The BEST episodes directed by Ben Bolt

#1 - On the Eve

Vikings - Season 4 - Episode 19

The Viking army causes panic in the English countryside as King Ecbert and Aethelwulf plan the defense of the realm.

#2 - The Wrong Goodbye

Doc Martin - Season 4 - Episode 8

Dr Martin Ellingham and Pauline are surprised by the number of patients coming to see him on the last day before his Surgery closes and he moves to London.

#3 - Preserve the Romance

Doc Martin - Season 5 - Episode 1

The curmudgeonly GP struggles to come to terms with his new role as a father, having planned to resume his career as a consultant in London before the arrival of his and Louisa's as-yet unnamed son. To make matters worse, he begins to have serious doubts about the competency of his replacement Dr Di Dibbs when she misdiagnoses a patient as well as herself. Martin is then dealt a devastating personal blow after hearing his aunt Joan has died. (This Episode Is Rated TV-PG-V)

#4 - Ever After

Doc Martin - Season 5 - Episode 8

Mrs Tishell decides she can no longer hide her love for Martin and, fuelled by a cocktail of drugs, takes drastic action. While James Henry is in her care, she boards a bus out of Portwenn and leaves a message for Dr Ellingham to `meet them at the castle', forcing Martin, Louisa, Ruth and PC Penhale to mount a desperate search for the pair.

#5 - The Reckoning

Vikings - Season 4 - Episode 20

Prince Aethelwulf finds himself subject to the Vikings' battle master plan; Ecbert remains behind with a plan of his own.

#6 - Remembrance of Hits Past

Hill Street Blues - Season 6 - Episode 16

Joyce reflects on her past relationship with Furillo as she waits for him to come out of surgery after he's shot on the courthouse steps just prior to testifying against a recaptured gangster. Meanwhile, Belker is sent undercover at a meat packing plant while Buntz searches for the gunman.

#7 - Dry Your Tears

Doc Martin - Season 5 - Episode 2

The GP returns to his former post at the surgery after the departure of Dr Dibbs, agreeing to stay until a replacement is found. He persuades a reluctant Louisa to move into his house so he can help raise their son, and suggests they could all move to London together in the future. Martin then delivers the eulogy at his aunt Joan's funeral and speaks to her sister Ruth, who proves to be just as cantankerous as he is.

#8 - Uneasy Lies the Head

Doc Martin - Season 4 - Episode 2

Dr Martin Ellingham struggles to deal with Louisa’s news. But Louisa is adamant she does not want Martin involved.

#9 - Episode 2

Downton Abbey - Season 1 - Episode 2

Matthew and his mother Isobel arrive at Downton, but trouble lies ahead as doctor's widow Isobel immediately finds her views at odds with Violet's.

#10 - Boho With A Shotgun

Doc Martin - Season 5 - Episode 3

New receptionist Morwenna Newcross gets off to a bad start after arriving late on her first day, and her hyperactive behaviour leads Martin to believe she is high on drugs. Ruth tries to deal with an intruder on the farm who has stolen the hub caps from her car, and the sleepless nights begin to take their toll on Martin and Louisa, who are running out of ways to comfort their constantly wailing baby.

#11 - Episode 3

Downton Abbey - Season 1 - Episode 3

Mary is instantly attracted to handsome Turkish attache Kemal Pamuk, but their romance is cut brutally short and sends ripples of unease through the house.

#12 - Do Not Disturb

Doc Martin - Season 4 - Episode 7

Dr Martin Ellingham seeks out Louisa to talk about his new surgeon’s job in London, but they are interrupted by Bert, who wants to plan a baby shower for Louisa.

#13 - Mother Knows Best

Doc Martin - Season 5 - Episode 4

Louisa's hippie mother Eleanor arrives in the village, immediately taking over Martin's kitchen to prepare a herbal tonic, which she later gives to the baby to stop his crying. A culinary rivalry develops between Bert and Mark Bridge, the landlord of the Crab and Lobster pub, at Portwenn Fun Day with both keen to take advantage of the event by providing food for the spectators.

#14 - Going Bodmin

Doc Martin - Season 1 - Episode 1

Former surgeon Dr Martin Ellingham arrives in the sleepy Cornish hamlet of Portwenn, replacing the former GP who has died. He alienates a woman on the plane, is driven off the road, breaks up a marriage, and is mocked by teenagers only to realize that adjusting to village life is not going to be plain sailing. With his abrasive manner, sharp suits, and flashy car, he's like a fish out of water.

#15 - Perish Together as Fools

Doc Martin - Season 4 - Episode 3

Dr Martin Ellingham is shocked to find Louisa and Aunt Joan knocking at his door before the Surgery has opened. Louisa has had a medical scare and wants Martin’s reassurance that everything is fine.

#16 - Midwife Crisis

Doc Martin - Season 4 - Episode 6

Dr Martin Ellingham meets Portwenn’s new midwife, Molly, who will be looking after Louisa. Martin is dismissive of her profession, and the two of them do not hit it off.

#17 - Better the Devil

Doc Martin - Season 4 - Episode 1

Doc Martin is struggling to maintain his life as a GP, after his wedding day disaster with school headmistress Louisa. She has left the village, and he is starting to question whether this is where he wants to stay, until an old friend turns up.

#18 - Of All the Harbours in All the Towns

Doc Martin - Season 1 - Episode 5

An old flame of Joan's sails back into her life and whisks her off her feet. But John Slater is seriously ill with a life threatening heart condition, as Doc Martin discovers when he insists on running tests on John. Slater wants to rekindle the love affair with Joan and sail off into the sunset with her. But Martin is anxious for Joan that she will have to nurse a very sick man. Schoolgirl Melanie Gibson, one of Port Isaac's bevy of teenage beauties, develops a crush on the doctor. He's her hero after he puts her dislocated shoulder back, and stops the agonising pain she has been suffering. Martin fears the wrath of her father when the girl keeps turning up at the surgery. She's only 15. But when Melanie's father Alan comes to visit, it is he who does the apologising for his daughter's behaviour. Martin warns Slater that he should be in hospital. If he doesn't get treatment he could be dead in six weeks. He also tells him it's inappropriate to be carrying on like a teenager with his Aunt Joan. Joan confesses she still loves John. She fell in love with him when she was still married. Now with her husband dead there's no reason for her not to be with the man she really loves. Martin tries to warn Joan not to get involved with John Slater again. He knows the prognosis is not good, but patient confidentiality prevents him telling Joan just how ill John is. Martin can also see how happy his aunt is, and learns how Joan had given up John for her husband Phil, and for Martin when he was a boy. Martin's father had refused to let his son stay with Joan while she was having the affair with John. There's romance in the air between Al and Elaine. He's always had a soft spot for her. Thinking that she has split with her boyfriend, Al tries to woo her, by downloading a special selection of music onto an expensive ipod for her.

#19 - Common Ground

Outlander - Season 4 - Episode 4

Having been led by providence to Fraser's Ridge, Jamie, Claire and Young Ian begin to build a home in the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the 20th Century, Roger tries to reconnect with Brianna.

#20 - Slum Enchanted Evening

L.A. Law - Season 1 - Episode 6

Van Owen faces hairy jokes from her colleagues and the anger of her ex-fiance after bailing out on her wedding; Kuzak represents a television news anchor suing for sex discrimination and wrongful termination when her employer fires her after having second thoughts about the series of reports on her breast cancer surgery that they assigned her to produce; Sullivan is busted for dealing drugs out of the office; Taylor successfully represents a tenant's association suing Brackman for being a slumlord, and gives his former boss a taste of his own medicine when Brackman threatens to prolong the case with a series of appeals to avoid paying the judgment levied against him; Hubbard applies to law school; Kelsey does business with a very agreeable banker offering excellent terms on her partnership buy-in loan; Brackman faces a stunning and humiliating defeat when he foolishly decides to take on McKenzie in the partners' meeting.

#21 - Sh*t Happens

Doc Martin - Season 1 - Episode 3

Dr Martin Ellingham makes his debut on the local radio station, Radio Portwenn. He's not a natural in front of the microphone, and the interview is like pulling teeth for presenter Caroline. She's furious with his monosyllabic answers to her questions. Bert Large is in dispute with his son Al over his future in the plumbing business. Al desperately wants to change career. He's determined to go to college to learn about computers and break away from the family business. His father won't hear of it. Their row prompts Al to leave, breaking his dad's heart. Bert shares his woes with Martin, who tells him he fell out with his father too, and still doesn't speak to him. A nasty stomach bug is sweeping through Portwenn. People are dropping like flies, and filling Martin's surgery. The local pharmacist has been busy with customers seeking remedies. Martin decides he must try to track the source of the bug, and heads for the swimming pool. The staff assures him the water is checked rigorously. But Martin tells them they must close the pool immediately. When they refuse Martin makes his own announcement to every one in the pool about something dangerous in the water. It creates mass panic as everyone tries to scramble out at once. Martin's theory loses credibility when patients who have never been near the pool develop symptoms. He makes a return visit to Radio Portwenn to warn people on air that the culprit is Portwenn's water supply. Caroline is furious. The last time the village had a scare about contaminated water supply it almost closed down. After the broadcast villagers are equally furious with Martin, and vent their anger on him as he walks away from the radio station. Bert thinks he has the answer to the problem. He's been bottling spring water as a side line, and presents a bottle to Martin to try. Bert claims it is from an ancient spring ""beneath the green hills of France"". Business is booming since Martin's radio warning.

#22 - Haemophobia

Doc Martin - Season 1 - Episode 6

The tourist season has arrived in Portwenn. Disgruntled by the invasion of holidaymakers, Martin grimaces as he makes his way through the crowds. Then he notices an attractive woman, and stops to stare...at her chest! Not surprisingly she's annoyed at his blatancy. And she can't believe it when he says he'd like to examine her chest. Martin was actually trying to warn the woman about the dangers of sunbathing for fear of skin cancer, but his usual abrupt and quirky manner has caused offence. She tells him to go away in no uncertain terms. Louisa has witnessed the encounter, and advises Martin that he should have explained to the woman that he is a doctor to prevent her from thinking he is a pervert. At the surgery Adrian Pitts is waiting to see Martin. He's hovering lecherously over Elaine, getting a perfect view of her cleavage. He's one of Martin's former pupils, and has come for a reference. But Martin recalls he was not exactly a star pupil. Gossip about the blood phobia which forced Martin to terminate his brilliant career as a surgeon seems to have spread round the village like wild fire. Two patients in the surgery can't resist mentioning the 'b' word to Martin. Then he gets an urgent call from the pub. Bert has had a terrible accident while working there, and he's bleeding profusely. The sight of blood pouring from Bert's wound begins to trigger the all too familiar panic attacks for Martin. But on closer examination he realises the blood is actually tomato ketchup. Martin is not amused. He deduces that Roger Fenn must have been blabbing to the village, even though he promised to keep the phobia a secret. Martin challenges Roger as to why he has been gossiping. Roger is angry that Martin thinks he cannot be trusted with a secret, and denies spilling the beans. The whole village is buzzing with the rumours about the doctor's phobia. It even becomes the topic of hot discussion on Radio Portwenn's phone-in show. Martin can't believe what he is hearing o

#23 - Gentlemen Prefer

Doc Martin - Season 1 - Episode 2

Dr Martin Ellingham's practice is officially open for business. Despite his disastrous introduction to life in the sleepy village of Portwenn, the former surgeon has decided to stay and give it a go. The waiting room is full with patients enjoying tea and biscuits served by Elaine, who is busy with a personal call on the phone. It seems the previous GP allowed his patients to treat the surgery as a drop-in café to share their ailments, but not necessarily to seek medical treatment. Martin announces to the packed waiting room that unless they have a genuine ailment they should all leave. Stunned and embarrassed, everyone shuffles out, leaving just one man, sour-faced former teacher Roger Fenn who has a nasty cough. Martin tells Fenn he must be referred to a specialist for a biopsy on a lump on his neck. But Fenn accuses the doctor of time-wasting and storms out. Elaine's inefficiency pushes Martin over the edge when she gives him an unreadable message about a sick child, with no name or phone number for him to contact. Angry at Elaine's consistent complacency, Martin sacks her on the spot. News of the sacking spreads around the village like wildfire, and Martin becomes universally disliked. The café won't serve him, and patients are cancelling appointments. Martin takes a call from the hospital about the results of Roger Fenn's biopsy. It's not good news, and Martin decides he must tell Fenn face to face.

#24 - The False Bride

Outlander - Season 4 - Episode 3

Jamie and Claire search for a place to call home; meanwhile, in the 20th century, Brianna and Roger's romance heats up and then fizzles during a road trip that winds up highlighting their differences.

#25 - Bald Ambition

Hill Street Blues - Season 7 - Episode 4

Goldblume is visited by an old friend, who is mugged and rejected by a publisher; Bernstein saves Joyce from an escaped prisoner and confesses he has a tremendous crush on her; Daniels warns Furillo that Calletano's station house is on the edge of a racial meltdown; and Russo loses an arrest in her undercover assignment because she slept with the subject.

#26 - Fight for their Rights

Ashes to Ashes - Season 2 - Episode 3

Animal rights activists have threatened a series of attacks in London and the first victim, the daughter of a commercial laboratory owner, is in hospital. Gene orders his team not to sleep until those responsible are behind bars. Their first stop is a prison where Robin Elliot, a known animal rights campaigner, is serving time for killing a scientist in the 1970s. Alex is convinced that Robin knows about the planned attacks, but with no contact with the outside world, there doesn't appear to be any way for him to be involved. Robin's eerily prescient knowledge of the future makes Alex think that he could be involved not only with the case, but with her own fate; having heard the voices of ambulancemen, Alex worries that hope is fading for her survival in the present day.

#27 - Blues in the Night

Hill Street Blues - Season 6 - Episode 1

Bates gets to know an art teacher; Coffey, Renko, LaRue and Washington bet on who can drive to work the fastest; Renko has to bust his favorite singer for cocaine possession; Goldblume is taken hostage by a militant on the edge of sanity bombarding his neighbors with a high decibel barrage of words.

#28 - Dummy Dearest

L.A. Law - Season 3 - Episode 6

Rollins represents a man who, after a devastating childhood trauma, can only talk through a caustic dummy, and is charged with assaulting the police officer who confiscated the dummy after being subjected to a storm of verbal abuse; Becker sets up Kelsey and Markowitz with a baby broker; Kuzak is subpoenaed to testify in the Mathers fraud case; Kelsey represents an actress suing a tabloid for printing lies which caused irreparable damage to her reputation and career; the firm loses a major client after the disciplinary board of the state bar slaps Kuzak with a public censure and a one month suspension.

#29 - Holiday Snaps

Bergerac - Season 3 - Episode 3

A French Inspector asks Jim for help in proving a tourist from Jersey killed his wife while on holiday in France.

#30 - An Oy for an Oy

Hill Street Blues - Season 6 - Episode 7

Sgt. Jablonski risks his own money to catch a pair of confidence men; Sgt. Belker acts as a courier for a pair of devious Hasidic jewelry merchants; and Captain Calletano reacts badly when Buntz accuses a lazy Polk Avenue officer of dumping vagrants in Hill Street precinct.

#31 - Devil's Alphabet

The Twilight Zone (1985) - Season 1 - Episode 54

A group of friends in Victorian England find themselves haunted by an oath they took as young men.

#32 - The Portwenn Effect

Doc Martin - Season 1 - Episode 4

It's the Portwenn Players dance, an auspicious event in the village's social calendar, and Bert is in charge of selling tickets. Louisa buys two tickets and invites Martin. But Martin doesn't do dancing, and most certainly doesn't do social occasions. Even Bert with his sharp sales tactics can't persuade him. Louisa offers her spare ticket to Mark. He thinks it must be his lucky day, especially when Bert suggests that Louisa fancies him. On a school wildlife trip, Louisa has to deal with troublesome ten year old Peter Cronk. He's a clever boy, but he's a rebel, and hates every minute of his school days. He's determined to wreck the trip to Mrs Potter's house where the children are learning about bird life. Sure enough when Mrs Potter steps into her garden she finds her prized bird tables have been smashed, and Peter is the prime suspect. Peter is called to the school head's office to be reprimanded. Mark says there has been a spate of criminal damage in village gardens. He suggests to Peter that he could help to make some new bird tables. But the belligerent boy says he'd rather be arrested. Peter's mother despairs of her son. At the surgery Mark has an appointment with Martin to discuss an embarrassing dilemma. He fears his lack of success with the opposite sex is something to do with size, and wants to hear the doctor's opinion of what is normal! After all he has a date with Louisa, and money is no object if he can make things 'normal'. Martin is flabbergasted by Mark's confession and may be just a bit jealous? Martin has to make a home visit to Stewart James, the park ranger on Bodmin Moor. Elaine tries to warn him about Stewart before he sets off, but Martin isn't listening. He's in for a shock.

#33 - Fall of a Birdman

Bergerac - Season 2 - Episode 6

A Portuguese hang glider pilot hired by Charlie for a TV commercial sails around a deserted cliff face and is later found dead, apparently murdered.

#34 - Sins of the Fathers (2)

Silent Witness - Season 1 - Episode 8

#35 - Home Is Where the Heart Is

Crossing Lines - Season 2 - Episode 5

A German biker gang embarks on a home-invasion spree. Meanwhile, Sebastian goes undercover for the first time.

#36 - Sins of the Fathers (1)

Silent Witness - Season 1 - Episode 7

Dr. Sam Ryan's advice is sought on when the arranged marriage of a Vietnamese student, Tran, to an older man goes tragically wrong when a charred body is found in the burnt out restaurant owned by Tran's father - The victim is the man which Tran was forced to marry. Sam investigates the murder.

#37 - What Dreams May Come True

Bergerac - Season 4 - Episode 3

Anonymous phone calls prompt Jim to re-examine a road accident that had been dismissed as routine.

#38 - Burning Woman

Murder in the First - Season 1 - Episode 4

Despite the advice of his lawyer, Warren Daniels, Erich Blunt escapes for a drug-fueled weekend with his adoring CTO, Ivana West. Meanwhile, Terry and Hildy must deal with the repercussions of Hildy's officer involved shooting. As Hildy confronts the prospect of losing her job, Terry works to help his partner get out of trouble.

#39 - Don't Let Go

Doc Martin - Season 5 - Episode 6

Maggie gets the all-clear from the doctor and decides she will return to Bude, forcing PC Penhale to take desperate measures to persuade her to stay in Portwenn. Ruth uncovers a raft of family heirlooms while clearing out a barn at the farm, and the mounting tension between Martin and Louisa peaks when she discovers he has booked a date for James Henry's christening without consulting her.

#40 - Victims

The Sweeney - Season 4 - Episode 13

Regan and Carter are at the scene of a shooting where Sgt. Taylor has been badly injured. Carter discovers that Jimmy Park, one of Taylor's informants was involved. Regan finds himself distracted from by Doreen Haskins.