Martin Clunes on his love of animals and why he cries almost every day

Within minutes of meeting actor Martin Clunes, it’s clear that his personality could not be more diametrically opposed to his long-time fictional persona Martin Ellingham from much-loved ITV series Doc Martin.

In the show, which ended two years ago, that Martin was characterised by grouchiness and lack of empathy – and a deep antipathy towards dogs. In contrast, real-life Martin is garrulous, and his emotions are always bubbling near the surface, often sparked by, you’ve guessed it, his canine companions.

Conversation is regularly punctuated by laughter. As, for instance, when 14-year-old black Labrador and retired guide dog Laura– who was recently adopted by Martin and his wife, TV producer Philippa Braithwaite – passes wind, then gets up and casually quits her spot underneath Martin’s kitchen chair in their remote Dorset farmhouse.

"Thanks, Laura. In her dotage, the dog is blaming her farts on the man!" he giggles, comically wafting at the air under his nose.

Conversely, it turns out that Martin’s heightened emotions also mean he’s a crier and scarcely a day goes by without him shedding a tear.

This emerges soon after he introduces me to his current entourage of dogs: as well as Laura, there’s cocker spaniel Heidi Mae and her son Bob Jackson, plus two six-month-old Jack Russell pups, John and Murray, who are new following the recent deaths of Jackahuahua Penelope and elderly Jack Russell, James Henry.

Talking about these departures, Martin wells up and says how greatly he misses them, especially the latter, who despite being a ‘sod’ was always at his side.

"There’s a real ache there and, although it sounds odd, I wish I could have had him stitched into me forever," he says.

There’s no shame in confessing how deeply he feels for animals. Indeed, recently recording the audiobook version of his new book, Meetings with Remarkable Animals – which covers both his own menagerie and the heroic acts of creatures worldwide – Martin says he had to stop multiple times because he got so choked.

"There’s a chapter about pigeons and in that I share the final thoughts from the diary of a First World War soldier, Tom Millar, who’d been fatally wounded," he says. "Millar writes that a pigeon, missing a wing, has fallen from the sky and that he’ll keep him warm until the end and the two of them will pass together.

"Getting that out took me at least four takes because I kept breaking down.

"Thinking about that amazing connection and comfort between man and bird – it just really gets me."

He says recording the book’s postscript was tough, too, as in this he shares the memory of when he and Philippa lost their beloved first horse, her mare Bee.

Martin’s horse Chester had lived alongside her, so Martin took Chester to see Bee’s body in the field where he sniffed and looked at her.

"Just as we were leaving, Chester turned and looked back towards Bee and whinnied. I got a gut punch of emotion," he writes in the book – though he’s scarcely able to tell me about it in person because his voice is wobbling.

Clearly, Martin is way more than an ordinary animal-lover and he readily agrees that he’s ‘crazy’ about them, as is Philippa and their daughter, Emily, 25, who is at university studying to be an equine vet.

"That should prove handy for future vets’ bills," he quips.

But where did their shared passion stem from? Martin says that, while he’d had a dog as a child, it was his and Philippa’s first cocker, Mary Elizabeth, who changed everything.

"She was the root dog for the life we live now," he says.

"We had Mary Elizabeth when we were still in London before Emily was born, in the mid-Nineties. We weren’t allowed dogs in our office or small flat, but she was so little as a pup, I’d just shove her up my jumper.

"When she got bigger, she was so cute, nobody could say no to her. She was hysterical; people would come in and pitch their dreary scripts to us and she was there snoring or rifling through their handbags.

"At night, she slept on the pillows between us and was absolutely central to us."

And although Mary Elizabeth was initially grumpy when Emily arrived, the two of them became inseparable.

Fast forward to now and, aside from the five dogs, the current menagerie comprises six and a half horses (the half being a tiny Shetland pony), two cats, nine hens and three cattle, who Martin says he’s made a deal with.

"They can live out their days here and lie where they fall.

"We used to have about 200 ewes and over 50 cattle, but we decided to get rid of them because I foolishly thought I could make the farm wash its face and pay for itself. But you can’t, unless I did it all myself and it was all I did. I might then just break even.

"That, plus the fact that sheep are idiots! While I can still make a living doing my first job, I’d better cling on to that a bit longer."

Even without the sheep and cows, when Martin describes a typical day at home – an endless round of feeding, exercising and cleaning the animals, as well as looking after the large garden – it sounds like hard work.

"I love having these jobs to do," he enthuses. "I would hate to just put my feet up."

There will certainly be no time for putting his feet up this Christmas as he and Philippa will have a house full of family. While childhood Christmases felt rather sad after Martin lost his father at the age of eight, it’s now one of his favourite times of year.

"It’s the reason we have a big house – we always do it here," he says. "All my nieces and nephews and brothers- and sisters-in law come round – there’s about 15 of us and the day is characterised by food and laughter."

In quieter times, tending the lawns has become a focus for Martin.

"There’s a sense of pride in looking after the grass and as I’ve been away a lot recently it’s in a state, so I like that I need to work on that."

The projects that have taken Martin away this year include a movie, Mother’s Pride – about a failing pub and a family whose life is changed by brewing real ale – plus a six-part ITV drama series, Out There, which was produced by his production company Buffalo Pictures.

Martin plays a widower farmer who comes face to face with the issue of county lines drug dealing, which threatens to engulf the life of his teenage son.

"It’s a dark subject, but it’s going on and is insidious," he says. "I hope it shines a light on the issue."

Martin also filmed a three-part documentary, Islands of the Atlantic, in which he visits places including Greenland, the Faroe Islands and the Azores.

"They were fascinating," he enthuses. "Greenland blew my mind –seeing icebergs, going on the ice sheet and learning how the Inuit live."

"Jammy" is how he describes his mix of acting and presenting work. "I did worry when I did the first animal documentaries that it would lessen my stock in my day job, but the figures for Doc Martin didn’t drop, so I didn’t stop. It’s a privilege to go to these incredible places."

Talking of Doc Martin, is there any chance of a one-off special?

"No chance," says Martin. "We did it comprehensively and are happy with it and it feels right to leave it."

Neither, too, is there any chance of Martin taking part in reality TV.

"I’ve been asked to do Strictly Come Dancing many times, but I would never do it. I love watching it and that’s the end of it."

Any favourite contestants?

"I loved Rose Ayling-Ellis. She was so sweet and that dance when they turned the music off to highlight what it’s like as a deaf person. Oh, I bawled my eyes out at that, I can tell you."

Here’s hoping that Martin has got a very big box of tissues ready for this year’s Strictly final.