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Poldark (2015 TV series)

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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
GenreDrama
Created byDebbie Horsfield
Based onThe Poldark novels
Written byDebbie Horsfield
Directed by
Starring
ComposerAnne Dudley
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
  • Debbie Horsfield
  • Rebecca Keane
  • Karen Thrussell
  • Damien Timmer
  • Polly Hill
ProducerEliza Mellor
CinematographyCinders Forshaw
EditorRobin Hill
Running time60 minutes
Production companyMammoth Screen
Original release
Network
Release8 March 2015 (2015-03-08) –
present

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[1]), based on the first two Poldark novels by Winston Graham, was adapted by Debbie Horsfield and directed by Edward Bazalgette and Will McGregor.[2] 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.[3] On 8 April 2015, the BBC announced that a second series had been commissioned.[4]

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 getting 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.[5][6][7] Filming began in Cornwall and Bristol in April 2014.[8][9][10][11] The production company is Mammoth Screen.[12]

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.[13] Town scenes were filmed at Corsham in Wiltshire.[14] The underground scenes were filmed at Poldark Mine in Cornwall. Some interior scenes were shot at Prior Park College in Bath, Somerset.[15]

Filming for the ten episodes of series two commenced in early September 2015.[16]

Cast

Episode list

# Episode Director Original air date UK Viewers
(in millions; sourced from BARB)
1"Episode 1"Ed Bazalgette8 March 2015 (2015-03-08)8.75
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 Bazalgette15 March 2015 (2015-03-15)8.13
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 Bazalgette22 March 2015 (2015-03-22)7.80
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 Bazalgette29 March 2015 (2015-03-29)7.76
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 McGregor5 April 2015 (2015-04-05)6.95
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 McGregor12 April 2015 (2015-04-12)7.19
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 McGregor19 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 McGregor26 April 2015 (2015-04-26)7.37
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.[17][18] Poldark commenced screening on ABC TV Australia on 12 April 2015, in New Zealand on 22 April 2015, on Prime and in Norway on 6 September on NRK1.

References

  1. ^ Poldark Season 1. PBS.
  2. ^ Poldark Season 1. PBS.
  3. ^ Ensor, Josie (9 May 2013). "BBC to challenge Downton with Poldark remake". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  4. ^ "BBC One scores record-breaking Q1 performance in 2015 and announces recommission of Poldark". BBC Media centre. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  5. ^ Jeffery, Morgan (9 May 2013). "'Poldark' remake, Charles Dickens drama ordered by BBC One". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  6. ^ Jones, Paul (9 May 2013). "Danny Cohen says goodbye to BBC1 with 4 new drama commissions". Radio Times. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  7. ^ Kanter, Jake (9 May 2013). "Cohen signs off with Poldark". Broadcast. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  8. ^ Eames, Tom (31 March 2014). "The White Queen actress Eleanor Tomlinson joins BBC One's Poldark". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  9. ^ Deen, Sarah (28 February 2014). "The Hobbit and Being Human star Aidan Turner joins BBC remake of Poldark". Metro. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  10. ^ "BBC One announces Aidan Turner to star as Poldark in new series". BBC. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  11. ^ "Eleanor Tomlinson to star as Demelza in BBC One drama Poldark". BBC. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  12. ^ Deans, Jason (9 May 2013). "BBC to broadcast Poldark adaptation". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  13. ^ Cornish Coast stars in Poldark remake at National Trust. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  14. ^ Poldark at Breaks in Cornwall. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  15. ^ "Prior Park College to appear in the next episode of Poldark". Bath Chronicle. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  16. ^ "BBC - Filming under way for Poldark series two". BBC Media centre. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  17. ^ "News: Poldark Returns to MASTERPIECE". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  18. ^ "Coming soon". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
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