How Martin Clunes has been supported by TV power player wife Philippa Braithwaite and their anti-nepo baby daughter after escaping a 'rotten marriage'

Martin Clunes has won unanimous praise for his latest role as disgraced newsreader Huw Edwards. 

It's a role unlike many we have seen for the beloved comedy actor, following on from his successful turn in Emerald Fennel's Wuthering Heights where he starred beside the glamorous Margot Robbie. 

And with his role as the BBC newsreader in the new Channel 5 drama charting the Welshman's fall from grace it seems Martin is stepping into a new chapter of his career. 

Indeed, the actor, 64, is best known for his roles as Dr Martin Ellingham in the ITV show Doc Martin which aired across 10 series from 2004 until 2022. 

He is also renowned for his role as Gary Strange in the BBC sitcom Men Behaving Badly and William Shawcross in William and Mary. 

Yet while Martin is undeniably talented in his own right, it's with the help of his incredibly successful wife, Philippa Braithwaite, that he has been able to dominate the industry.

Philippa has worked on major film and TV successes including her husband's successful series, Manhunt and Doc Martin. 

The TV power couple tied the knot in 1997 but before that Martin was married to actress Lucy Aston, whom he divorced the year he married Philippa. 

Speaking about the end of his marriage, he told the Mail's Weekend Magazine in 2008: 'I don't know if I was searching for anything. Maybe I was. 

'I kind of found it without looking. When I met Philippa I was coming out of a rotten marriage, and was very resistant to the idea of getting involved again.'

In 1999 the pair welcomed their daughter Emily and the family live on a 130 acre farm in Dorset, keeping a host of animals including cows, horses, sheep, chicken, dogs and cats. 

While not a known name in the public eye, Philippa, 61, is one of Britain's most respected producers but shies away from public attention, allowing her work to speak for itself. 

Keeping her personal life out of the public realm, little is known about Philippa's education prior to her work in the industry. 

But her first widely recognised breakthrough came in the 1994 when she was involved in feature film Staggered which allowed her to get her foot in the door of British film. 

It was four years later, that she secured one of the biggest projects of her career and confirmed her status as a talented producer working on the 1998 hit Sliding Doors. 

Starring Gwyneth Paltrow and John Hannah the film achieved international success and grossed $67million against a $6million budget. 

Sliding Doors significantly expanded Philippa's reputation and opened the doors into more television work. 

After marrying Martin in 1989, the pair decided to go into business together and co-founded Buffalo Pictures. 

The production company's aim was to prioritise creative independence and sustainable production values and they challenged the London-centric production model, instead choosing to operate from the countryside. 

The company are keen to champion environmental sustainability for film and TV.

Aiming to keep their carbon footprint as low as possible, they use reusable water bottles, biodegradable snow and support local businesses. 

The team also use an eco-friendly makeup department, with their makeup designer Alice Hopkins launching her own brand of non-toxic vegan skincare with plastic free packaging. 

In 2004, Philippa launched Doc Martin which remains the biggest achievement of her career. 

With her husband cast as the show's protagonist, the drama ran for 10 series across 79 episodes and was a huge ITV ratings success. 

And Philippa was integral to the show's success, overseeing all aspects including the storyline, casting and narrative consistency. 

For her next project, Philippa once again cast her husband in murder investigation drama Manhunt. 

The first series focused on the true story of the death of French student Amélie Delagrange and the subsequent manhunt which led to the arrest of her murderer. 

Serving as executive producer the show ran for two series and gave Philippa the chance to explore darker material. 

And the star is showing no signs of slowing down, producing mini-series Out There in 2025 and she has already been confirmed as an executive producer on her next project Best Medicine which is set to begin filming this year. 

During the course of her career she has received multiple nominations, including two BAFTA nominations, yet she has never been swayed to step further into the public eye. 

Residing in Dorset, Philippa's family life on the farm couldn't be further from the world of showbiz. 

A the couple's daughter Emily has chosen a life outside the industry, forgoing any potential nepo baby leverage to instead pursing a career as an Equine vet. 

The 26-year-old is an event rider and is studying equine vet nursing at Hartpury University with her Instagram account fully dedicated to her riding. 

Martin's latest role as Huw Edwards is a departure from some of his past roles, and he recently said: 'I never try to second guess what the audience will think, and I've never been confused with any of my characters, like people in soap operas are.

'I think viewers just see an actor doing his best, and whether they approve or not is entirely up to them. 

'I’ve played a murderer before and I’m vile in Wuthering Heights, so this isn’t my first dark role, but I always just take work from what’s on offer, and I've never had a plan.

'I've always been lucky enough to balance light-hearted jobs like Doc Martin with dramas in between. I’m not desperate to reshape myself – I’d play someone like Doc Martin again in a heartbeat.'