The 55-year-old appeared on Lorraine today where he revealed the hugely popular ITV series will come to an end in 2019.
After months of speculation the Doctor will be hanging up his stethoscope, as Clunes explained: “As far as I know, we’ll be filming this year for a new series in 2018 and then we film another series in 2019 and that’s it.”
When Lorraine gasped with disappointment, the star sighed: “That’s when we retire the doctor.”
Clunes was speaking live from his Dorset farm where he enlightened viewers of the importance of horses, and showed off several of his own.
The impassioned horse lover attributed the majestic creatures with benefitting mental health and wellbeing, calling for schools to team up with the beasts to encourage companionship.
“Every school in this country should have links to horses,” he said speaking at the British Horse Society. “I think even the Household Cavalry would welcome a visit from schoolchildren.”
Although, during his appearance on the ITV show, his beloved horse Bruce was in a particularly mischievous mood and walloped the Men Behaving Badly star in the face.
After realising his four legged friend wasn’t going to behave in front of an audience of millions, Clunes turned the horse around to talk to its backside instead.
“This is the big end of the horse,” he grinned.
Using his hand to mimic a mobile phone, he teased: “Hello? Nope, nothing coming through from my agent.”
Lorraine airs weekdays at 8.30am on ITV.