AN ADAPTATION OF WINSTON GRAHAM'S POLDARK SERIES

TX: 4th September 2016, 9pm on BBC ONE

Introduction ...... Pages 2 -3 Character Descriptions ...... Pages 4 -5 Aidan Turner is Ross Poldark ...... Pages 6-8 Eleanor Tomlinson is Demelza ...... Pages 9-11 Heida Reed is Elizabeth ...... Pages 12-13 Kyle Soller is Francis ...... Page 14-15 Jack Farthing is George Warleggan ...... Page 16-18 Ruby Bentall is Verity ...... Page 19-20 Luke Norris is Dwight Enys ...... Pages 21 -22 John Nettles is Ray Penvenen ...... Page 23-24 Phil Davis is Jud Paynter ...... Pages 25-26 Beatie Edney is Prudie ...... Pages 27-28 Caroline Blakiston is Aunt Agatha ...... Pages 29-30 Robin Ellis is Reverent Halse ...... Page 31 Gabriella Wilde is Caroline Penvenen ...... Pages 32-33 Sebastian Armesto is Tankard...... Pages 34-35 Hugh Skinner is Unwin Trevaunance ...... Pages 36-37 Pamela Haddock, Make-up ...... Pages 38-39 Ros Little, Costume ...... Pages 40-41 Synopses ...... Pages 42 -44 Cast and Production Credits ...... Pages 45-46

For further information please contact:

Lisa Vanoli 07899 060230 [email protected]

Picture publicity: Alex Gill [email protected]

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Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson are back on BBC One this September 4th at 9pm with a second series of the hugely popular Cornish saga POLDARK.

The debut series peaked with 9.4 million viewers across TV and iPlayer, generating phenomenal media interest and devotion from viewers which culminated in it winning the Radio Times Audience Award at this year’s BAFTAs.

Turner returns as hero Ross Poldark and Tomlinson as his wife Demelza. This series introduces other key characters including John Nettles (Midsomer Murders) as Ray Penvenen, one of the county's wealthiest landowners, and Gabriella Wilde (Endless Love) as his niece Caroline Penvenen, a beautiful and manipulative heiress. Hugh Skinner (W1A) plays Unwin Trevaunance, a prospective MP who hopes that Caroline (and her fortune) will consent to marry him. But does Caroline's heart lie elsewhere?

Also back for the second series are Heida Reed as Elizabeth, Kyle Soller as Francis, Ruby Bentall as Verity, Jack Farthing as George Warleggan and Luke Norris as Dr Dwight Enys. Beatie Edney and Phil Davis return as Jud Paynter and his wife Prudie and Robin Ellis reprises his role as the Reverend Halse.

1790 and there is riot and revolution in the air. Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner) must fight for his freedom when George Warleggan (Jack Farthing) tries to have him hanged as a revolutionary. While Francis (Kyle Soller) and Elizabeth (Heida Reed) watch on in horror, can Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) save Ross from himself?

Crippled by debts, Ross and Francis try to heal old wounds by joining forces in a new mine free of the Warleggans. Ross and Elizabeth are thrown together by unforeseen circumstances, and Ross risks everything in a desperate smuggling venture. Meanwhile, the fate of the Poldarks is tied to Dr Dwight Enys (Luke Norris) and young heiress Caroline Penvenen (Gabriella Wilde) in unexpected ways.

The Poldark clan must learn to settle their differences once and for all, but at what cost?

Writer Debbie Horsfield hints at what the new series has in store: ‘The stakes are higher, the rivalries keener and characters go to greater lengths to get what they 2 want. Ross continues to be a man of action, with his usual recklessness and headstrong risk-taking, but Demelza is no less proactive, often stepping in to save the day when Ross has overstepped the mark.’

Executive producer Karen Thrussell continues: ‘Series two feels darker both in tone and content. Ross starts the series with the threat of the hangman's noose and makes some risky decisions that threaten his and Demelza’s way of life at Nampara.

‘Once again, Debbie Horsfield’s unique talent has combined exciting dramatic events with exquisite character development. We cover book three and half of book four from Winston Graham’s POLDARK saga in series two and the content is so explosive that we needed to expand the run to 10 episodes.

‘We shot this series throughout the autumn and winter months which created a very different look and feel for the drama and some dramas of its own especially when storms hit our set on the rugged Cornish coast and filming had to be suspended for a day.

‘Our cast from series one returned to filming elated by the fantastic response we had for the first series and are joined by a rich array of new characters played by John Nettles, Gabriella Wilde and Hugh Skinner who each bring their own twists to the plot.’

POLDARK is filmed on location in Cornwall and the Bristol area and at The Bottle Yard Studios.

A third series will go into production this autumn.

Based on the novels by Winston Graham, POLDARK is a 10-part series written and created for television by Debbie Horsfield , (Cutting It, The Riff Raff Element) and directed by Will Sinclair (Vera, Misfits), Charles Palmer (Death in Paradise, Lark Rise to Candleford) and Richard Senior (Doctor Who, Our Girl). It is produced by Margaret Mitchell (Vera, Goodbye Mr. Chips, Poirot) and the executive producers are Debbie Horsfield, Karen Thrussell and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen and Elizabeth Kilgarriff for the BBC.

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Character Descriptions

ROSS POLDARK (Aidan Turner) Ross’ dogged belief in justice and morality puts him at odds with the class into which he was born and, as a champion of the common people, threatens to become his undoing.

DEMELZA POLDARK (Eleanor Tomlinson) Demelza assumed her position as Ross’ wife with a grace few foresaw but a niggling sense of lowliness haunts her. She finds herself wrestling to not only save Ross from himself, but to embrace her own independence.

GEORGE WARLEGGAN (Jack Farthing) George will stop at nothing to increase the might of his family’s banking empire, believing that with power comes the key to increased social respectability - something he desperately craves.

ELIZABETH POLDARK née CHYNOWETH (Heida Reed) Elizabeth finds herself torn between the present and what could have been. As the Poldarks stand divided, Elizabeth seeks to unify them but finds her loyalties called into question along the way.

FRANCIS POLDARK (Kyle Soller) Francis is a good man, but one plagued by self-pity and poor decisions. Jealously belying his true nature has fuelled Francis into actions at odds with his loyalties, actions he now seeks to rectify.

VERITY BLAMEY (Ruby Bentall) Verity broke from her role as a dutiful daughter to marry Captain Andrew Blamey, a man with a dark past. Though happily in love, she yearns for familial reunion.

DWIGHT ENYS (Luke Norris) Dwight is motivated by a fierce morality and strong principles. His mettle is tested, however, by the arrival of Caroline Penvenen - a woman who pulls Dwight from the familiar and into the thrilling.

AUNT AGATHA (Caroline Blakiston) As wily and cunning as ever, Agatha sees more than she lets on and hears more than anyone would believe.

JUD (Phil Davis) and PRUDIE PAYNTER (Beatie Edney) As Ross’ servants and his father’s before him, Jud and Prudie take liberties like it were part of the job. For all the trouble they cause, however, they are among the most loyal people in Ross’ life.

CAROLINE PENVENEN (Gabriella Wilde)

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Caroline is a complete minx: rich, beautiful and clever. She delights in tormenting people, but underneath there is a sweet, generous and complex heart.

RAY PENVENEN (John Nettles) Caroline's kindly, sweet-toothed old Uncle who has raised her since she was orphaned. Ray is one of the county's most wealthy and powerful gentlemen.

UNWIN TREVAUNANCE (Hugh Skinner) Unwin dreams of becoming an MP only so that Caroline (and her fortune) will consent to marry him. He is obsessed with the latest fashions and not the sharpest tool in the box.

TANKARD (Sebastian Armesto) Tankard is the Warleggan’s iron fist in legal matters, helping navigate the law to identify areas George can exploit for his gain.

CARY WARLEGGAN (Pip Torrens) George’s uncle, Cary is shrewd and determined to win the respect of the ruling classes. However, his uncouth manner and lack of humanity works against him.

CAPTAIN HENSHAWE (John Hollingworth) An old friend of Ross, Henshawe was Mine Captain of Wheal Leisure when Ross’ father was alive. He is well-respected in his field.

HARRIS PASCOE (Richard Hope) Ross’ banker and long standing friend, Pascoe is a shrewd businessman. He frequently counsels Ross to be more cautious in his business dealings, and frequently fails.

REVEREND DR HALSE (Robin Ellis) A powerful Magistrate who has little sympathy for the poor and is angered by Ross' constant flaunting of the law

CAPTAIN MCNEIL (Henry Garrett) A former war comrade of Ross', McNeil has been tasked with hunting smugglers in Cornwall. With an eye on Ross already, his friendship only stretches so far…

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Aidan Turner is Ross Poldark

When audiences last saw Ross Poldark he was facing trial and possible hanging. Aidan Turner reveals there are dark times ahead for our hero but with Ross you never know what to expect...

‘We pick up with the opening of the second series exactly where we left off. It’s an incredibly hard time for Ross and Demelza having just lost Julia as well as having trouble with his company and potentially having to face execution. It’s as bad as it’s ever been for them both.

‘Losing Julia will have huge consequences on Ross’s psyche. He is the type of person who wants the weight of the world on his shoulders if it keeps it off of other people but it breaks him to see Demelza suffering because he knows he can’t do anything about it. Ross needs to be in command, to be the leader or the captain of every situation but this is completely out of his control. They are broke and you see Ross and Demelza selling their furniture in the first few episodes which is a humiliating and desperate situation to be in.

‘However, Ross is always on the front foot, he’s not somebody who gets too down on things. It is a dark time but he has gone through worse in the past and is someone who tends to thrive in the dark period of his life. He tries to stay positive and keeps trying to reinvent his business and opening new mines, taking on new men even though he can’t afford it. Ross doesn’t want anyone to feel pity for him which is noble in many ways but he is emotionally inarticulate and if he learned to free that up it would make life for him and those around him a little bit easier.’

Although series two does not bring about much initial joy for Ross, Aidan reveals it was an amazing feeling coming back to work after the success of the first series.

‘It was lovely to come back knowing that the first series went out and it was popular, it’s a real morale booster on set. It’s also very flattering because we all worked really hard on the first series and it seems like it has paid off. It’s great because we enjoy doing what we do and we want the show to continue. There is so much more of this story to tell so it kind of needed to be a hit!’

Whilst Aidan and the rest of the cast are greatly responsible for the success of the first series, Aidan makes sure the credit goes where it is due.

‘When you step outside your trailer you realise there are so many people working twenty times harder than you are and it is a very humbling experience. We have a very talented team. It’s a cliché thing to say but we are like a family. We have intimate and close relationships with everyone because they’re in your face all day. We’re very lucky to have the talented team we have.’ Two members of POLDARK ‘S talented team are the show’s leading ladies, Heida Reid as Elizabeth Poldark and Eleanor Tomlinson as Ross’s wife, Demelza. Aidan reveals what this series has in store for this complicated love triangle.

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‘Ross’s relationship with Demelza suffers at the hand of his relationship with Elizabeth this series. It is hard to know why he can’t just let Elizabeth go but when you idealise someone for so long which he did when he was away at war it is hard to turn off those feelings. It was only through falling in love with Demelza and beginning this new life that he was initially able to deal with the marriage of Elizabeth to his cousin, Francis. Ross also feels under a burden of obligation to Elizabeth to support her financially after Francis is gone and to look after Geoffrey Charles, and as a result of this he gets slightly confused emotionally over where he lies with Elizabeth. His own marriage isn’t going so well and he makes a big mistake that nearly destroys his relationship with Demelza.

‘Eleanor is incredible. She’s one of those actors who directors don’t even give notes to, she just does it so well herself. I am extremely envious of that. She gives you so much, and her instincts are always brilliant. Demelza is confident and independent, and a fierce female character. She has really grown into herself more and become even stronger so it is great to see her take control at the end. She makes the final decision and it’s the first time you see Ross’s vulnerability. He is out of his depth with the emotional dialogue, which is interesting to play because a lot of it goes over his head and he puts his foot in it with her.’

Ross is a man of principle but the question of Ross’s morality is raised when he ventures back into the business of smuggling.

‘Smuggling is a challenge Ross can take on; he knows a lot about it and is good at it. They desperately need the money and having rescued Demelza from abject poverty he feels duty bound to make sure she has everything. The weight of having to provide as well as losing your daughter and having a business that has collapsed, makes it feel like everything is failing in his life. This however is something he can actually control.

‘Ross just wants to graft and to figure out a way to make everything right. He wants to be the sole provider and leader in that regard. When Ross is in debt he borrows more money to get out of it…he’s a gambler and that’s in his blood. If he is not chasing a copper vein down the mine, he’s at a card table handing over the deed to his house or his dad’s watch. Ross lives on the edge, you never quite know what to expect with Ross which is exciting and what I like about him.’

The audience sees Ross very much living on the edge this series, embroiled in several fisticuff battles with arch-rival, George Warleggan.

‘Ross’s continuing feud with George hits new heights this series. There is no such thing as loyalty for George. He doesn’t understand what friendship is; he only cares about money and the Warleggan name. George desperately wants Ross dead and if he can’t get him physically put into some sort of prison he wants to destroy his heart.

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‘I really enjoy the fight scenes, they are so much fun. George is working out, he’s boxing and training so he is well able to handle himself these days which makes the fight more interesting. He’s quite vicious in some of these fights. There’s a lot of strangling and throwing ourselves into bookcases, and smashing glass. I put his head into a fire at one stage! Jack (Farthing) is a lovely guy, that’s probably why I enjoy the fight scenes so much because I really like him. He is such a brilliant actor, and I have learnt so much from him.’

From tragedy and fistfights to gambling and love triangles, Ross Poldark is on a particularly eventful journey in the second series. It is no wonder why Aidan loves playing the people’s hero.

‘He has everything. Ross is a very complex and layered character and there is so much going on with him all of the time. There is no black and white. He is a man of principles and moral code and I like that but at the same time he is never dull. He feels like a real person to me not just this iconic literary character, and that comes with good writing and character development from both Winston Graham and Debbie Horsfield. I can’t imagine ever getting bored.’

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Eleanor Tomlinson is Demelza Poldark

Eleanor Tomlinson is extremely proud to be playing one of prime time’s strongest female roles, Demelza Poldark.

‘It’s an honour to play such an exciting and strong female character, it’s very rare that these roles come along and it’s brilliant to be given the opportunity. Demelza is so strong and also very modern in ways, her ideas and the way she lives her life. That’s what, I think, is so lovable about her – you can relate to her; to her situation and struggles.’

‘She’s very realistic; she certainly doesn’t sit there sipping tea when there are jobs and chores to be done or people to help. There’s also this rebellious streak in her. If Ross is going to misbehave why should she stay at home and be the loving wife who is forgotten?’

The last time the audience saw Demelza was in pretty devastating circumstances and unfortunately her situation isn’t much better at the offset of the new series.

‘The series opens as powerfully as it finished. Ross is on trial and is going to be hanged if found guilty so it’s a very emotional time. She’s also pregnant but doesn’t know it yet, she finds out during the trial. That’s obviously a huge deal, having lost Julia so tension are running very high.’

Eleanor feels the relationship between Demelza and Ross is authentically depicted, allowing audiences to engage with and understand it.

‘Their relationship is certainly very real. I think that’s what people love about Ross and Demelza that they can relate to their issues and their problems. There’s jealousy and another woman involved so it’s classic really, very modern in many ways. There’s lots of exciting highs and lows, there’s a great journey that their relationship goes on and the question is will it stand the test of time?’

One person who continues to test their relationship is Ross’ first love, Elizabeth. Eleanor reveals a little about the turbulent relationship between these women.

‘Demelza and Elizabeth have an uneasy relationship, she is irritated by Elizabeth, always threatened by her but she is trying her best to make things work and they are family at the end of the day. The most important thing to Demelza is family and she doesn’t want any animosity which is why at the end of series one we see her asking Ross to promise that they will try and mend this family rift between him and Francis so that Julia’s death wasn’t in vain. But as it goes on the relationship between the two women becomes almost impossible.’

Whilst her character faces challenges, Eleanor too has had to become pretty hardy for the role, filming scenes in the freezing and at times, choppy sea.

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‘For one scene I was filming in a fishing boat and I get terribly seasick so I was terrified. The waves were insane so it was quite dangerous but it was great fun. The crew definitely bonded on that day, as it was really rough! Of course, Demelza is pregnant when she’s doing that too – nothing stands in her way. She has family to feed at home - it wouldn’t occur to her to sit around and wait for Ross to do it she is perfectly capable, just because she’s pregnant doesn’t mean she has to stop.

‘I mean there’s not a lot I wouldn’t do for the sake of a scene and I think it worked really well, I haven’t seen it but I hope it did. It’s things like that that make iconic moments in series and I hope it was one of those but it was blooming freezing!’

Whilst being thrown about in the cold sea may be difficult, Eleanor feels extremely lucky to be playing this role.

‘It’s the stuff dreams are made of really. When you think about what you have done at work and you think I was galloping side saddle in period costume, on a beach or along a cliff – it’s amazing!’

And she was very happy to be back filming against the beautiful backdrop of Cornwall.

‘I love Cornwall; it’s glorious and so much the heart of this show. Sometimes you forget the part it plays until you get there and suddenly everything makes sense. It’s just so lovely to see what it’s all about, to see the mines and the history of this story.’

Wanting to stay true to the Cornish roots of the show, Eleanor worked with a voice coach again this series to perfect her accent.

‘With Cornwall and the Cornish people being so much at the heart of this series, I’m so desperate to do them proud that the accent is always scary because I want to get it right for them. I just wanted Demelza’s accent to soften this series; she always stays true to her roots but I wanted to take the edge off and for it to become slightly more refined.’

Eleanor was also keen on representing Demelza properly through costume.

‘She is never a lady really and so all her clothes need to be very practical. They have no money so she doesn’t have anything new; you see the same outfits again because she lives and dies in the same clothes and I was quite adamant about that. The costume designer was fantastic in creating that realistic image for Demelza.

‘I think we’re all in corsets this year which makes you stand correctly and although they may not be so comfortable it is an image and it works so well. You do hold yourself differently. As soon as the costume goes on I feel like I become the character, which is great.’

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The most recognisable feature of Demelza’s costume is her red hair, which Eleanor has become attached to now.

‘I love it. I’ve dyed my hair every colour under the sun but I think this is my favourite. I’ll definitely keep it, I feel like it is strong and I gain a certain confidence by having it and I like that.’

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Heida Reed is Elizabeth Poldark

Heida Reid sees the warmth and kindness in her character, Elizabeth even though she admits she can be manipulative.

‘Elizabeth's behaviour towards Ross is sometimes questionable but she is in a very weak position and just needs to know that she is still special to him. I don’t think she always realises she’s even doing it but she encourages him to feel a certain way which may not be the right thing to do but she can't help herself. She wants to have that piece of him, that little place in his heart.’

‘I think Elizabeth could be seen as being manipulative but I don’t think people see themselves as being so. So I don’t think of her as consciously manipulative; she’s not Machiavellian. She can’t help herself, she just needs to feel she has control of certain things and one of those is very much Ross’ admiration. She might do manipulative things in order to get there but I don’t think she sees it that way.’

Heida explains where we find Elizabeth at the offset of the new series.

‘Elizabeth is trying to get back into Ross and Demelza’s good graces, Ross’ more so but both of them because of what happened with their daughter Julia – she feels responsible. At the end of series one Ross has just said to her face that the love of his life is Demelza which she is finding hard to deal with and as much as she would like to let it go she just can’t. So she tries everything to help when he faces ruin at his trial even seeking support from George Warleggan to see if he can influence the outcome of the case in Ross' favour.’

Ross however, is not the man Elizabeth calls husband. Heida reveals a little about the tumultuous storyline for her and Francis this series.

‘Francis is severely depressed and we find out later that this is actually more serious than Elizabeth realises at first. But things soon start to look up and it begins to feel a little like the way things used to be. Once they start accepting their situation, it is in that acceptance that they find happiness. Her son Geoffrey Charles and her family mean the most to Elizabeth and the fact that Francis is stepping up as a father is the most joyful thing she can imagine. So they have a really happy moment until something tragic happens.’

As to whether Elizabeth’s love for Ross expels her feelings towards her husband, Francis, Heida says; ‘I have always felt that Elizabeth loves Francis and although that may be in a very different way to the way she loves Ross, she still loves him.’

Another man boldly declared his love her Elizabeth at the end of last series.

‘Elizabeth is aware that George controls Trenwith because of the debt they are in and so has to keep him sweet. Whilst Francis has written George off, Elizabeth is mindful that if she walks away from him as well, he could genuinely take everything

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Heida reveals she has found a companion on and off set in Caroline Blakiston, who plays Aunt Agatha.

‘Caroline has become my main Trenwith partner now that Verity (Ruby Bentall) has left the house. She is a legend in her own right and always so wonderful to play opposite, I learn so much from her every day. She is a dear friend now. Elizabeth gets to have a very different attitude when she’s with Aunt Agatha because she is so blunt and straight forward and so Elizabeth doesn’t need to put on that socialite smile.’

Born and raised in Iceland, Heida is overwhelmed by the response she gets from supporters there.

‘It’s almost too much! They’re such a small country and so they’re very proud of their people and they sort of blow everything up when someone is doing well outside of Iceland. It’s a bit crazy but it’s so nice.’

She even took her fellow cast on a tour around her home country.

‘Funnily enough we don’t actually see each other as much on set as we do off. We all went on holiday just before we started filming. Poldark hadn’t been on TV in Iceland at that stage but I was taking them around to all of the tourist places and every single time someone got approached.’

However, the response there still doesn’t compare to the reception they receive in Cornwall.

‘Cornwall is completely different to anywhere else. They’re so proud of Poldark, they feel like they own a piece of it, which they really do what with the landscape and having had so many Cornish people participate in the production. They have been the best supporting artists ever!’

Heida reveals a few of her most favoured locations. ‘I love Botallack mines - it’s one of the most beautiful locations. I’ve ever been on and probably ever will. I mean the wind was crazy - the set basically blew down! There hasn’t been a set in Cornwall that I haven’t been blown away by – not literally thank goodness!’

Having lived in England for a while now, Heida feels honoured to be part of a long- standing television tradition.

‘I’ve just recently got into the Sunday night, 9pm drama slot. There is something so nice about sitting down with the people you live and a cup of tea or glass of wine and take out – it’s a lovely tradition and I’m so proud I get to be in a show that is part of that and on a prime time spot.’

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Kyle Soller is Francis Poldark

At the end of series one Francis Poldark was in a very dark place and things are not looking too positive for his character at the start of the new series admits Kyle Soller.

‘Francis is completely wracked with guilt and self-loathing after the death of Ross’ daughter Julia, and he attempts to patch things up with Ross but it doesn’t turn out too well. He is in a very bad place, continuing along this downward spiral and believes the only course of action is a drastic one.

'But what happens as a result of this is a rebirth for Francis. He no longer battles against inner demons and instead he starts to own his fate.’

Kyle confirms the possibility of Francis and Ross resolving their issues this series.

‘From the very beginning Francis has held out hope that there would be reconciliation with Ross. Along the course of series one Francis’ own insecurities and the clear attraction and love that his wife, Elizabeth and Ross have for each other got the better of him. However, I really believe that Francis wants his relationship with Ross to be mended but because the Poldarks are extremely proud, stubborn and passionate, they would never meet and allow that ceasefire to happen. In series two however there is more hope there than you have seen before.

'Francis’ resurgence extends throughout every area of his life including his family and his work. He starts labouring in the fields, acting like an actual country farmer and then when there is a tenuous friendship building with Ross they undertake a new venture together which absolutely means the world to Francis and he finally gets to be the person that everybody wants him to be.’

Whilst Francis may never fully get over his wife’s feelings for Ross, Kyle explains he and Elizabeth have worked out how to be happy together.

‘You’re definitely hardest on the people you love and those who are closest to you and Francis has difficulty in accepting the love between Ross and Elizabeth which is responsible for a lot of his really awful behaviour in series one.

‘He has his own other insecurities that come into play but the big turning point for Francis is accepting Elizabeth’s feelings and the fact that there is this woman who might be in love with someone else but he is okay with that because they are more companions in life than passionate lovers. The funny thing is when you make that change in your life, when you gain acceptance it gives you vitality and vigour, which makes the other person more attracted to you.’

Whilst his relationship with Elizabeth may be happier this series the bond between Francis and his sister, Verity, is still on the rocks.

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‘Verity is pretty much cut out of his family as far as Francis is concerned. There is a moment in the beginning of series two when Francis sees Verity for the first time and she asks if there is any hope for the two of them and Francis says as long as she is married to this alleged wife murderer she is out of his family. He is extremely stubborn in his treatment of Verity still but as with Ross, there might be a promise of good things between Francis and Verity finally.’

POLDARK ‘S on screen relationships are turbulent but off screen the whole cast get on incredibly well.

‘We’re so lucky to have the cast that we do because we are all friends off set and spend quite a lot of time with each other. Not only does that encourage further the connection that we have when we’re acting with each other but it has also made this a unique project to work on. Working with these people and filming in such beautiful locations… it’s been very special.’

Whilst filming in Cornwall, Kyle was astounded at the beautiful landscape.

‘Cornwall is another character in the show and it is such a beautiful area of the country. It was easy for us to forget we were still in England as it almost has its own microclimate and when the weather is good you could be on the Mediterranean – it’s pretty extraordinary.’

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Jack Farthing is George Warleggan

It is not just playing Ross Poldark’s nemesis that Jack Farthing enjoys but portraying the many sides of his character George Warleggan.

‘It’s not inherently fun because he is villainous, but fun rather because he is such a great character. What I love about him is there is so much covering; he’s an actor. There’s so much surface, a lot of veneer, which is fun to portray because you’re playing more than one layer or feeling the whole time. Debbie Horsfield, the writer is brilliant, she’s just realised these characters three dimensionally so George doesn’t feel too arch.’

‘I love playing people who are cleverer than I am. He’s really good at his job, he’s so meticulous and ambitious, driven and motivated. As a businessman he’s phenomenal so it’s always fun to try and keep up with him.’

Jack explains where we find George at the beginning of POLDARK series two.

‘The beginning of the new series sees Ross on trial for wrecking and inciting a riot and George is responsible for getting him there. He thinks Ross being convicted is a no brainer and he is doing everything he can to manipulate the outcome through bribery and intimidation and using the means he has.’

‘We find him just as we left him, stinging from the death of his cousin Matthew, full of ever growing resentment towards Ross fuelled by an inability to get what he wants from him.’

With no reason specified for their hatred, either in Winston Graham's books or the scripts, Jack believes there is more scope for George to develop his feelings towards Ross.

‘It means I can do some work for myself on it. There are all sorts of reasons but the less they are pinned down the more I can elaborate on them behind the character and I really like that. It also means that people come up with their own reasons, which I like as well. It really opens it up; it’s like reading a book – because less is given to you, you can go further with it.’

George’s declaration of love to Elizabeth at the end of series one is guaranteed to worsen his relationship with Ross.

‘It’s very bold and out of character which is clever and the way it happens in Debbie’s scripts is so punchy. Financially George is a very desirable prospect so it says something that he’s not married and in my head, and I think in the books, there’s a surprising depth to his feelings for Elizabeth.

‘He believes them and they are real yet obviously they are shaded and enhanced by the repercussions and potential effect on Ross. But I think fundamentally his feelings

16 are true and it is one of the only windows you see into George, so much of it is closed off. I love the fact that with her you see something different, you see an ambiguity in him and something surprising.’

Jack discloses one of the ways George prepares for the inevitable confrontations with Ross this series.

‘George persuades himself that the thing to do is to try and become more of a physical match for Ross, not that he ever really will. To present himself as a different kind of man, not all curlers and frills, he decides to build himself up and starts training. We did some 18th Century boxing, which is very different to modern boxing, it’s all sort of long arm and at a distance. It looks quite funny and a little pathetic…

‘I had a great day with an amazing stuntman who had literally just stepped off the Bond film the day before - he was an absolute tank! George may not be made of muscles but if he puts his mind to something it will be right. That’s what I wanted to aim for. By the end he is a real match for his instructor. That was really good fun.’

George is also seen branching out into politics a little this series…

‘At the beginning of the series we see him take a young, fairly malleable young politician who is campaigning to be the local MP under his wing. He funds him and becomes his patron so that he can have a man in politics doing what he wants.

‘His fingers have been reaching far into the world of finance and now they’re stretching into politics as well and they go further and further as the books go on.’

Jack has enjoyed having so much in store for George this series.

‘I’ve felt there’s been a huge amount to get my teeth into and this series you see much more of George’s extremes. He is allowed to go further in how he feels and behaves which is really exciting.’

This has included relationships with new cast members, which Jack has enjoyed.

‘Very close to me there are two guys, Tankard and Tom Harry who have become George’s henchmen, his team. It’s been lovely because you see different sides of a character depending on who they are with so with Tankard George is allowed to be his most malevolent, calculated and malicious self. I’ve loved doing stuff with Seb (Sebastian Armesto), he is really brilliant we’ve been really lucky to have him.’

He has, however, loved being back with his original cast members as well.

‘It’s lovely coming back to something and now feeling like you’re working with your friends. I think it makes a huge difference to the work you do as well. We’re comfortable around each other so we can talk through problems or have ideas about

17 scripts and scenes. I love working with everyone on this show which is rare and such a pleasure.’

Jack has also enjoyed being back in Cornwall and has been able to see more of it this series.

‘The stories make sense in Cornwall more than anywhere else. I feel in this series George is happier to be out on a horse on his own, roaming the Cornish countryside because he is more confident. In a good way though, it still doesn’t feel like his world when he’s out there which I like. I like kind of wrestling against that.’

There have been moments when Jack feels the slightly rougher end of opinions.

‘We were filming something at Trenwith and I was just outside the gates on a horse waiting to come in and we stopped to let these two people go past and one of them just pointed and shouted ‘you’re that one aren’t you, that one I hate!’ It’s great, it’s all with affection.’

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Ruby Bentall is Verity Blamey

Ruby Bentall, who plays Verity Blamey in POLDARK, admits that while she is a big fan of watching British period drama she has a love hate relationship with the costumes.

‘I’m a massive fan of period drama – I watch every single one on television! The costumes are lovely but they are also unbearably uncomfortable. One of my favourite parts of the job is the costume fitting because you get to see all the beautiful clothes but then you actually have to wear them for 12 hours a day which is a little less fun…. You’re always tripping up and people stand on your train and you can’t lie down or do anything much. You’re very restricted and it makes you realise how restricted women were physically as well as socially.’

Ruby’s character however, defies societal restrictions through her marriage to Captain Blamey.

‘It’s great to see that happen particularly because it was such a hard time for woman and Verity had to be incredibly strong, which wasn’t becoming for a lady. Although Verity can seem quite meek, she is a romantic and was selfish and said no to a life of misery. Even though she knew she was going to upset her family she put herself first which was rare and brave for a woman to do at that time.'

Ruby believes POLDARK shows women to be the voices of reason.

‘They’re the most sensible characters and are less hot headed. They don't have the same sort of pride that the male characters have so they can make more rational choices and be slightly cleverer about things.’

Another strong female character is Demelza, whose friendship with Verity was integral to the first series and specifically to Verity’s happy ending.

‘Their friendship continues to blossom. Verity is always round at their house advising Demelza and vice versa. It’s hard though because there comes a time when Demelza has to keep certain things secret from Verity because she doesn’t want to put Ross in a bad light. So, although they still have a strong friendship, Demelza is holding something back from Verity.’

Whilst her relationship with Demelza is rocky at moments, Ruby reveals there is reconciliation between Verity and her brother, Francis.

‘They have this moment where she realises that Francis has been in a really bad place in his life and because their relationship is so messed up by that point she can’t get to him to help which is what she wants. But after he has this near death experience he comes around to the fact that actually she is an important part of his life and he reconciles with her so it was really nice that they are back on good terms before it is too late...’

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A burgeoning relationship this series is the one between Verity and her new stepchildren.

‘There is a stepdaughter who really doesn’t want to meet her and is very anti the new wife and so Verity assumes the stepson is going to be the same but he turns out to be lovely and welcoming. He takes Verity under his wing and is kind to her whereas the stepdaughter is quite cold and it takes them a few episodes to warm up to each other. It was quite a fun storyline to have as she was quite panicky around the new daughter, trying to be extra nice and just making it worse so that was enjoyable.’

Ruby reveals how close the cast are and how excited she was to be back with everyone.

‘I couldn’t wait. A group of us went on holiday to Iceland before we started which was amazing; we see each other all of the time. It was so great at the read-through just to see everyone – I was really excited to start filming again.’

Ruby was also excited to get back to some of her favourite locations.

‘Chavanage, which doubles for Trenwith, is so extraordinary and because it is our family home I feel like it is my house which is ridiculous! But it’s so beautiful and I love just wondering the grounds. I was in this carriage just riding up and down the drive for half an hour and it was so nice it was ludicrous.’

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Luke Norris is Dwight Enys

While Luke Norris makes an admirable doctor in the BBC's POLDARK it was never a profession that crossed his mind in real life.

‘Absolutely not! I get squeamish at the sight of blood. One day we were filming with a real pigs heart and although it was kept in a sealed container and only whipped out for two minutes whilst we did a take, that was not a good day for me. But an actual doctor, up to your elbows in someone’s chest - could you imagine that?

‘No thanks, particularly at the moment. As if it wasn’t hard enough being a doctor without these contracts being imposed on them… pretty scary. I went out today on one of the junior doctor’s strikes and stood on the picket line with the guys at the Bristol infirmary because I had a day free from filming.’

We may not see him on a picket line but Dr Dwight Enys too is a man of the people, choosing to help those less fortunate.

‘Winston Graham was a labour man and Debbie Horsfield is a socialist and so Dwight is necessarily of that ilk because of them – he believes in the equality of man and tries to expatiate that. From the inside out he’s got a very honourable and noble instinct. I think a lot of us would like to think they would act similarly if they had the skill and application. He just has the courage to act on it I suppose.’

Whilst Dwight is an honourable man, we have seen him clash with the law previously and we will see him called upon by Ross to do so again.

‘That comes up a few times in this series…There is a home-grown ethical common law in place that is sometimes in conflict with the crown but everyone understands as the Cornish way at the time. These communities and inter-village relations have their own set of rules. I think ethics are stronger than laws of the land so I don’t think he is ever in violation of any ethical concerns.’

Whether going up against the law or engaging in fisticuffs, Dwight’s loyalty for his friend, Ross, never wavers.

‘In the books Ross and Dwight meet in Cornwall but in Debbie’s scripts we met at war and it was Dwight who patched up Ross’ face so she has given their friendship a longer history and increased the importance of it. It’s nice for us to play brothers in arms. Dwight’s definitely a corner man in the fight. Ross is the boxer and Dwight is the man patching him up.’

Whilst Ross may be the ‘boxer’, Dwight has his fare few fight scenes, which were a little more daunting for Luke than for his cast mates.

‘About six years ago I got hit in a stage fight and it has left a permanent scar on my face so I am always a bit wary about the fight scenes. I was doing this play for six

21 weeks and we went out on stage one time and instead of aiming to miss the guy had a brain burp and clobbered me straight in the mouth. I’m properly cautious now.’

Something else that ended in a few bruises was Luke’s first time on a horse.

‘I was born and raised in suburbia and never really went near a horse until the beginning of series one. So it was a bit of a crash course, quite literally… at one stage I rode into a thicket of trees. Luckily the horses are so well trained they could do it without me which they invariably do.’

Something else new this series is a love interest for Dr Enys. Luke reveals a little about the first time Dwight meets Caroline Penvenen.

‘Dwight thinks he has been called out to treat someone in distress but he is under false pretences because when he arrives it’s actually a dog that needs medical attention. So he compassionately gives advice about this brilliant little pug even though it’s the job of a vet not a doctor and so that’s how the two of them strike up this relationship.

‘It is a funny one. Caroline Penvenen represents everything that Dwight is fighting against – privilege and received wealth and the perpetuation of class division but she has a wit and fragility that appeal to him. Despite himself, he falls for her beauty and charm.’

Luke also fell in love this series, with the beautiful landscape of Cornwall.

‘I had never been to Cornwall before. It is unbelievably beautiful. It is a treat to be down there, the people have really embraced the show. Logistically it’s a nightmare for the crew on those cliff tops and the weather can wreak havoc. We lost a few days to strong winds down on the coast, which I guess is better than losing a camera!

‘Hollywell Bay is stunning; I spent more time there than any of the other locations and that beach is really beautiful. One afternoon we were down there and there was a supporting actor playing a dead body in the surf and the water was freezing. The surf club were having their annual BBQ and were standing around with these big glasses of rosé wine and this poor lad was half dying in the surface. When the sun sets in those places you really can be anywhere in the world and not see anything more beautiful.’

As for what his plans are post filming, Luke is definitely not slowing down.

‘I am currently in the process of re-writing a play called ‘Growth’ for a theatre company called Paines Plough. It does a full month at the end of the Edinburgh festival and then a tour, which includes Truro actually, which is a nice symmetry. And my wife and I are expecting a baby so it’s going to be a busy summer!’

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John Nettles is Ray Penvenen

As a proud Cornishman, John Nettles was thrilled to have been asked to play Ray Penvenen in the new series of POLDARK.

‘I’ve always fancied myself playing in a Cornish drama because I am originally from Cornwall and I now live on the borders of Cornwall and Devon. I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to work so close to home. I was told I could fall out of bed in the morning and be on set in no time – although that wasn’t always the case!’

And John had to resort back to his Cornish accent for the role.

‘It comes back easily. When I go to Cornwall I indulge in familial approximation to a degree, which means adopting the accent of people I am talking to in the hope they will love me a little more. It’s a lovely, warm accent and it is so hugely expressive - I love listening to a Cornishman talk.

John tells us about his character, Ray Penvenen.

‘Ray is a foursquare, Cornish landed gentry with a broad Cornish accent and very sure of himself. His ward is Caroline Penvenen, his niece, with whom he is besotted and whom he is desperately trying to marry off within the confines of the mores of the time. He lives as a bachelor or widow and is essentially a lonely man. His best line, which I think gives the greatest insight into his character, is that he prefers cows to people…’

Having not worked in this specific era previously, John enjoyed wearing the POLDARK costumes.

‘Many period costumes are designed to cover up the horrors of middle age and those used in Poldark successfully concealed a lot of fault. The high stock and turtleneck disguises the crooked neck and a handsome waistcoat cuts the body shape nicely.’

A leading man in past iconic series himself John explains what it was like joining this existing cast in a supporting role.

‘It was lovely; it’s such a relief. I always felt, as leader of the company you have a duty of care towards the actors coming in to make them feel welcome and at ease and to celebrate their talent. On Poldark that was not my job anymore, I could just concentrate on the acting and enjoy other people’s company and they were, without exception, delightful people.

‘Aidan (Turner) leads the company in some style; it has to be said – he’s so talented! He is not only a charming and delightful man but also a damn good actor and really is Poldark, the man himself.

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‘The quality of the technical staff, the entire camera crew who work on the show was also so incredibly high. That’s another great thing about Poldark, it is filmed remarkably well; there is a feature film quality about it.’

John was also a fan of the 1970’s adaptation of POLDARK having known the original cast members.

‘I was a big supporter of the cast as I knew them all personally – Angharad Rees and Robin Ellis who is a charming man and very fine actor. Immediately after he became hugely famous having done Poldark, Robin came to the RSC. He was playing larger roles than I and he was very kind to me and gave me all kinds of useful tips. It’s not always the case that leading actors are kind to the junior members of the company but he was and he is an extraordinary man, he has a gentleness about him which has continued all through the years.’

John reveals a little about his home life and explains his land in Devon is home to many more than just Mr and Mrs Nettles.

‘We have two donkeys, half a dozen ponies and a few horses. They are all rescued bar a few of the big ones. Little Hector is the tiny donkey we rescued and who lives in high style now. He has even started an acting career! We auditioned him for the Palm Sunday parade. He failed the audition because he does not quite understand forward motion.

‘That’s why we live in Devon, we have fields and the horses have a lovely time. In fact, I think my wife spends more time looking after the horses than she does looking after me which is as it should be.’

John is patron of the equine charity the Mare and Foal Sanctuary which has a farm near him in Devon.

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Phil Davis is Jud Paynter

Phil Davis who plays Ross POLDARK ‘S unruly manservant, Jud Paynter, was initially drawn to the role because of Jud’s staggering lack of pleasant character traits.

‘Jud is completely selfish and unreliable and to play a character with hardly any redeeming features is really enjoyable. He’s a criminal right down to his bones and spends a lot of his time staggering around drunk. He is quite outrageous.

‘However, I think Jud is a bit more intelligent than he lets on, he’s very wily and cunning and he works the angles but still manages to massively aggravate everyone in the end. It has been great fun to bring Jud to life.’

Phil assures audiences that they can expect from Jud a similar display of disorderly behaviour in the second series of POLDARK.

‘This leopard doesn’t change his spots. Jud is just as irredeemable as he was in the first series so whilst he is working his passage as he needs his job, pretty soon he is getting drunk and misbehaving the way he did in the first series.

‘Having been sacked at the end of series one, Jud manages to wangle his way back into Ross’s favour and back into Nampara. He is behaving very well. So well in fact that Ross rather smells a rat. Ross’s trial is coming up and there is a story there because Jud is offered some money to be a prosecution witness but the path he takes in court leads to a great deal of trouble in the first few episodes as the people who paid him the money are all after him.’

Phil enjoys being part of the show’s comedic double act alongside actress Beatie Edney who plays Prudie.

‘Beatie and I know each other from way back as I was in a play that she produced. Jud and Prudie are a source of comic relief, which is fun to play. At times Poldark is very dramatic and awfully romantic and I think you need a lovable rogue – or two - to lighten the mood a little. Although with everything that happens in this series they spend more time apart than they do together strangely.’

Whilst most of the cast spend time in hair and make-up being made up to look beautiful, both Jud and Prudie are given the dishevelled, unwashed look instead.

‘When I first took the job on they suggested that I wear a wig and false teeth but I managed to get out of that as I don’t like spending hours sat in a make-up chair being primped and curled. So my time spent in hair and make-up is really quick. They grub me up, put a load of gunge in my hair and paint my teeth yellow and that’s it. That is not how it is for the glamorous roles who all have to spend hours in make-up to look immaculate and beautiful but for me it is really easy, I’m just a scruff. As for my costume in this series, I am wearing the same as I wore in the first series. It’s not

25 the most comfortable attire when you’re out in the winds on Bodmin Moor – it can get a bit chilly!’

Whilst the weather can be cold, Phil enjoyed filming in Cornwall especially as he could spend time with a family member living there.

‘My brother lives in Cornwall, down in Penzance so it was nice to have an opportunity to go and see him. I really loved filming around where the mines are in St Just - that is stunning. Cornwall really is a beautiful county, although, the weather is constantly changing - it can be pouring with rain one minute and then the sun shines the next so you have to grab the filming opportunity while you can!’

Phil also enjoys working alongside this particular cast and explains that there was a different feel on set this series to the first series.

‘It’s a really nice company. The whole cast is great, they are all wonderful people to work with and there’s no big egos running riot. They’re also a good-humoured bunch.

‘This time around it felt a little more relaxed because the first series was such a success. You never quite know what you’re doing until it turns out and it turned out well so it was easier to be confident about what we were up to the second time around.’

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Beatie Edney is Prudie

Beatie Edney spends longer in the make-up chair than any of her co-stars preparing for her role as Prudie in POLDARK but the end result is quite different...

Most of the female actors in POLDARK are made up to look beautiful; Prudie however has a slightly more dishevelled, unwashed look, which Beatie relishes. ‘It’s wonderful except I’m in the chair for about two hours, which is longer than any of the beautiful people. I am allowed to do my own nails now and all of the brilliant make-up artists admire my handy work!

‘I used to use make-up but if it’s on your nails it comes off and you have to reapply it so I use nail varnish and for my hands I use make-up but I mix it with body lotion now so it sinks in more and looks just like ground in dirt.'

At the end of series one Prudie wasn’t in the rosiest of places. Beatie explains that at the offset of series two we find her character in similar circumstances.

‘She’s pretty angry with Jud as she has lost her job at Nampara to go with him. They had a very cushy job with Ross and Demelza, they were very lucky but she’s a wheeler and dealer so she gets by.

‘Early on in the series, during Ross’ trial these horrid men come to interview Prudie and unlike Jud she stays very loyal to Ross. Prudie is quite an honest and faithful person. She didn’t want to leave Nampara but she has a loyalty to, albeit a weird loyalty. She made her bed and so she lies in it… grumbling.’

Whilst Prudie and Demelza had a slightly antagonistic relationship in the first series, Beatie tells us that the bond between them develops into a friendship in series two.

‘I’ve had some interesting conversation about the relationship between Demelza and Prudie and what I think the writer, Debbie Horsfield, feels is that Prudie grounds Demelza in her past. She’s now the wife of a gentleman but Prudie is the link to her past and they speak the same language. She knows what it’s like to be a servant and they make each other laugh. There are a lot of laughs in this series between these two characters.

‘Prudie is the closest thing Demelza has to a relation and so whenever Demelza gives birth, Prudie is by her side. I think Demelza feels for Prudie quite deeply and wants her to be looked after, she knows what it is like to have a hard life.’

Beatie explains what is in store this series for the audience’s favourite double act, Jud and Prudie.

‘Jud is very self-important and pompous and Prudie and Demelza tease him for that quite a lot. He gets himself into terrible scrapes and it is usually left to Prudie to pick up the pieces.

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‘There is a massively important storyline coming up for Jud and Prudie. Jud realises just how much Nampara and his family there mean to him. It’s very funny but also what happens is extremely sad.'

Recalling the first series Prudie says: ‘I was watching the series for the first time with the audience when it was broadcast on TV and I was live tweeting throughout. I got to really enjoy Twitter because you can interact and people just love Jud and Prudie. That’s due to Debbie’s beautiful writing and the fact Phil is such a great actor to work alongside.’

The Cornish accent is key to her character and Beatie explains she was keen on perfecting it.

‘I wanted to get my accent right for the Cornish people because they have been so supportive and I would hate it if they didn’t like it. The time when it is most important to get it right is when you have emotional scenes to do.’

Beatie loved filming in Cornwall as it reminded her of her youth and of trips with her family when she was younger.

‘We used to spend childhood summer holidays quite often in Trebarwith and Boscastle. I knew Dartmoor because my mum (Sylvia Syms) made a film there called Run Wild, Run Free and we spent the whole summer there whilst she was filming so I knew Dartmoor National Park and love it.

'It was fantastic to go to Cornwall, I really love it. The greatest thing is that I am allowed to bring my dog, Billie Holiday. She’s a rescue from the Mayhew in London and it’s like she’s on holiday as she is so spoiled when we’re on set. That is an unbelievable kindness of the producers.’

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Caroline Blakiston is Aunt Agatha

Caroline Blakiston who plays Aunt Agatha in POLDARK disclosed her impressive lineage with a fascinating anecdote from her time on set.

‘I do all my filming at Chavenage House, Gloucestershire and they told me during a scene that I was standing in the room Oliver Cromwell slept in. Also in the room was one of Charles I’s hairs that they took out presumably after he was dead… I hope! Beside it is a copy of Charles I’s death warrant and one of the signatures on the death warrant is one John Blakiston. He was a member of my family and was one of the signatories to Charles I’s ending.

‘I’ve known about it for years and I even have a copy of the death warrant but I had never seen the original. My father’s family, the Blakistons, were supporters of Cromwell so it’s pretty amazing that I did a scene during Poldark in the bed that Cromwell himself slept in!’

Caroline enjoys playing one of, if not the most outspoken character in POLDARK.

‘Aunt Agatha is fierce! She’s very forthright and says what others are most likely thinking. She is frightened of no one and a lot of people are frightened of her because she is going to say the thing that will make them feel ashamed or uncomfortable.

‘That is seen clearly through the relationship she has with Jack Farthing who plays the naughty George Warleggan, we have a wonderful hate filled relationship. Jack is a terrific actor.’

Another bond that has had its ups and downs is Aunt Agatha’s relationship with her niece, Verity.

‘Verity is a truth speaker like Aunt Agatha. She is a person who is slightly uncomfortable to be around because of what may come out of her mouth.

‘Verity goes off with this man and Aunt Agatha simply cannot understand it. She questions who this man is that thinks he can take her away, for her place is here, at Trenwith. Ruby (Bentall), who plays Verity, is a wonderful actress.’

Aunt Agatha has become well known for her foreboding tarot cards but this is not a hobby Caroline shares with her character.

‘It’s not the sort of the thing I would play around with myself. I leave that all to Aunt Agatha and I do it with respect and a little bit of awe. I think you can be perfectly frightened without it. I don’t watch violent films or horror films or any of that either, I think life is quite scary enough!’

Caroline tells us about a less known but intriguing aspect of her life.

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‘I was the first English actress to act in Russian in a Chekov play at the Moscow Art Theatre and I have been going to Russia for almost 30 years on and off. It is a massive part of my life that has been going on since the early 80’s. I have kept diaries from my earliest visits all the way through to my most recent ones all about what it was like to be a performer there. I recorded it all and it started around the time when the Soviet Union was dispelled so my diaries have an historic and social commentary. I might even be getting them published.’

While Caroline has had a very exciting life acting all over the globe, working on POLDARK has been a project she has really loved.

‘There is something so exciting about the community effort you feel on the set of Poldark. From the actors to each member of the crew, everyone has their role and everyone is trying to make something great. It has been such an uplifting feeling going to work and that is why I like doing this show. That is why I am an actress!’

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Robin Ellis is the Reverent Halse

Veteran POLDARK actor Robin Ellis had great fun returning to the role of Reverend Halse in the new series.

‘It has been great fun to return to Poldark 40 years on,’ says Robin. ‘I'm not sure any other British actor has had the opportunity to do that. I have never played anyone quite like the horrible Halse before--such an unremittingly grim figure. I have discovered what fun it is to play nasty!’

What can we expect from Halse this time around?

‘More of the same unpleasantness--the leopard does not change his spots I'm afraid. Rev Halse and Ross Poldark clash in court, where Ross' actions during the shipwreck put his future at stake. Old grudges get an outing...’

What sort of reaction did you get from fans – old and new – following series one?

‘Fans of the original adaptation seem pleased I'm part of this new version - if they can recognise me. It has been 40 years after all. I don't hear anything much from those coming fresh to the story probably because Halse is a gruff, grumpy character unlikely to spark a fan club. His wig alone is likely to put most viewers off him.’

What memories will you carry with you from your time on this show?

‘The friendliness of cast and crew takes me back to our time of doing the show all those years ago. That was a special time for me and it is splendid to be reminded of that four decades later.

‘Of course it has been fun working with Aidan Turner and the rest of the young cast. I have nothing but admiration for them all - the commitment, the talent and the good humour they display on and off the set. The crew is outstanding too. It also has been wonderful getting to know Debbie Horsfield, the writer, the executive producer, Karen Thrussell and Mammoth Screen head Damien Timmer, who came along to our book launch party in London to support my culinary career.’

Robin is famous for his healthy cookbooks and food blog. He explains: ‘My third cookbook has just come out: Mediterranean Cooking for Diabetics--with wonderful photos of food, markets and life in rural France captured by Meredith Wheeler, my wife. These give the new book a very personal feel and is proving attractive. The first edition sold out in the first three weeks! It is a book not just for people diagnosed with diabetes but for everyone who enjoys eating healthily.

‘My cooking workshops in Lautrec are sold out too. I doubt Ross Poldark or Rev Halse ever got into the kitchen much, though Doctor Enys certainly treated people with diabetes.’

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Gabriella Wilde is Caroline Penvenen

Gabriella Wilde was rather daunted at the thought joining the cast of the hugely successful BBC drama POLDARK, but she needn’t have worried.

‘Before I started it was quite worrying because I had never been in that situation before where you know you will be filming with an already established cast whose characters you know having watched them in series one. But they couldn’t have been more welcoming.’

‘Before I signed up to do Poldark I was told they are one of the friendliest casts and that everyone gets on really well. The show has a real reputation for being an amazing environment to work in and that was the case.’

Gabriella also felt very much at home filming in Cornwall.

‘I know it well, my mother and father-in-law actually have a house right next to where they were filming a lot of Poldark, so luckily I spent quite a lot of time there. It’s a comfortable place for me to be.’

Gabriella discloses a little about Caroline Penvenen, a new character who joins the cast for series two

‘Caroline is a very young heiress who is quite badly behaved; she enjoys causing a bit of concern. She is very much a London girl so she stands out quite a lot as soon as she arrives and I think she initially turns her nose up at the way of life down in Cornwall and the people but slowly she warms to it.

‘She comes down to visit her uncle, Ray Penvenen, but because she is quite bright and quick-witted she is fairly difficult for him to control. She often gets away with being somewhat rude to people but there’s a naivety to it, she’s not nasty. She enjoys leaving an impression, provoking people and leaving them a little confused.’

Gabriella enjoyed acting opposite John Nettles, who plays Caroline’s uncle.

‘That was wonderful – he is so lovely and charming. It was just great to work with someone who has been around and knows the industry the way that he does.’

Another character she spends a lot of time on screen with is Dr Dwight Enys as the two have an interesting and volatile love/hate relationship.

‘Her interest is originally piqued by Dr Enys because he is the one man who doesn’t fall at her feet and try to impress her. He is quite rude back to her and I think that’s the first time she has been stood up to so her usual games and the cards she holds don’t necessarily work with him. Also he’s inappropriate for her, which is exciting, she’s not meant to spend time with someone like that and I think she relishes that.

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‘She still manages to provoke him and she really enjoys seeing how far she can push him which is just part of her nature.’

Her character goes on a journey throughout the series and whilst some viewers may be quick to judge Caroline at first, Gabriella believes their opinions will change.

‘She grows up as the series goes along and I think initially she could be misread to be quite one sided and narrow minded in the way she approaches things but I think through the series you learn that she is incredibly young and it is more a naivety rather than a jadedness in her.

‘At the beginning she has this front on all the time and her costumes and hair and the way she looks are all part of that. She is rather unapproachable which makes her stand out and some of that is having come from London but I also think she enjoys putting on this standoffish front. The costumes definitely help to convey that.

‘However, watching her eyes open to the wider world through being in Cornwall and through Dr Enys – he’s a very earnest, serious man– you see her grow up and fall in love and I think that will definitely allow the audience to empathise with her and understand where her trickiness is coming from at the beginning.‘

Something the audience will definitely be able to empathise with is Caroline’s love of her dog, Horace.

‘He is her little sidekick, she takes him everywhere and I always really liked that aspect of her character. He is quite annoying and smelly so no one likes him except for Caroline - she adores him. He is her comfort and for me it has always been something to show her childishness, taking a teddy everywhere with her in the form of a pug as her companion.’

As for what she found most challenging during the filming process Gabriella reveals; ‘When you film period dramas it is quite physically demanding because of the costumes and a lot of the locations were in these houses in the woods and being in England, it’s not warm. So that side of it was exhausting and you have to find stamina for it.

‘For me I haven’t done TV before so the pace of it and the amount of material is new to me. Especially as we were filming 10 episodes simultaneously and having to hold all of that in your head, from the character’s perspective of where you are to where you’re going and what scene you’re filming next and then to the actual lines…. Plus I was pregnant and had terrible baby brain so I was probably the worst at remembering my lines!’

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Sebastian Armesto is Tankard

Sebastian Armesto reveals a little about his character, Tankard, who we meet in the new series of POLDARK.

‘Tankard is an attorney at law and he’s employed by George Warleggan initially to help collate evidence for the case against Poldark for the riots he incited on the beach. He then gets later commissioned to do various other dubious acts of legal shenanigans…’

Although Tankard is a new friend of George’s, Jack Farthing, who plays George, and Seb have actually known each other far longer.

‘I knew Jack a little before and so it has been very nice getting to do scenes with him. We’ve never worked together before but he is a childhood friend of a friend and then he went to university with my brother. My brother’s not an actor but he did do shows and was in a couple with Jack so that’s when we first met.’

Whilst new to the show, Seb was not unaccustomed to period attire.

‘I’m a British actor; I’m always in period trousers. Although this time I had a very simple costume and only one the whole way through. He’s a very abstemious individual, he’s not lavish in anyway and so he doesn’t have an elaborate costume.’

Seb had also ridden horses for previous roles although admits this isn’t one of his greatest skills.

‘Again, if you have to do a television show it is more than likely you’re going to have to look at a horse. I’m not great but Aidan was excellent and Eleanor is a proper horse master. I actually think they should put Demelza on a horse more because Eleanor is so good!

‘I did some riding, not much though. I sat on a horse… I would say the horse rode for me really.’

Something Seb wasn’t necessarily accustomed to however was the pace of the filming process.

‘Because most of the cast had already worked on Poldark for series one, matching their speed and smartness was, I suppose, my biggest challenge – just making sure I was up to standard.’

When asked what he thought made POLDARK ‘s plotlines so gripping and so popular, Seb made an unusual comparison…

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‘I wouldn’t want to speculate but funnily enough, last night I watched Gone With the Wind, which I had never seen before, and I didn’t really know anything about it except for the fact it is very long… and it was very long. But it reminded me of Poldark because it’s sort of a melodramatic love story of people who might be in love but are they in love or do they love somebody else… There’s also this dyspeptic background of slavery going on and obviously in Poldark you’ve got the French revolution in the background.

‘Poldark himself is a uniting rebel a little bit like Scarlet O’Hara but with better abs…. I think it’s escapist and dramatic and so its popularity has to do with that.’

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Hugh Skinner is Unwin Trevaunance

Hugh Skinner explains it was the amalgamation of some pretty awful personality traits that drew him to the character of Unwin.

‘It was the combination of playing someone so unpleasant and also so stupid that was appealing to me. Poldark writer, Debbie Horsfield, had written the character really well as initially it was two brothers who lived on the Trevaunance coast and Debbie made them into one character for time and clarity.

‘Unwin is a lethal mixture of arrogance and stupidity. He’s a younger brother to a landed gentry and is not meant to inherit anything so he makes sure he gets it all by other means. He wants to be an MP, he wants a wife and all the latest clothes – he wants everything. He’s a bit of a fop, he’s roughly modelled on Beau Brummell – that sort of set where everyone was trying to hang out with the Prince Regent and so they started copying him.

‘On top of that, the fact he was a bit of a peacock and dandy with ridiculous costumes was appealing too.’

This was not a period Hugh had experienced costume wise before but one he enjoyed greatly.

‘I loved it. That look popularised by James Gillray and Thomas Rownlandson the cartoonists from around that period – I like all of that so it was great fun.’

Hugh explains what it was like coming onto an established show and working with the already existing cast.

‘They were all so brilliant. I had seen lots of the cast in work before and so I was a fan of them all. It was a really welcoming process.

‘Also, because everyone is away from London you do things like go for dinner all together which was great. I played a very stressful game of pick-up sticks with some coffee stirrers one day with Gabriella and Jack – that was challenging! Nail biting in fact.’

Hugh also really enjoyed working on the beautiful locations in Cornwall.

‘Cornwall was amazing. Sitting on a horse on a cliff top was obviously really fun. I didn’t do loads of filming down there but it really does look incredible, the locations are just stunning.

‘Gabriella and I had to ride in this horse and cart along this little road that disappeared into the sea with this adorable pug on her lap called George. That really was an impressive location.’

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What does Hugh think it is that makes POLDARK so engrossing and so popular?

‘I think it is because it is a real drama with extreme problems set against such a beautiful backdrop. It’s escapism, it’s cathartic.’

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Pamela Haddock

Make up artist and hair designer Pamela Haddock missed the chance to work on the first series of POLDARK so when she was asked to do the second, she was thrilled!

‘When the opportunity arose for me to work on the second series of Poldark I was in the country and able to do it so I jumped at the chance. For me, the whole idea of Poldark is just so romantic. Not only was I looking forward to being on set in Cornwall but it’s also one of the periods I really enjoy working in.’

Pamela tells us about the slight changes she and the company wanted to see this series.

‘One of the main areas was Demelza; we made her look quite natural and feral. That’s the kind of thing I like to do anyway so I ran with that and it was down to us to break it down a bit more and make Eleanor look like a poor lady who lived in Cornwall and did her own hair. We tried our best although sometimes it is really hard because you want to put their hair up and make them look fantastic because you know you’ve got this beauty that you can do so much with but you have to pull back and remember how she should look. There will be times, near the end of the series, where Eleanor gets very done up to go to a party and we allowed ourselves that luxury to play with her then and make her look fabulous. What we wanted to do was mess her up whilst still keeping her looking beautiful and I think we have achieved that through aspects of her appearance such as her wild hair. She is so beautiful so the main thing was trying to pull back but let her beauty shine through.

‘We had a slight problem with the character of George Warleggan, who is played by Jack Farthing because he had to have the wavy Georgian hair of a lord of that time however he’s got very straight hair. So I had a hairpiece made to match his hair colour and we waved it and put it in a wig oven along with anyone else’s and that bakes in its shape over night. With Jack’s we just brush it and literally attach that on his head, which is so quick, and you have guaranteed continuity rather than with tonging where you never know what you’ll have 10 hours filming later. I made it a bit blonder and it looked more sun kissed. We were trying to make him look even more handsome.

‘With Aidan it was about the scar which would naturally fade and eventually in years to come will almost fade away like scars do. I was very nervous to be taking that on. It’s always there but in some lights it picks up and some lights it doesn’t which is what a natural scar does.’

‘Ross also gets into lots of scrapes. I love applying injuries and bruising – it’s one of my favourite aspects of the job. I love the changing bruising patterns that happen in real life and again, with Aidan I didn’t want it to look fake but I wanted people to see the bruising and wonder if he has actually hurt himself. Sometimes on camera I have to darken his bruising but I don’t want it to be obvious. Aidan is so attractive he even looks handsome with a black eye!’

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Pamela believes working on Aidan’s face everyday made it easier for her to jump out of bed in the mornings.

‘He is so beautiful that it was a pleasure to make up such a handsome man every day. When people found out I was doing Poldark, out of all of the projects I’ve ever worked on, they get this stunned face and one person actually asked me if I touch Aidan…. Obviously I have to touch him otherwise I can’t make him up. Every age group of women seem to have fallen in love with him. As a result of that I had a certain status for a while because I was looking after one of the most handsome men around which is nice and did help get me up every morning. It certainly put a different light on my job for a while and made me smile because I knew there were a lot of people who would pay a lot of money to stand where I stand every morning!

‘I just hope people love it because all I ever want is for people to believe it and not really notice the make-up. They shouldn’t be looking at the make-up and the hair; they should be enjoying it so much they don’t notice those things and they just believe it is real.’

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Ros Little

The highlight of costume designer Ros Little's time on POLDARK was creating a jaw- dropping gown for Demelza to wear in crucial scenes for series two.

‘I created this beautiful evening gown for Demelza that we used for a party scene near the end of the series. We wanted something that would have a big impact colour wise and so we decided on this deep red with a brighter red moiré for the skirt. It looks gorgeous! Demelza can also be seen wearing more bodices and skirts this series which she did not wear much of in the first.

‘Eleanor very much wanted to stick to a limited wardrobe as she has an incredibly firm visual understanding of her character and ideas about what she felt right in. Due to Ross and Demelza’s dire financial situation she would not have had many new clothes. It was only because there would have been a special dress in her trunk that she got to wear the red one.’

Ros provides us with an insight into the clothing that is indicative of this period of history.

‘In this period what we are trying to create is a lovely neckline that is quite low and then a nice, fitted bodice. So of course there is the corset, which was worn up until the 1920’s. You wouldn’t be able to get into these dresses without corsets because the costumes are cut in a specific way. We didn’t have any elastic or stretchy fabric so if they are baggy anywhere it wouldn’t work so it’s worn mostly for control. It’s a bit of a tricky period for the female actresses and for the costume department as in order for a dress to look right it has to fit like a second skin over the corset. When we were making a new dress I would photograph the back of the corset with a tape measure in place, showing exactly how wide we have it. If the actress is definitely comfortable in the corset then we make the dress fit perfectly.’

‘Another item used was a hip roll or bum pad which were used right through to the Edwardian period to lift the skirts. It’s a sausage shape roll tapered at the end, which is tied around the waist of aristocratic women to give them a bit of a shelf. The appearance of the skirt coming out and away from the waist makes it look smaller. It’s a very flattering period but it’s not the easiest to wear.’

One of the greatest challenges Ros faced was dressing a pregnant Gabriella Wilde who plays Caroline Penvenen.

‘Caroline was one of the characters whose costumes I had a great deal to do with as she was pregnant almost from the start and barely fitted the clothes. What we aimed to do with her, which was a look that came a little later on, around 1795, was raise the waist. Luckily, Caroline is a fashionable character from London with the money to buy the latest clothes so we were able to go for this look with a softer under dress, as we needed something that flowed over her baby bump. We also needed clothes that were adjustable for continuity. Luckily the jump in the look

40 worked in our favour not only in keeping with the character but also helping conceal her bump.’

As for Ross Poldark himself, Ros was keen on maintaining his famous and much loved look.

‘He is Poldark, he has an iconic look you so can’t and you wouldn’t come along and change it. Men’s clothes are more timeless than women’s anyway. It was more the small things we did for Ross for example he had a lot of waistcoats and some were worn out so we had new ones made with sturdier fabric.’

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Cast & Crew

Cast

Ross Poldark ...... Aidan Turner Demelza ...... Eleanor Tomlinson Elizabeth ...... Heida Reed Francis ...... Kyle Soller Verity ...... Ruby Bentall George Warleggan ...... Jack Farthing Dwight Enys ...... Luke Norris Caroline Penvenen ...... Gabriella Wilde Ray Penvenen ...... John Nettles Prudie ...... Beatie Edney Jud Paynter...... Phil Davis Aunt Agatha ...... Caroline Blakiston Captain Henshawe ...... John Hollingworth Captain Andrew Blamey...... Richard Harrington Captain McNeil ...... Henry Garrett Horace Treneglos ...... Michael Culkin Paul Daniel ...... Ed Browning Mark Daniel ...... Matthew Wilson Zacky Martin ...... Tristan Sturrock Tom Carne ...... Mark Frost Cary Warleggan ...... Pip Torrens Reverend Halse ...... Robin Ellis Mrs Chynoweth ...... Sally Dexter Sir Hugh Bodrugan ...... Partick Ryecart Harris Pascoe ...... Richard Hope Tonkin...... Rory Wilton Captain Bray ...... Derek Frood

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Jinny ...... Gracee O’Brien Margaret ...... Crystal Leaity Rosina Hoblyn ...... Amelia Clarkson Jacka Hoblyn ...... John MacNeil Charlie Kempthorne ...... Ross Green Mr. Trencrom ...... Richard McCabe James Blamey ...... Alex Morris Unwin Trevaunance ...... Hugh Skinner Ted Carkeek...... Lewis Peek Betty Carkeek ...... Rose Reynolds Judge Wentworth Lister ...... Stephen Boxer KC Jeffrey Clymer ...... William Mannering Tankard (Attorney) ...... Sebastian Armesto Henry Bull KC ...... Richard Dillane Nick Vigus (Witness) ...... Sean Pogmore Foreman of the Jury ...... Andrew McGillan Mrs. Zacky Martin ...... Emma Spurgin Hussey Jim Vercoe ...... Marc Danbury Landlord (Bodmin) ...... Steve Jacobs Tom Harry ...... Turlough Convery Jack Tripp ...... Samuel Valentine Clerk of the Court ...... Chris Gallarus Esther Blamey ...... Isabella Parriss Eli Clemmow ...... Jason Gregg Trooper Wilkins ...... Ben Callon Geoffrey Charles (Blk 1) ...... Nicholas Read Geoffrey Charles (Blk 2) ...... Max Willis

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Production Team

Executive Producers………………… Karen Thrussell, Damien Timmer, Elizabeth Kilgarriff for BBC Writer and Executive producer ...... Debbie Horsfield Producer ...... Margaret Mitchell Director ...... Will Sinclair, Charles Palmer, Richard Senior Directors of Photography ...... Cinders Forshaw, Sergio Delgado Editors ...... Melanie Viner-Cuneo, Adam Green, Mike Phillips, Jo Smythe Production Designer ...... Ed Turner Costume Designer ...... Ros Little Make-up designer ...... Pamela Haddock Composer ...... Anne Dudley Casting ...... Susie Parriss Horse Master ...... Mark Atkinson Poldark Consultant ...... Andrew Graham

Ends

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