ITV travel series fronted by Martin Clunes set to return after three years off-screen
MARTIN Clunes is set to return to ITV later this year with a new three-part series.
This time exploring the Islands of the Atlantic, which follows his previous series that delved into the Islands of the Pacific.
The 63-year-old began his journey in 2019 for the first series of Islands of the Pacific, but his travels were interrupted by the pandemic.
He resumed his exploration in 2022, venturing further into the enchanting islands of the Pacific for this series.
Martin’s voyage in the last series was inspired by a book his father gave him as a child about the Kon-Tiki expedition across the Pacific.
Captivated by their adventure, the unexplored desert islands, and the incredible sea life, Martin was drawn to explore this vast and fascinating region.
The Pacific Ocean, the largest on the planet, spans an astounding 63 million square miles, dotted with tens of thousands of islands.
From coral atolls and jungle-clad mountains to lava-spewing volcanoes, it is teeming with diverse animal life and a vibrant mix of human cultures.
Meanwhile, Martin can be seen in a new ITV drama series Out There, which was filmed and set in Wales.
Martin plays farmer Nathan Williams, who is confronted with dark forces creeping into his rural community.
In the six-part thriller series, Nathan is grieving the death of his wife two years prior as he embarks on a mission to protect his son and livelihood from the threat of local county lines drug dealers.
The show was written by Ed Whitmore and Welsh-born director Marc Evans, who recently created BBC’s Steeltown Murders, which followed the hunt for a killer in Port Talbot.
Martin said: “I really enjoyed filming in Wales. The locations were beautiful. I like being on a farm and being in the countryside. I was in my element.”
The first episode will air at 9pm on Sunday, January 19.
A synopsis for the show reads: “The drama will depict the stealthy, surreptitious invasion of the land our farmer cherishes, with devastating consequences, as his livelihood, homestead and family life are threatened by local county lines drugs dealers, essentially urban gangs using the British countryside as a field of operations, moving drugs and money between their inner-city hubs and provincial areas.”
The actor is best known for his roles in Doc Martin, Shakespeare in Love, Men Behaving Badly and Saving Grace.
Crime dramas on ITVX
Crime drama buffs have a wide selection of choices on ITVX - here is a selection of some of the programmes available to binge.
- Professor T: Based on a Belgian TV series of the same name, former Death in Paradise lead Ben Miller plays the title character. Professor Jasper Tempest is a criminologist with OCD who helps the police solve crimes. The cast also includes Emma Naomi, Barney White and Andy Gathergood.
- The Beast Must Die: This series follows a mother’s grief for her son, who was killed in an accident. Nicholas Blake’s novel of the same name has been adapted for the programme. Stars include Cush Jumbo, Jared Harris, Billy Howle and Geraldine James.
- Red Eye: Starring Richard Armitage, Jing Lusi and Lesley Sharp star in this six-part thriller, which mostly takes place during an all-night flight between London and Beijing. With dead bodies piling up and a mystery to unravel, the heroes must work fast to get to the truth.
- The Twelve: This Australian drama originally aired as a miniseries in 2022, with the episodes dropping in the UK in February 2023. Four months later, the show was renewed for a second season. Jurassic Park star Sam Neill stars in the leading role of barrister Brett Colby.
- Manhunt: Martin Clunes stars in this drama based on true murder investigations. Series one focused on the death of Amélie Delagrange, which took place in 2004, while the second depicted the search for serial rapist Delroy Grant.