Season 4 - Episode Guide

Since calling off his marriage to Louisa, Martin has begun to question what keeps him in Cornwall and realises that if he is ever to escape, he must conquer the blood phobia that ended his surgical career. Encouraged by aunt Joan's friend Barbara he tackles his fear, but after an accident the pair end up in hospital, where he bumps into his girlfriend from medical school. Later, the return of a familiar face shakes him up even more.

Despite the doctor's unpleasant attitude toward her, Louisa applies for a job at the school - where she quickly notices something strange about the new headmaster's behaviour. Martin refers Pauline's aunt and uncle to Edith after they have trouble conceiving a baby, but her tests lead one of the couple to make a surprising confession.

PC Penhale is delighted by the arrival of his older brother Sam, but their reunion turns to misery when Martin delivers bad news to one of them. Louisa searches for a new home in the village and visits Edith for a check-up, where she reveals an embarrassing piece of information, and Al makes his situation with Pauline worse by trying to act on advice from Bert.

Al tries to raise some quick cash, and offers to sort out all Louisa's household and plumbing problems if she can pay him before the weekend. The teacher gets good news on the employment front, and Martin accidentally inflicts a minor wound on an elderly patient - who responds by walking out of the surgery and vowing never to return.

The doctor heads for London to meet the man leading the selection process for the job he wants, but has to conquer his blood phobia once and for all to secure the prestigious position. Back in Cornwall, Aunt Joan locks a mischievous schoolboy in a chicken coop - and faces the consequences when he falls ill.

The new midwife in the village persuades Louisa to take a natural, holistic approach to treating an infection, infuriating Martin, who insists on conventional medicine. Meanwhile, Bert is smitten with the flirtatious new cook working in his restaurant, and the doctor hears good news about the job in London.

Pauline finds out about Martin's imminent departure to London and confronts him over her uncertain future. Aunt Joan tries to solve her farm's money problems by opening a B&B - and ends up having to call the doctor for her first guest, local farmer Ted. Elsewhere, Bert organises a baby shower for Louisa.

The doctor spends his last day in Portwenn seeing an influx of patients as he prepares to close down the surgery and move to London. As he bids farewell to old friends and sets off to leave the village, he sees Louisa's teaching assistant Tasha fall from a stage and stops to help. But the bigger hold-up comes when pregnant Louisa is involved in a car accident.