.
Portwenn Online
A Magical Cornish Village
Doc Martin is IN
Waiting Room
Click photos to enlarge - click again to close
.
.
.&
.
.
.
.
.
Back Right Corner
.
The back right corner of this room is often dark - and there aren't a lot of shots of
that area.  In fact, in S1 there is just one quick shot and in S6 there is absolutely
no view of the area (I hope the set dressers didn't spend much time setting it up!)

In S1, the one quick shot shows a tall unfinished wood corner cabinet.  It's not an
item we ever see again - in any room.
.
.
Series 1
.
.
This series starts out with the leather chairs and the short round table in the
corner, but by Episode 4 the cabinet on the back wall has been moved over to the
corner.  This cabinet will remain there for good - with an updated one replacing it
starting in S7.  On top of the cabinet is the pottery lamp, the bird sculpture and
some type of box - it looks like it might be a black and turquoise tin box?
.
.
Series 2
.
.
There are 3 new items on the cabinet this series.  A round white tray of some sort,
the wooden fish that was on the windowsill in S1-2, and the china Asian vase that
was on the windowsill in S2.  On the wall is a landscape picture.  The lamp and
bird sculpture moved to the windowsill - and the tin box is never seen again.
.
.
Series 3
.
.
.
.
All of the glimpses this series are either dark or blurry.  There are a lot of books
and pamphlets, a new shorter wooden fish (with a matching one on the
windowsill), and a new large woven basket holding books.  On the wall is a new
painting - and there's not a very good view.  The painting disappears after this
series.
.
.
Series 4
.
.
.
.
Just a couple of quick views this series.  The pottery lamp is back on the
cabinet, along with a ceramic cat that has been on the filing cabinet and the
window behind it since S2.  There is a new picture on the wall, but it's impossible
to tell what it is.

In S6 there is not one shot of that corner.
.
.
Series 5
.
.
.
.
In this series there is a new cabinet in the corner.  Its about the same size and
configuration as the old one, but in a more classic style and a darker finish.  The
views in S7 aren't very good, but you can see slighter better views in S8.  On top
of the cabinet are familiar items - the pottery lamp, ceramic cat, wooden sailboat,
and large round wicker basket.  On the wall is one of the red framed pictures that
we saw hanging in the Consulting Room in S1-S4 (Right Wall - above the fireplace).
.
.
Series 7
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Very few changes to start this series, except that the cat is gone - it's back on the
windowsill behind the receptionist's desk.  It appears that the picture on the wall
is the same as in S7, but a closer observation shows that it is one of the other red
framed ones.  This one was on the front wall of the Consulting Room in S1-S4.  
The lamp, sailboat and large basket are still there.

About halfway through Episode 1, there is a shot from behind this wall and it's
evident that a new lamp is on the cabinet - and it has the brown shade that was
on the pottery lamp for so many series.  Starting in Episodes 3 & 4 we start to
see the changes.  The pottery lamp is gone, replaced by this new ceramic
looking one, the sailboat has been moved over to the windowsill to join the
other one, the small radio has been moved here from the windowsill, and both
bird sculptures have also been moved here from the windowsill.  In addition,
there is an acrylic rack holding pamphlets.  The large basket is gone.  Also, the
red framed painting on the wall has been moved to the back wall, next to the
wooden barometer by the door to the Consulting Room.
.
.
Series 8
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
This unusual angle, about
halfway through Episode 1,
gave us a peek at a brand
new lamp.
.
.
We see Poppy making use of
the round white tray in Episode
2 when she is serving tea to
the patients.
.
.
.
As usual, we get very few good looks at this dark corner.  The same dark
cabinet appears to be there.  On top is a small lamp that I can't quite make out
and I'm not sure we have seen it before.  The shade is one that has been on
multiple lamps in this room. The three small ceramic buildings that had been on
the window in the back and the table by the front door (Front Left Corner) last
series are now here, along with one of the small ship in a glass bottle that was on
top of the file cabinet last series.  There are two paintings on the wall this series,
but I can't make out what they are.  They don't appear to match any we've seen
before.  Also on that wall is a bulletin board - even though there is another one
just a few feet away on the Right Wall.  This one has an unfinished frame, so it
might be the one that was above the receptionist's desk in S2 & S3 (rotated to
portrait view).
.
.
Series 9
.
.
.
.
.
.
.&
.
.ustome
.
.
.
Right Wall
.
The Right Wall is an area that looks like an old fireplace the way it sticks out from
the rest of the wall.  On the left side, there is a quirky angle to the bump-out that
makes it look like there could be a staircase above - but we know there isn't.  
Where the firebox would be is now a built in cabinet with 2 glass doors.  I find it
interesting that the set designers made it look like a fireplace conversion since
they built this custom set for the very first series.  It seems like a lot of thought
went into how Dr Sim (or a predecessor) would take a room in a residential
structure and convert it to a physician's waiting room.  There is usually some
artwork centered on the top part of the wall and the cabinet is always filled with
books and boxes. (See an overview in the photo at left.)

In S1, there was one large picture with 2 smaller ones on either side.  The large
one was in the Consulting Room in the first episode (behind Dr Sim's desk) and
is a scene of the Port Isaac harbour.  It appears that all 3 pictures are either
paintings or old photographs of the village.  
.
.
Series 1
.
.
.
For this series the large picture is a slightly different painting or photo of Port
Isaac.  Notice the difference in the lower right corner.  The 2 smaller pictures are
gone - not to be seen again.  This is the first time we see the rust leather chairs
sitting against this wall.
.
.
Series 2
.
.
.
No changes at all in this series.  The same picture hangs on the wall. This is the
first series where we see the long mid-century coffee table.  It mostly sits in the
middle of the room, but usually closer to this wall.
.
.
Series 3
.
.
.
.
The large picture of the village is still there, but in a new frame with no mat.  In
Episode 3, Penhale's brother is painting the room and paints a portrait of Pauline.  
There are 2 new chairs here with a matching one over in the Front Left Corner.
.
.
Series 4
.
.
.
In this series, with Dr Dibbs taking over, there are just two brief glimpses of the
area.  The wall is blank this time, and the cabinet continues to be packed.
.
.
Series 5
.
.
.
A bulletin board has been placed on the wall on the far right edge of the area.
.
.
Series 6
.
.
.
A sepia toned framed print was added to the left of the bulletin board in this
series.  A new addition to the room was a small turquoise leather footstool that
always had a colorful afghan sitting on top.
.
.
Series 7
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.urlee
.
The sepia toned print is gone, so only the bulletin board remains.  The footstool
is still against this wall, and a new addition is a long runner rug that is sometimes
up near this wall and other times under the coffee table.
.
.
Series 8
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The larger picture in the center is impossible to
see well, but from the lower right edge, it can be
matched to the one that was in the Consulting
Room when Martin moved in (S1E1).  The first
time we see this area of the room is in Episode
2, and the picture has been moved here.
.
.
.urlee
.
The only change to this area is a new wooden chair that we can see when the
camera focuses on Buddy.  In other shots the wooden back of the chair is visible,
and we can see it sitting next to one of the rust leather chairs.  The same
turquoise footstool and afghan remain, as does the bulletin board.
.
.
Series 9
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Click to Jump
to Sections
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The Waiting Room is the busiest room in the building.  There are usually several patients
waiting to see the Doc, so there are lots of patient chairs against the walls.  The furniture
evolved during S1 and by S2 a lot of it was established for the remainder of the show, with a
few pieces moving in and out of the room from series to series.  It was impossible to capture
everything - especially in the Desk Area, but I've tried to track the most visible items from
series to series.