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Bert Large in Doc Martin

Ian McNeice

Published: Thursday, 21 June 2007, 12:17PM

The Doc Martin scriptwriters have rung the changes for Bert Large (veteran actor Ian McNeice). His screen son Al has left the village to go globetrotting and he’s at a loose end. 

He no longer wants to be a plumber without his boy beside him and goes to Dr Ellingham for advice. Doc Martin is suitably blunt, telling him he needs a new challenge and it’s not long before Bert gets himself in trouble. 

Ian explains “In series two he got into deep water when he tried to take over the village fish and chip shop. Bert is a bit of fun, and a bit of a prankster. He gets into all sorts of scrapes again in this third series. But I don’t want to give too much away.

“My friends all think it is hilarious that I’m playing a plumber because they know how hopeless I am at DIY, and as for cooking fish and chips let alone restaurant food, well I’ll leave that to your imagination.”

There was a poignant story for Bert in series two when his son Al, played by Joe Absolom, cast doubt on whether he really is his father.

“It was a very moving story about Bert being forced to reveal that his late wife did have an affair, which led to doubt about whether Al is his son. You never really see the vulnerable side of Bert, but in that episode you saw him raw and emotional.

“Joe and I have become a bit like father and son. We had a great time together. In those poignant scenes we had to be sure of getting the emotional balance right. But there were plenty of times when we had a bit of a giggle together.”

Ian has appeared in dozens of films and TV series. He can be seen playing a roman town crier in Rome and he has appeared in Freeze Frame with Rachael Stirling and Lee Evans, Around the World in 80 Days, Spartacus and White Noise.

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