really like anyone and nobody really likes him; it's a hard premise to start from.
Do I suffer for my art? Well, I get a lot of flatulence when I'm nervous.