Martin Clunes gets a new role on ITV in A Mother’s Son

Martin Clunes gets a new role on ITV in A Mother’s Son

The Doc Martin star has previously blasted the company, saying that he had not received a job offer from them in five years.

He moaned to TV Biz at the end of last year: “I’d be really unhappy if I thought the next bit of acting I did was the next series of Doc Martin.

“I used to do a lot of different parts. I miss doing other acting but I don’t get asked to do that much â€" I’ve no idea why.

“I haven’t been offered a job by ITV in five years.”

And talking about his fears of being typecast, he added: “Maybe people think I’m too busy doing Doc Martin.

“Or maybe they think I’m so associated with that job that I carry that baggage with me.”

But in a new gig, Martin will star in a hard-hitting thriller that questions a mother’s dedication to a son she suspects of murder and whether a family can keep going and survive when placed under enormous strain.

Across two 60-minute episodes to air later this year, the drama will follow the mystery of a teenage schoolgirl found murdered in the woods near a Suffolk town.

The plot involves Rosie Haleton (Hermione Norris), who lives with her two children, husband Ben Harley (Clunes) and his kids from a previous marriage.

She discovers evidence under her son Jamie’s bed that could be connected to the crime.

Rosie turns desperately to ex-husband David (Paul McGann), who also can’t believe their child could be involved.

He follows Jamie, hoping to clear his name, and discovers he hangs around with a school drop-out previously arrested for sexual assault against a minor.

But elsewhere in the family home, Ben’s son Rob has something to hide and fears grow that he could be involved.

With tensions rising, a family holiday goes down the pan, arguments reach boiling point and the only way forward is to confront Jamie, who denies everything.

Ben feels pressure to take matters into his own hands but isn’t confident he can go through with it.

Executive producer Myar Craig-Brown said: “Chris Lang has written a beautifully compelling script and we are delighted that Martin Clunes and Hermione Norris have agreed to play Ben and Rosie.”