Martin Clunes 'I was a massive bedwetter'

He’s become the world’s most popular television doctor, with a strong dislike for children, animals and patients, but Doc Martin is in many ways the polar opposite of the man who portrays him.

Martin Clunes has turned the grouchy medico into an international star but keeps himself humble — taking the train to his recent interview with Kerri-Anne Kennerley.

"[I did do that] you think I should change? I should get more people."

A generous and caring family man, Clunes overcame bullying in school to eventually find his true purpose – making people laugh and discovering the world's natural wonders.

"I love playing Doc, love it. Love it."

"Especially if I get someone infirm or elderly, or very young I like to bully the children or the elderly. I get their agreement first before we start shooting but really rough with the children."

In stark contrast, every year Clunes and his wife Philippa host a charity fair on their property. This year 16,000 people showed up.

Earlier this year Martin explored the most remote and beautiful locations for a new documentary series about the Islands of Australia.

"It was a big thrill was to swim with a whale shark. They're beautiful, peaceful, like cows in the sea."

"I was just swimming on my side, just looking at her, all her sort of muscles working and this big open mouth and eye and just sort of, just, just transfixed and it was just magical."

But he also opened up to Kerri-Anne about having a difficult childhood after his father's death.

At age eight Clunes was sent one of Britain’s notoriously repressive boarding schools.

"I was a massive bed wetter so a boys dormitory, imagine how cherished I was."

"They sort of separated me off so I was in matron's room downstairs and everybody else was upstairs so it was quite lonely and I think I felt a bit abandoned possibly I still have slight sort of abandonment issues."

Watch the full interview in the video above.