Martin Clunes' Islands of Australia

Martin Clunes is best known in North America as the title character in the long-running British series Doc Martin, but his real-life off-screen personality is far removed from the notoriously dyspeptic physician. In this three-episode travelogue series that was broadcast stateside on Acorn TV, Clunes serves as the charismatic host/narrator on a journey across Australia's islands. Opening with a visit to Fort Denison in the middle of Sydney Harbour—a former military base now used primarily for wedding ceremonies—Clunes makes quick but insightful stops at 15 other island destinations that provide a rich sampling of Australian history, culture, and nature. Norfolk Island, originally settled as a penal colony, now plays up its convict past for a thriving tourism market—leading one resident to tartly observe that “crime can pay.” Restoration Island in the Great Barrier Reef is the home to a single human resident, a 72-year-old former businessman who lives with a pet dingo named Dolly. A visit to the Tiwi Islands leads to a consideration of the Aboriginal Australian experience, while on Maria Island Clunes learns more about efforts to save the Tasmanian devil from extinction. Clunes's sunny personality and sincerity combined with the remarkable island settings make this an educational, entertaining, and eye-popping trip Down Under. Extras include a photo gallery. Highly recommended. (P. Hall)