Martin Clunes: Islands of America

About this Broadcast

Season 1, Episode 4

The actor arrives in New York to explore Manhattan Island, and its Empire State Building, from where he can see the city's 500 miles of coastline and more than 40 islands. He later takes the ferry to Ellis Island, which opened in 1892 as an immigration centre for those arriving in the US by sea. Following a trip to Coney Island, home to the iconic amusement park, he explores Martha's Vineyard more than 200 miles away, where Jaws was made. Martin ends his trip in Maine, America's most easterly state, with hundreds of islands off its coast

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Education/Science/Factual Topics Foreign Countries/Expeditions

Cast & Crew

Martin Clunes (Presenter)

Ian Leese (Series producer)

Tom McCarthy (Director)

Bill Jones (Executive producer)

Philippa Braithwaite (Executive producer)

More Information

Did You Know..

Martin Clunes (Presenter)

Born: November 28, 1961 in London

Best Known For: A string of TV hits, including Men Behaving Badly and Doc Martin.

Early-life: Born Alexander Martin Clunes on November 28, 1961, in Wimbledon, south London, into a theatrical family. His father was the acclaimed classical actor Alec Clunes, who died of lung cancer in 1970. His mother used to work as Orson Welles's secretary, and his cousin was Sherlock Holmes star Jeremy Brett. Clunes left school at 16 with one O-level and wanted to be a carpenter before enrolling at the Arts Educational Drama College in London. He started out in theatre and won acclaim for directing The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner.

Career: Clunes made his TV debut in a 1983 Doctor Who adventure, followed by a regular role in sitcom No Place Like Home. In 1990 he appeared alongside Sean Connery in The Russia House and two years later in the much-maligned comedy Carry On Columbus. He turned to directing again with comedy film Staggered, in which he also starred. Men Behaving Badly made him a household name - but not until original co-star Harry Enfield was replaced by Neil Morrissey and the series moved from ITV to the BBC. He has chalked up a major success for ITV as über-grumpy GP Doc Martin. Clunes has also presented several documentaries, and appeared in such series as William and Mary, A is for Acid, The Town and Reggie Perrin.

Quote: 'I get contemptuous of my own acting and wish I had fewer chins.'

Trivia: He won a British Comedy Award and BAFTA award for his performance on Men Behaving Badly.