Poldark (2015 TV series)

For the books, see Poldark. For the 1970s television series, see Poldark (1975 TV series).

Poldark
Alt=Series title over a figure looking out to sea
Genre	Drama
Created by	Debbie Horsfield
Based on	The Poldark novels
Written by	Debbie Horsfield
Directed by	Edward Bazalgette (First 4 episodes) William McGregor (Last 4 episodes)
Starring	Aidan Turner Eleanor Tomlinson Ruby Bentall Beatie Edney Jack Farthing Heida Reed Kyle Soller Richard Harrington Phil Davis Warren Clarke
Composer(s)	Anne Dudley
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	8
Production
Executive producer(s)	Debbie Horsfield Rebecca Keane Karen Thrussell Damien Timmer Polly Hill
Producer(s)	Eliza Mellor
Cinematography	Cinders Forshaw
Editor(s)	Robin Hill
Running time	60 minutes
Production company(s)	Mammoth Screen
Release
Original network	BBC One BBC One HD
Picture format	16:9 1080i
Original release	8 March 2015 (2015-03-08) – present
External links
BBC website

Poldark is a British drama television series that was first broadcast on BBC One on 8 March 2015. The eight-part series (in the UK, seven parts in the USA), based on the first two Poldark novels by Winston Graham, was adapted by Debbie Horsfield and directed by Edward Bazalgette and Will McGregor. An earlier television series of the same name, based on Graham's first four Poldark novels, was broadcast by BBC One between 1975 and 1977. On 8 April 2015, the BBC announced that a second series had been commissioned.

Plot introduction

In the late 18th century, Ross Poldark returns to his Cornish tin mines after spending three years in the army to avoid charges of smuggling, leaving behind his sweetheart, Elizabeth. On his return, having fought in the American War of Independence, he finds his father dead, his estate in ruins, and Elizabeth engaged to his cousin Francis. He rescues a young woman, Demelza, from a beating, and takes her on as a kitchen maid and attempts to gain control of the mines sought after by a rival, the greedy and arrogant George Warleggan.

Production

The series was one of the final commissions by former BBC One controller Danny Cohen. Filming began in Cornwall and Bristol in April 2014. The production company is Mammoth Screen.

Filming locations include the north Cornwall coast at St Agnes Head, which represents the 'Nampara Valley', and the Botallack Mine near St Just in Penwith, which is featured as 'Wheal Leisure', the mine that Ross Poldark attempts to resurrect. The beach of Church Cove, Gunwalloe on the Lizard Peninsula was used as a location for a shipwreck scene. Town scenes were filmed at Corsham in Wiltshire. The underground scenes were filmed at Poldark Mine in Cornwall. Some interior scenes were shot at Prior Park College in Bath, Somerset.

Filming for the ten episodes of series two commenced in early September 2015.

Cast

• Aidan Turner as Captain Ross Poldark
• Eleanor Tomlinson as Demelza Poldark (née Carne)
• Heida Reed as Elizabeth Poldark (née Chynoweth)
• Jack Farthing as George Warleggan
• Kyle Soller as Francis Poldark
• Warren Clarke as Charles Poldark
• Phil Davis as Jud Paynter
• Beatie Edney as Prudie Paynter
• Ruby Bentall as Verity Poldark
• Richard Harrington as Captain Andrew Blamey
• Robin Ellis as Reverend Dr Halse
• Luke Norris as Dr Dwight Enys
• Richard Hope as Harris Pascoe
• Alexander Arnold as James "Jim" Carter
• Pip Torrens as Cary Warleggan
• Caroline Blakiston as Aunt Agatha

Episode list

#	Episode	Director	Original air date	UK Viewers (in millions; sourced from BARB)
1	"Episode 1"	Ed Bazalgette	8 March 2015 (2015-03-08)	9.51
Ross Poldark, a British veteran of the American War of Independence, travelling home to Cornwall, discovers his father has died. He calls at his uncle's home to discover his inheritance in ruins and his sweetheart Elizabeth betrothed to another—his cousin Francis Poldark. Having sold some of his family's possessions, he goes to market and comes across an urchin, Demelza Carne, being attacked by ruffians who want to steal her dog. Demelza has left home after being beaten by her father. Ross's uncle tries to persuade him to leave Cornwall; Ross becomes more determined to stay and work his inheritance.
2	"Episode 2"	Ed Bazalgette	15 March 2015 (2015-03-15)	8.74
Bailiffs are closing mines, putting hundreds out of work. Ross hopes to go into business with Francis to reopen a mine, but Francis declines after tensions between him, his wife Elizabeth, and Ross are fanned by business rival George Warleggan. Ross manages to obtain financing for his mine from other businessmen. At a dance, Ross's spinster cousin, Verity, falls in love with disgraced sea captain, Captain Blamey. Ross assists her to meet Blamey secretly, against her father's wishes, leading to a duel between Francis and Blamey. When Francis is wounded, Elizabeth announces that she is pregnant.
3	"Episode 3"	Ed Bazalgette	22 March 2015 (2015-03-22)	8.42
Ross opens his mine and the search begins for a vein of copper. Elizabeth bears a baby son, but her relationship with her husband deteriorates. Young employee Jim Carter, whom Ross helped when Jim's girlfriend was pregnant, continues to poach pheasants after they are married and is caught red-handed; his punishment is transportation, and Ross's pleas for leniency result in two years' imprisonment despite Jim and Ross's hopes for acquittal. Rumours circulate as to Ross and Demelza's relationship, and her father, now a reformed character, demands that she return home. Ross and Demelza become lovers. Feeling she is in an impossible position, Demelza decides to return to her family, but Ross goes after her, and they marry.
4	"Episode 4"	Ed Bazalgette	29 March 2015 (2015-03-29)	8.29
The gentry and locals are shocked by Ross and Demelza's marriage; his judgment is questioned when he seeks more financing from his shareholders for his mine. Ross' uncle, Charles Poldark, has a heart attack and on his deathbed asks Ross to look after his family, realizing that Francis is not cut out for business. Verity, still pining for Captain Blamey, comes to stay and teaches Demelza the finer points of society, so that she is able to make a good impression when she and Ross are invited for Christmas to Francis and Elizabeth's home. The occasion, initially strained, is spoiled by the arrival of the uninvited Warleggans. Copper is finally discovered in Ross's mine, and Demelza announces to Ross she is pregnant; Ross finally tells her he loves her.
5	"Episode 5"	William McGregor	5 April 2015 (2015-04-05)	7.56
Ross's friend, Doctor Enys, arrives to study lung disease in miners. Demelza gives birth to a girl. George Warleggan buys shares in Ross's mine. Low copper prices from the smelting companies force the mine owners to secretly organize their own smelting company with Ross in charge. Demelza tries to organize a reunion between Verity and Captain Blamey. Mark, one of Ross's workers, falls in love with a travelling player, Keren, who has expectations that outweigh his means. Francis, deeply in debt from his mismanagement of the mine, gambling, and spending on prostitute Margaret, finally gambles his mine. He loses, forcing its closure.
6	"Episode 6"	William McGregor	12 April 2015 (2015-04-12)	7.68
Mark's new wife, Keren, sets her sights on Dr Enys. Deadly jail pestilence sweeps Bodmin Jail, and Ross and Dr Enys illegally remove Jim Carter to unsuccessfully treat his fever. The Warleggans hold a ball at which Demelza blossoms, while a drunken Ross becomes involved in a card game with the judge who incarcerated Jim Carter and the gambler who took Francis' mine. Verity is horrified when Captain Blamey also attends the party, and she is forbidden to see him again. George Warleggan discovers where the mine owners have been secretly smelting their copper.
7	"Episode 7"	William McGregor	19 April 2015 (2015-04-19)	6.84
Verity elopes with Captain Blamey, and Francis blames Ross. George Warleggan, seeking to undermine Ross's smelting operation, returns some of the money Francis was cheated out of when gambling with Warleggan's cousin. In return, Francis gives George the identities of Ross's partners, most of whom owe money to the Warleggans, and George then calls in their debts. Dr Enys is seduced by Keren, who is then confronted by a distraught Mark about her infidelity, with tragic consequences. After learning of Francis' anger towards Ross Demelza confesses her part in Verity's elopement, and Ross realises how Warleggan has gained the information to bankrupt his business partners.
8	"Episode 8"	William McGregor	26 April 2015 (2015-04-26)	7.86
Warleggan's plan to close Ross's smelting company comes to fruition when the company is outbid for the available copper. George Warleggan celebrates by buying a ship. An epidemic of putrid throat (diphtheria) strikes down peasants and gentry alike, including Francis, Elizabeth, and their son. Demelza goes to their aid, and she and her own baby, Julia, also succumb to the disease. This results in Julia's death and Demelza's lengthy illness, though she recovers with the help of Dr. Enys. Warleggan's ship is wrecked off the coast of Ross's land, and starving mineworkers descend upon the vessel, with Ross's connivance, to take food and to plunder the cargo. Ross rescues the surviving passengers and crew, and takes them to his home. George's cousin Matthew died in the wreck, and Ross is arrested for murder and wrecking, leaving Demelza distraught.

International broadcasts

In the United States, the series began to be broadcast in June 2015 on PBS, shown as part of the 2015 PBS Masterpiece series. Poldark commenced screening on ABC TV Australia on 12 April 2015, in New Zealand on 22 April 2015, on Prime, in Sweden on 22 August 2015 on SVT, in Norway on 6 September 2015 on NRK in Poland on 15 January 2016 on TVP 1, in Estonia on 12 March 2016 on ETV.

External links

• Poldark (TV series 2015–) at IMDb