Martin Clunes announced the death of his Doc Martin co-star live on air while being interviewed for BBC’s The One Show. The actor, 63, paid tribute to his “fantastic” colleague after working with them in the comedy drama series, which ran from 2007 until 2022.

Sadly Martin had some bad news for fans of the show, as he explained that his canine companion had sadly passed away. Dodger the dog played Martin Ellingham’s dog Buddy from 2009 until 2019, when he retired during the ninth series. Dodger had been diagnosed with dementia and it was confirmed he would not star in the tenth and final series.

Martin confirmed at the time: “Dodger who played Buddy is still with us and he's happy. It's just that his trainer Sonia decided to retire him because he has doggy dementia."

Sadly, Dodger has now died, Martin announced. Roman Kemp asked him: “Your character was always irritated by his dog but you had quite a good way of getting around that.” Martin responded: “Oh Dodger, oh yeah! He was fantastic that boy. Sadly no longer with us.

“That was the joke, I thought… ‘Who hates dogs?’… that someone who hates dogs, but they all love him, and they just hang out with him.” He explained of acting with the pooch: “So I had to yell at him, throw him around, do all sorts of things but I never shouted really at him. I just waved my lips around and added in the shouting later."

He explained: “Me and Sonia Turner, his trainer, and Dodger, we just had such fun on that, y'know? Pushing the limits of what we could do with him and he was fabulous."

Sonia announced Dodger’s death on Instagram in 2023, writing to fans: “A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has taken the time to remember Dodger and send their condolences. Tom and I are truly touched and amazed that our little chap had been taken to heart by so many people, both here and abroad. Bless you Dodger."

Tributes flooded in for Dodger at the time, with one fan writing: “I sure miss this little chap. Every time I see a picture my heart squeezes.” Another added: “The true star of Doc Martin! Missing you Dodger.”