Being Human’s Aidan Turner leads the cast of ‘Poldark’ – First-look image
‘Being Human’ star leads cast of BBC adaption
(C) BBC / Mammoth / Robert Viglasky
Aidan Turner (The Hobbit Trilogy, Being Human) has been revealed as the star of BBC One’s new 8-part adaption of Poldark.
The picture above shows Turner as lead character Ross Poldark in Debbie Horsfield’s adaptation of Winston Graham’s acclaimed saga set in 18th-century Cornwall,
Britain is in the grip of a chilling recession… falling wages, rising prices, civil unrest – only the bankers are smiling. It’s 1783 and Ross Poldark returns from the American War of Independence to his beloved Cornwall to find his world in ruins: his father dead, the family mine long since closed, his house wrecked and his sweetheart pledged to marry his cousin. But Ross finds that hope and love can be found when you are least expecting it in the wild but beautiful Cornish landscape.
Aidan’s character Ross is described as a man of contradictions, who has a strong sense of social justice but a contempt for authority. He’s a man of principle yet frequently a rebel. Reckless yet full of integrity. Charismatic but down-to-earth. Volatile yet fiercely loyal. Torn between two women and two social classes. A hero to most, a scourge to many.
Aidan Turner says: “I’m very excited to play Ross Poldark for the BBC and it’s obviously a huge challenge to honour the extraordinary character Winston Graham created and who Debbie Horsfield has brought new life to. But there’s a terrific team coming together and the scripts are superb, so I can’t wait to get started.”
Andrew Graham, author Winston Graham’s son, adds: “I am delighted at the choice of Aidan Turner as Ross, as I am sure my father would have been. Ross in the novels was a man of dark good looks, impulsive temperament, strong loyalties and deep emotions. I am greatly looking forward to seeing Aidan bring all these qualities freshly to life.”
The series is made by Mammoth Screen and directed by Ed Bazalgette (The Guilty, Endeavour).
Poldark begins filming in Cornwall and Bristol in April 2014 for transmission in 2015 on BBC One.
