A MAN as much in the public eye and with as big a heart as Martin Clunes is bound to get swamped with requests to help good causes, but he’s a man who hates to say no.

What started in a humble way as a small horse and dog show last year on his 20-acre homestead in Beaminster has grown to a fully-fledged fair and a way of saying a big yes to local charities.

Taking the time out of his busy filming schedule and feeling decidedly under the weather after days of working in the rain on the latest Doc Marten series to tell the News about it, just shows how committed he is to making the August 23 event a success.

He said: “It started in a small style last year when we dipped our toes in, in aid of the RDA (Riding for the Disabled).

“Even before we bought these fields when we saw they were for sale I thought what a great place to have Buckham Fair. They are so beautiful you can see across Beaminster and out to sea.”

The idea is not only to have a horse, pony and dog show but to have a fun fair at the same time and chose a different good cause every year.

Mr Clunes said: “We will do it for a different local charity every year.

“This year we are going much bigger – we have still got the dog and pony show but we have a fun fair too.

“Palmers are laying on a beer tent and there’s a bucking bronco.

“Hopefully, it will grow and grow each year. I get approached by an awful lot of local charities and I simply cannot do everything.

“I also have one or two national charities but I hate saying no, I genuinely hate saying no, just because there is no such thing as an undeserving or bad charity.

“So this seemed a really good way of raising a lot of money and having a lot of fun and easing my guilt.”

As far as the much-loved actor is concerned, what could be better than combining his love of horses – and dogs – by spending time with his family and helping people or organisations who need it.

This year the Dorset children’s hospice Julia’s House will be the beneficiary.

He has all the passion of a born-again rider, having learned as a child after being sent for lessons with his sister near Kingston-upon-Thames.

However, getting on a horse again was more an act of self-preservation – with his wife Philippa and nine-year-old daughter Emily both being riders.

“I had to get a horse to join in some of the conversations being held in my house but I am very glad I did, I love it.

“My mother used to take my sister for riding lessons near Kingston. Then I rode years later when I was working for Theatre Clwyd in north Wales.

“When you work in the theatre you have all day to yourself and because I wasn’t at home one of the actresses was riding and it was so beautiful up there.

“I rode with what I now realise was complete abandon when I would go galloping along the Welsh mountains because you are invincible when you are 20, or you think you are. Now I hack out mainly and have lessons whenever I can. I haven’t been able to ride nearly as much as I would like as I have been filming the fourth series of Doc Marten in Cornwall for the last four months; but I give him a good cuddle every weekend and ride him most weekends.”

The him in question is Chester – a handsome 17.2hh hunter Shire X Hanovarian.

“He is the kindest man, he’s absolutely perfect for me. He’s 19 years old, he’s got nothing to prove but he still has plenty of va-va-voom in him and he’ll go.

“Emily has a gorgeous Palomino pony, a Welsh Arab X who is amazing.

“My wife has a very pretty thoroughbred mare called Bee who is in foal to a Warmblood. Then we have four miniature Shetlands who are just stunning. They will be giving rides at the Buckham Fair and you’ll get a badge to say I rode Hammish at Buckham Fair.”

Mr Clunes praises the hard-working group who have been taking care of the details of the show and the Beaminster businesses who have been so generous in their sponsorship.

There you have the man in a nutshell – caring and optimistic.

The fair is at 10am on Sunday, August 23.