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Portwenn Online
A Magical Cornish Village
Doc Martin is IN
Consulting Room
Martin's consulting room is really at the heart of the show and the majority of scenes are filmed
in this room.  The room is filled with antique furniture and a lot of decor items.  There is also a
definite Asian flair for the decor in the room.  Every series there were changes in the room - new
items brought in, items leaving the room (and often showing up in other rooms in the surgery)
and items moved from one area of the room to another one.  One exception was in S3
where all kinds of changes happened halfway through the series.  I still haven't figured out a
good reason for that - maybe one day I will get to talk to the prop masters.  At the beginning of
S4 there were some big changes to the type of furniture and the way the room was
decorated (and big changes in other areas of the surgery).  I put this down to Martin needing to
make some changes after Louisa left Portwenn.  Maybe it has nothing to do with any of that - but
that's my theory!
Click photos to enlarge - click again to close
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Front Left Corner
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Martin had the room ready to receive patients in Episode 2. He has replaced the
old wooden cabinets with modern steel-front cabinets.  There is a double door
hanging cabinet with a matching double door cabinet below.  To the right is
what appears to be a small white fridge.  Then, along the left wall behind the
desk, more steel-front lower cabinets with a sink.

On the wall is a red framed painting that is part of a set of 4.  There is a matching
painting on the front wall on the other side of the door, and 2 more above the
fireplace.  What appears to be a computer screen or laptop sits on the counter.  In
Episode 2, in the corner is a chrome task floor lamp.  But the lamp changed in
Episode 3 and there was a similar floor task lamp, but with a much more rounded
frame.  This new lamp remained for the rest of the series.
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Here is a layout of the Consulting Room starting in
Episode 2 of the first series.

For information about the changes to the room
from Episode 1 to Episode 2 click below for a
dedicated page.

S1-S2 Consulting Room Comparison
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Series 1
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For S2, there was a lot of set building, and in the process, several feet were added
to the left and right walls of this room.  You can see pictures showing this
at the bottom of the "S1-S2 Consulting Room comparison" page.  

They also moved these cabinets.  The double hanging and base cabinets were
moved right to the corner and a third hanging section was added, the white fridge
is gone and the 3 sections of lower cabinets w/sink (one drawer unit and a double
door unit) were moved left to make one long cabinet and countertop.

The red framed painting has been moved to the wall behind Martin's desk and
replaced by a hanging light.  Because the counters are now against the wall,
there is no room for the floor lamps.  A chrome articulated desk lamp sat on the
counter, but only for the first 2 episodes.  The small black fabric Asian box was
moved from the mantel to the counter here for this series.  A wooden/leather
chair has been placed next to the door - it's part of the pair of desk chairs for
the patients, but sat next to the door for most of the series.
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Series 2
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The wooden/leather chair is gone and Martin's rolling stool is against the wall
when not in use.  The only other change is the addition of a hand towel dispenser
on the end of the hanging cabinets.  In S1 & S2 he kept a pile of blue hand towels
right next to the sink - see insert picture.
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Series 3 - 4
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The only change is that Dr Dibbs has brought in a new wooden chair.  Martin
keeps the chair and it remains there through S5 & S6.  The chrome desk lamp
was seen here during S5.
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Series 5 - 6
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The chair is gone (possibly moved to the other side of the door and
re-upholstered?) and replaced by a blue step stool.  The step stool had been
along the left wall behind Martin's desk during S5 & S6.
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Series 7
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Left Wall (behind desk)
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This wall consists mainly of steel-front cabinets with a sink, starting from near the
front wall and stretching to the built-in cupboard near the back corner.  In the
middle of the two cabinet sections is a small white fridge.  Very colorful wallpaper
lines the interior of the cupboard.
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Series 1
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For S2, there was a lot of set building, and in the process, several feet were added
to the left and right walls of this room.  You can see pictures showing this at the
bottom of the "S1-S2 Consulting Room comparison" page.  

They also removed the small fridge and moved all of the cabinets together and
right to the corner.  This freed up space for a piece of furniture behind Martin's
desk.  For this series they added a white metal trash receptacle at the end of the
counter and what appears to be a closed wooden secretary behind the desk.

On top of the secretary is a black goose-neck task lamp, several books and the
large Asian cabinet that was on the mantel in S1.  The red framed painting that
hung right next to the door in S1 is now hanging above the secretary.
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Series 2
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Both secretaries used in S2 are gone and replaced by a 3 drawer wooden file
cabinet that was on the back wall between the windows in S1 & S2.  On top of the
cabinet are a potted plant and a small wooden box.
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Series 3
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A new piece of furniture appeared in this series.  It was a wooden cabinet topped
by a tall wooden hutch.  Lots of book on the upper shelves and on the bottom
shelf, a crystal lamp, the small wooden box we saw in the beginning of S3, a
square clock, and a fabric box.  The red framed painting is gone.        
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Series 4
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Dr Dibbs changed this room considerably - and Martin didn't change much when
he took back over in Episode 2.  Behind the desk is now what looks like an old
dresser that has been painted to match the walls.  This piece will remain there at
least through S9.  Dr Dibbs has several items on top, including a brass lamp with
red shade, a plant, and a tall wooden box.  When Martin takes over he removes
the plant and adds his Golden Buddha on top of the wooden box.

There is also a new painting on the wall above - a pastoral scene.

In addition, there is a new blue step stool next to the metal trash receptacle.
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Series 5
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For the Christmas Special between S2 and
S3 there were a lot of changes in this
room.  A different secretary was behind
the desk and it was open and contained
lots of items.  Included in them was one of
the small Buddhas that was located in the
Kitchen in S1 and on the other side of the
Consulting Room in S2.
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In Episode 3, a lot of furniture was moved
around - and remained for the rest of the
series.  The wooden file cabinet was
moved back between the back windows
and a new drop leaf secretary was placed
behind Martin's desk.  

On top were a wooden cabinet that was
between the back windows for the
first 2 episodes of the series, a small
bowl, and a small wooden clock.  Several
items were on the 1/2 dropped leaf.
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Note that the dresser
is missing one of the
drawer pulls.  

It's still missing! (S8)

But it appears in S9!
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In Episode 2, when Martin is
attending to Aunt Ruth's cut
hand, the Gold Buddha
mysteriously moves off the
wooden box to the cabinet top.

In the next episode it's back in
place and remains there the
rest of the series.
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Some changes to the items on the dresser top this series.  The lamp has been
replaced by a very similar one.  This one has a straight brass stem instead of the
twisted one from last series, and the red shade is slightly smaller and more
angled.  The taller wooden box is gone and replaced by one we saw there in
S3 & S4.

The pastoral painting that Dr Dibbs had brought is now gone and the red framed
floral picture is back.
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Series 6
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There is one episode with slightly different
objects on the dresser.  In Episode 3, the
first scene when Martin is treating Robert
Campbell who was brought in by the
fishermen, the items are all as usual.

But in the only other two scenes, Becky (the
young girl who wrote the bad review for
Bert's Restaurant), and Martin cleaning the
cut on his hand at the end of the episode,
the items are different.

The red lamp from S5 is back (with the
twisted brass stem), the wooden box is
moved to the center, the Gold Buddha and
the books are gone, and a turquoise vase
that usually resides on the other side of
the room is there.  
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More changes to the dresser top.  The lamp and the decorative wooden box are
gone and the plain wooden box from the back left corner in S6, and a shallow
decorative bowl are there.  Also, the Gold Buddha with the attached base is
back - see the "Gold Buddha" page for more on that.
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Series 7
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But, for some reason, they moved the items
around in Episode 4 and they remained that
way the rest of the series.  The Gold Buddha
was moved to the left side and the wooden
box was moved to the right side.

There is also a funny thing that they did
with the Gold Buddha.  Starting in Episode 4,
they went back and forth with it being the
one with or without the base.  Again, see
the "Gold Buddha" page for the details.  I
think the Props Department were playing
around with us!
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Back Left Corner
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The back corner behind Martin's desk has a very short wall before it goes into a
bay for the window.  There is usually one small picture hanging there and
sometimes a small table below.

In S1, the first time Martin is seeing patients in Episode 2, there is nothing
on the wall.  I wonder if they noticed how dark it was back there, because in
Episode 3 a picture was placed there - and the wall has never been blank since.  
This seems to be some type of harbour scene with boats, maybe?

In the first two series there were no tables in that corner.
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Series 1
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A new picture.  It looks like possibly a road with tall trees on either side?

In the Christmas Episode between S2 & S3 they added a table for the first time.  
This was to hold a fax machine, which became part of the storyline.
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Series 2
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Another new picture.  This one might be a meandering river?  The same table with
fax machine from the previous episode.  A lot of furniture in this room was moved
around in Episode 3 so there is a different table that remained there for the rest of
the series.  This one had been in the right front corner at the beginning of S3.
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Series 3
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The picture wasn't changed this time, but a new drop-leaf table was added along
with a lamp and a new fax machine - probably a combo fax/printer.
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Series 4
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Dr Dibbs added a wooden corner cabinet high up on the wall.  I have no idea
why - we've never seen it used.  She also has a wooden table below with a plant
and some books.  This is the table that was between the back windows in the
beginning of S3.  Martin kept the cabinet and the table, but got rid of the plant.  
The fax/printer is sitting on a stool under the table.  She also hung a
small picture - but I can't make out what it is.
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Series 5
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I noticed something odd in
Episode 8.  When Martin was
examining Clive for his arthritis,
in some shots you can see the
wooden corner cabinet, but
others it looks like the cabinet
isn't there.  Notice how close the
picture is to the cabinet in one
shot and how much wall space is
visible on the other one.  The
funny thing is this is all one
scene - just different shots.
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There is another new picture on the wall.  It appears to be a sketch of a young
boy.  We have another new table - another drop-leaf, but not the same as the one
in S4.  There's a plain wooden box and books.  No fax/printer anymore.
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Series 6
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We've seen this sketch of the young boy
before.  It's in Louisa's red bedroom in S3.

I like to think that Louisa gave it to him to
hang in his office to remind him of his son
while he is working.  It's still there in S7.
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The sketch of the boy is still on the wall.  The drop-leaf table is still there at the
beginning of Episode 1 and it now has the decorative wooden box that we have
seen before behind Martin's desk.  But during the episode it moves back and forth
a couple of times over to the bay in the adjacent window.  Starting in Episode 2 it
stayed under the window for the rest of the series.  
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Series 7
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Back Wall
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The back wall consists of two bay windows with a small wall area between.  The
left window bay contained a small table that matched Martin's silver desk.  This
table was there all through S1 & S2 and disappeared in the Christmas Episode
between S2 & S3 - never to appear again.  The clock Martin was working on often
sat on top of the table.  Under the right bay window is a white wall radiator - and
that has been there in every episode.  

In between the windows there is always a piece of furniture with objects on top.  
In S1 it was a wooden three drawer filing cabinet.  On top were the Gold Buddha
and a green glass Banker's lamp.
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Series 1
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Everything is the same with the exception of the Gold Buddha.  It has been
moved to the living room and a small, ornate wooden clock has taken its place.  
The small metal table is still in the left bay, the wooden file cabinet in the middle,
and the Banker's lamp still on top.
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Series 2
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The small metal table has disappeared from the left bay and that area will remain
empty until S7.  In the middle there is a new wooden table with a wooden cabinet
on top.  The White Buddha is there (moved from the back right corner in S2) and
the Banker's lamp remains there.  The wooden file cabinet was moved to behind
Martin's desk.
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Series 3
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The wooden file cabinet has disappeared and the small splayed leg wooden table
has been moved here (it spent time in S3 in the front right corner and the back
left corner).  The Gold Buddha is back (the White Buddha has been moved to the
Living Room) and a new silver Banker's lamp shares the space.
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Series 4
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When Dr Dibbs moves in, she brings a small wooden secretary that she puts in
the left window bay and a large glass-front wooden cabinet in the middle.  The
large piece disappears after that first episode and Martin moves the small
secretary between the windows - where it will stay through S9.  On top of the
secretary he places a tall narrow lamp, a light green glass pitcher and matching
glass.  This lamp was on the mantle in S3 with a different shade and there is a
matching lamp and shade that was in the Living Room in S4 and in the Waiting
Room in this series.  All through S5 these items will exchange places on top of
the secretary and in a couple of scenes in Episode 2 the lamp disappears
altogether.  There is also a small upholstered chair under the right window.
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Series 5
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The only changes are the glassware pieces.  The light green pitcher and glass are
gone and replaced by a bronze glass pitcher and two other light green glasses.
The upholstered chair is gone.
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Series 6
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In Episode 1, the drop-leaf table from the back left corner moves back and forth
from there to under the left window. Starting in Episode 2 it remains under the
window for the rest of the series and has the decorative wooden box on top.  In
the middle, the lamp remains on top of the secretary for the whole series, but
moves from the left to the right starting in Episode 6.  On the right is a wooden
chair with a dark green leather seat

But the glassware keeps changing all through the series.  It starts out in Episode
1 with the light green glass pitcher from S5 back, but this time paired up with the
light green glasses from S6.  In Episodes 2, 3 & 4 the pitcher disappears and we
only see the two glasses.  Then, halfway through Episode 4, the green glasses
disappear and are replaced by a heavy amber glass pitcher and matching glass.  
In Episode 5, the amber pieces are gone and the two green glasses are back.  In
Episode 6 the green glasses are gone and the amber pitcher and glass are back.  
Again, they're playing with us!
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Series 7
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In Episode 4, a lot of furniture was moved around.  The wooden file cabinet
returned to between the windows.  The wooden cabinet that had been on top of
the table was moved to behind Martin's desk, and the decorative wooden box
that was behind Martin's desk moved with the wooden file cabinet to between
the windows.  The White Buddha and the Banker's lamp remained.
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In this series they occasionally moved things around.  Most of the time only
Martin's medical bag sat against the wall.  A couple of times the step stool was
moved there temporarily from the left wall.  One time his rolling exam chair was
there.  In the scene where Louisa helps Martin hop into the room, the wooden
chair has been moved over from the other side of the door to make room for the
ultrasound machine.  The one addition this series is a wall mounted hand
sanitizer. (There's an identical one in the Waiting Room next to Morwenna's desk.)
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Series 8
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Series 8
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It appears to be a new silver trash
receptacle sitting next to the step stool.
In this series, the antique barometer that has been on the mantel since S4
has now been moved here.  It is in the middle of the dresser top with the Gold
Buddha (no base) on the right and a stack of papers on the left.  At the beginning
of Episode 1 the papers are just stacked there, but partway through the episode
they have been placed into a black tray and they remain that way the rest of the
Series.  There is also a new black task lamp behind the Buddha.  The red framed
painting is gone again and replaced by Dr Dibbs' pastoral painting that was there
in S5.

In Episode 4 the Buddha disappears, but we find that it has been moved to the
back right corner on top of the tall secretary.
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In Episode 3, a scene in this room began with a sweeping shot of the room from behind this wall.  It was the first time
we've seen this angle - looking through the glass of the barometer and the back of the Buddha.
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There are no changes in this corner from the end of S7.  No table in the
corner and the small sketch remains on the wall.
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Series 8
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There is a different wooden table now below the left window.  It is the one that was
between the windows at the beginning of S3 and in the back left corner in S5 (and
in the Living Room in S6).  On top appears to be a printer and a black tray
containing paper.  

The small secretary has been between the windows since S5.  On top of the
secretary is the silver Banker's lamp that was moved from the large secretary in
the corner.  Next to it are the amber pitcher and glass from the previous series,
but all series long the glasses change, with another amber glass or a light green
glass or glasses being added at times.

There is a new small round wooden table under the right window that holds a few
old books. Also under that window the wooden arm chair with the leather seat
remains and they have added a striped pillow as a backrest.
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Series 8
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Ep 3
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Ep 1
Ep 2
Ep 3
Ep 3
Ep 5
Ep 4
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Consulting Room Overview
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Here are some overview shots of the Consulting Room from each series.
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Series 1
Episode 1
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Series 1
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Series 2
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Series 3
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Series 4
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Series 5
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Series 6
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Series 7
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Series 8
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Series 9
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This series the step stool was back and was there in every scene.  The hand
sanitizer is still there, but I don't think we've seen anyone using it.
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Series 9
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Series 9
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The found drawer pull!
This area did not change much from S8.  The papers are still in the black tray on
the left, with the antique barometer in the middle and the black task lamp on the
right.  A new addition is a new Buddha head sitting on top of the papers in
the tray.  This one is similar to the one on the mantle in Martin and Louisa's
bedroom.  The painting on the wall above is the one that was there in S5 and S8.

But surprise, surprise!  The drawer pull at the bottom left of the dresser - that
has been missing since the dresser appeared in S5 - has been found!  
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Again, no changes from the previous series.  No table in the corner and the
small sketch remains on the wall.
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Series 9
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There is very little change from the previous series.  Below the left window is the
same wooden table with the printer on top.  The tray holding paper is gone, but
there is a large piece of pottery.  This piece was in the little nook in the Back
Right Corner of this room in S1-S3, and then in the little square window in Martin
& Louisa's bedroom in S5-S7.

The small secretary has been between the windows since S5.  On top of the
secretary is the silver Banker's lamp and the amber pitcher and glasses.

Below the right window is the chair with the pillow and the small round side
table - both the same as in S8.  On the table is a round wooden bowl that has
been seen in several areas in this room in previous series.
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Series 9
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In the Christmas episode, a different
chrome task lamp appeared on this
counter - it's the one Martin tried to
throw at Jonathan.  The black fabric
box is missing, and one of the orange
leather chairs has been brought in
from the waiting room.
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There were a couple of changes to this
area for the Christmas Special.  The
decorative wooden box from the desk
was moved to the top of the wooden file
cabinet and the small table underneath
the left window was gone.
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In this series, a white trash bin
is seen again on this wall
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Click to Jump
to Sections
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