A LITTLE boy from Camelford has made his acting debut in the ninth series of ITV’s Doc Martin.

Camelford boy Elliott Blake was lucky enough to land the role of James Henry, Doctor Martin Ellingham’s young son, in the hit series set in Cornwall.

The popular show, which is mainly filmed in Port Isaac but also filmed scenes in Camelford this year, was on the lookout for a Cornish boy between the age of three and five to play James Henry. After auditions took place, Elliott was chosen from more than 250 children whose families responded to the appeal.

Martin Clunes has returned to play the nation’s favourite grumpy medic in the brand new series of Doc Martin for ITV. He stars as Dr Martin Ellingham, the GP with a brusque bedside manner and a phobia of blood, in eight new episodes of the hugely successful drama produced by Buffalo Pictures, and set in the idyllic hamlet of ‘Portwenn’ in Cornwall.

Martin Clunes, who plays the iconic character, said: “We love going to Cornwall to make Doc Martin, and we miss it when we are not there. The county is so beautiful, and the people have been so warm and welcoming to us. It is the best job in television.”

In this new series, the Doc’s career is hanging in the balance. His future as a GP is under scrutiny from the General Medical Council following complaints about his irascible approach to patients.

Meanwhile, his wife Louisa (Caroline Catz) is pursuing a new career as a child counsellor. She is also concerned that their son James Henry (Elliott Blake) is becoming too much like his father, and considers whether they should try for a little brother or sister.

Doc Martin has been filming in Port Isaac and the surrounding areas of the north coast of Cornwall since 2004. The huge popularity of the ITV drama has brought thousands more tourists to the pretty hamlet.

This boost in tourism was recognised by Cornwall Tourism which presented a special award for outstanding contribution to tourism to the Doc Martin team at a grand ceremony held at Truro Cathedral. The team contribute to a fund for Port Isaac, which has raised £134,000 so far.

The funding has helped to support the Port Isaac Village School and its nursery, with transport for swimming and after school clubs.

It has supported the village hall, provided disabled access to the hall and helped to arrange transport for outings, speakers and meals for local pensioners.

Funds have also been used for the Christmas lights in Port Isaac, and to set up an arts group.

Camelford youngster Elliott’s character James Henry receives a spotlight in this series. Martin Clunes said: “One of the reasons they (Doc Martin and Louisa) decide to try for another child is because Louisa is very worried that the apple might not have fallen very far from the tree where James Henry is concerned, because he is not really getting on very well with other children at nursery, not in a way that upsets him at all, but he chooses not to spend time with other children, that he might be a mini Doc Martin.

“James Henry is not lonely, he is solitary, he is not worried by it. He just doesn’t think much of his school mates.

“Actually the little boy who plays him — Elliott Blake — is the sweetest little boy. He is absolutely adorable and really gets it. He always seems pleased to see us. There’s plenty of high fives going on, and he’ll take a hug.

“He is tiny, but unfazed by any of it, the number of people or the amount of repetition. He is a joy to work with.”

Elliott was so quick to learn on set that he even stole some of Martin’s lines. Martin continued: “Because of the repetition of scenes during filming he said one of my lines first before I’d had chance to say it.

“The old adage of never work with animals and children, it’s nonsense because when you get it — when you hit the sweet spot — and you only need 50 frames or so, then it’s great and it has always been that way.”

Caroline Catz is delighted to share the limelight with the newest star to the Doc Martin set, Elliott.

She said: “Elliott, who plays James, is an absolutely adorable little boy. He is the best. He is so winning, and lovely and really on the ball.

“We have been so lucky. He’s only three but he has taken the whole thing in his stride. The first day on set he was all lovely, bright and smiley, and you couldn’t have expected a better start to the shoot.”

Elliott’s first day on set was made even better when producer Philippa Braithwaite brought him a present to unwrap — a truck! He was also given the opportunity to take part in some ‘acting games’, to allow him to practice repeating, looking happy and looking sad.

Caroline continued: “With Elliott you get the sense that he really enjoys coming to see everyone. He knows everyone, knows how it works and even when he didn’t know how it works he was interested and asking how it worked. He was the right personality for it. He’s a little poppet. When he comes on set he puts his arms up to me for a cuddle.”