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Post by RitaLittlewood on Jun 9, 2014 15:44:04 GMT
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Jun 19, 2014 16:49:05 GMT
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Feb 18, 2015 21:44:23 GMT
They've started advertising it so must start around the 1st or 8th.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Feb 23, 2015 15:15:53 GMT
From the BBC:
Poldark - an adaptation of the first two novels in Winston Graham's Poldark series
Cornwall is a massive part of the book and our adaptation. Nowhere else looks like it: the huge skies, four seasons in one day climate, the quality of light, it's rugged beauty scarred with mines, the powerful surging sea and the wind beaten moors. The elemental passion of the landscape and changeable nature of the place has echoes of Ross Poldark's personality
Executive producer Karen Thrussell
Date: 17.02.2015 Last updated: 19.02.2015 at 18.42
Category: BBC One
Aidan Turner (The Hobbit Trilogy, Being Human, Desperate Romantics) and Eleanor Tomlinson (Death Comes to Pemberley, The White Queen, Jack The Giant Slayer) star as Ross Poldark and Demelza in Debbie Horsfield’s adaptation of Winston Graham’s acclaimed sweeping saga set in 18thcentury Cornwall.
Britain is in the grip of a turbulent crisis... falling wages, rising prices, civil unrest - only the bankers are smiling. It's 1783 and Ross Poldark returns from the American War of Independence to his beloved Cornwall to find his world in ruins.
This is an eight-part adaptation of the first two novels in Winston Graham's Poldark series.
Also starring are Heida Reed (Silent Witness) as Ross' first love Elizabeth, Jack Farthing (The Riot Club) as ambitious banker George Warleggan, Kyle Soller (The Hollow Crown) as Ross' cousin Francis Poldark, Ruby Bentall (The Paradise) as Ross' cousin Verity, Warren Clarke (Red Riding) as Ross' uncle Charles Poldark, Phil Davis (Whitechapel) as Ross' lazy manservant Jud and Beatie Edney (Poirot) as Jud's wife Prudie, Alexander Arnold (Skins) as Ross' farm hand Jim Carter, Robert Daws (Holby) as Dr Choake and Richard Harrington (Hinterland) as Captain Andrew Blamey.
Winston Graham wrote 12 Poldark novels starting with Ross Poldark in 1945 and ending with Bella Poldark in 2002. The internationally bestselling novels are set in Cornwall where Graham spent much of his life.
Robin Ellis, who played Ross in the first television adaptation of the Poldark novels in the 1970s, will be joining the cast for two episodes to play Reverend Halse.
Writer Debbie Horsfield explains: "Ross Poldark is one of literature's great heroes: a gentleman who is also a rebel, who has a keen sense of morality and social justice but without any priggishness or moralising. He's also a great romantic figure - caught between two women from two completely different backgrounds. A gentleman who marries his kitchen maid. A man who doesn't stand on ceremony, who doesn't play by the rules and often falls foul of authority. He has elements of Darcy, Heathcliffe, Rochester, Rhett Butler and Robin Hood - quite a combination!"
Executive producer Karen Thrussell says: "Cornwall is a massive part of the book and our adaptation. Nowhere else looks like it: the huge skies, four seasons in one day climate, the quality of light, it's rugged beauty scarred with mines, the powerful surging sea and the wind beaten moors. The elemental passion of the landscape and changeable nature of the place has echoes of Ross Poldark's personality."
Thrussell's lifelong love of the novels was one of the key factors behind this new adaptation and lead to the Winston Estate entrusting her and Mammoth Screen to bring the story of Ross Poldark to a new generation.
She continues: "Debbie Horsfield is one of our most acclaimed screenwriters, renowned for her original and contemporary series – including Making Out, The Riff Raff Element and Cutting It. She had never written an adaptation before, and had only strayed from contemporary life with Sex, Chips & Rock 'n' Roll. But we had a hunch that she would respond to this epic story of love and family. It was with some trepidation that we sent her the books, but she loved them.'
Horsfield says: "I'd never read the Poldark novels before so had no idea what masterly narratives they were and how exquisitely detailed and engaging the characters were - but it was no surprise to me to learn that the books have never been out of print. People who haven't read them are in for a treat.
"I was aware of, but didn't watch, the first adaptation in the 1970s. Since what we're doing is a new adaptation of a classic novel, rather than a re-make of a TV series, I opted not to watch the 1970s version on DVD until I'd written over half the series. It was interesting to see how much our version, based directly on the novels, differs from the 70s adaptation - although of course certain key elements appear in both.
"Very early on in the development of the series Robin Ellis got in touch to offer his good wishes for our success. I've always been a huge admirer of his work, both in TV and theatre, so the idea of finding a role for him was something we were really keen to do. He has a key role in two episodes - and needless to say he's absolutely brilliant!"
Says Robin Ellis: "Playing Ross Poldark was a very significant part of my life; it has had only a positive effect on my life and was an absolute joy. So I was thrilled at the idea of coming back to play a small part in this. Reverend Halse is a nasty piece of work, part of the establishment, and one of the gentry that Ross despises. It was a totally new experience to play this sort of character and one I relished."
Adds Thrussell: "Andrew Graham represents his father's literary estate, and he acted as a consultant to us at every stage of the process. He knows the novels inside out, and the characters of Ross, Demelza etc are still very vivid to him. He was able to tell us about his father's inspirations for the characters, and give an insider's insight into Winston Grahams Cornwall. He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the original novels and was a great supporter of Debbie's scripts. He was a mine of information and insight."
Sadly this was also the final television role for Warren Clarke, paying tribute to the legendary actor Debbie Horsfield says: " One of my long-term ambitions had been to work with Warren Clarke - a wonderful actor (and fellow-Mancunian) I feel immensely privileged that Warren's final TV appearance was as the patriarch Charles Poldark - a character who (like Warren) dominates the screen, makes you laugh out loud and breaks your heart."
Based on the novels by Winston Graham, Poldark is an eight part series written and created for television by Debbie Horsfield (Cutting It), produced by Eliza Mellor (Death Comes to Pemberley) and directed by Ed Bazalgette (A Mother's Son) and William McGregor (Misfits). The executive producers are Debbie Horsfield, Karen Thrussell and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, Polly Hill for the BBC and Rebecca Eaton for MASTERPIECE.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Feb 27, 2015 13:31:13 GMT
Looks like they've condensed the original 16 eps into two per ep for the new.
Sunday 8 March
9.00-10.00pm
BBC ONE
Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner) joins the army to avoid charges of smuggling. He goes to fight in the American War of Independence, leaving behind his sweetheart, Elizabeth (Heida Reed), with the promise that he will return soon. Three years later, wounded and scarred, Ross returns home to discover that his father has died, his estate is in ruins and Elizabeth is set to marry his cousin Francis (Kyle Soller).
Elizabeth and Francis are married. Ross is surprised to see that callous banker George Warleggan (Jack Farthing) is at the groom's side. Ross’s uncle, Charles Poldark (Warren Clarke) thinks that it would be better for the newlyweds if Ross were to leave Cornwall and he offers to pay for Ross to make a fresh start elsewhere.
Ross stubbornly refuses, determined to rebuild his family estate, Nampara. With only the help of his father’s useless servants, Jud and Prudie (Phil Davies and Beatie Edney), Ross takes on a new kitchen-maid, Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson), after he rescues her from a beating.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 3, 2015 21:02:58 GMT
On The One Show tomorrow, both Ross Poldarks.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 5, 2015 14:46:38 GMT
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 5, 2015 15:09:15 GMT
Sunday 15 March
9.00-10.00pm
BBC ONE
When the local mine Wheal Reath is closed, hundreds of miners, including Jim (Alexander Arnold), find themselves out of work and desperately poor. Ross (Aidan Turner), having repaired the family home of Nampara, now employs Jim as a farm-hand, and thinks to resurrect his family’s mine (Wheal Leisure) with the hope of bringing prosperity to the area again.
Meanwhile, Verity (Ruby Bentall) asks Ross to accompany her to a ball at the Assembly Rooms, where she meets and falls in love with Captain Andrew Blamey (Richard Harrington). However, Blamey is hiding a dark secret that Verity's brother Francis (Kyle Soller) and father Charles (Warren Clarke) are horrified to discover.
Ross, with the help of mine Captain Henshawe (John Hollingworth) and willing investor Horace Treneglos (Michael Culkin), manages to convince banker and friend, Harris Pascoe (Richard Hope) that Wheal Leisure is a viable business.
But it is Ross' intimate dance with Elizabeth (Heida Reed) that causes a stir at the ball and gives the other guests a reason to gossip.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2015 9:42:19 GMT
Some of it WAS filmed in Cornwall, but also Wiltshire and Somerset.
Anyhoo, at the risk of upsetting the diehard fans of the original version, we absolutely loved the first episode of this latest incarnation, but TBH neither of us were avid viewers of the original.
Great casting, fabulous photography, already hooked.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 9, 2015 18:44:40 GMT
There's more to Poldark than just the 30 year old series. This one claims to be closer to the books yet made up scenes and backgrounds which aren't in them and much characterisation is miles away from Winston Graham's premise. It also cut many things. It's a PC Poldark. There is also a distinct lack of chemistry between the characters. It was better than HTV's version but is no better or worse than the original series.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 15, 2015 22:16:53 GMT
If this doesn't stop being so boring and humourless I'm giving up after Robin Ellis has appeared.
Elizabeth was a selfish, vain grade A bitch. In this she's a wooden love sick puppy.
Jud and Prudie were the drunken comic relief. In this Jud's a nasty old git and Prudie's just bone idle with both occasionally getting drunk.
It's jumping so fast through the story and making up scenes. As I said last week, it's no better than the original adaptation despite claiming to be closer to the books. Demelza would be brunette for a start if it were. Ross knew about his father while in America and had money in Pascoe's Bank yet this changed it. Ross and Elizabeth didn't dance at the ball because Ross left after she and Francis arrived.
Zero chemistry between any of them still. Suppose it's great if you never read the books or saw the original but I'd still be bored if I hadn't. I put this on par with the HTV film.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2015 6:37:24 GMT
I watched very few of the original series, knew nothing about an HTV version and never had any interest in reading the books, so I'm pretty much coming to the whole Poldark thing as a 'newbie'. That said, as a romantic period drama, we're still loving it, and I'd take issue with pretty much every criticism you've made. It's also getting generally excellent reviews:- (This example from The Telegraph) www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/11463879/The-new-Poldark-I-have-only-one-complaint....html We're obviously viewing it from different angles.....or very possibly watching two entirely different programmes, so we'll just have to agree to disagree.  |
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 17, 2015 17:10:29 GMT
If that journalist were REALLY a Poldark fan, she'd get Jud's accent right in his so called catchphrase. That was ooh arr Mummerset as per Phil Davis, not Cornish like Paul Curran and the novels. But like female journos of all rags she is going for Aidan Turner's nudity rather than acting, rest of the cast, script zipping through faster than you can blink and made up characters and scenes (just like the original!). Oh and that was the first ep review not the latest.  Around 400,000 less watched this week. Well there is a lot of criticism (including Sunday's being boring) on other forums including DS so we must all be watching ITV. I did say I suppose it's great if you hadn't seen or read the rest. Still it's made me dig out the books and enjoy them over again. Finished Ross Poldark last night and will probably start Demelza tomorrow.  |
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 17, 2015 17:15:14 GMT
Ep 3/8
Sunday 22 March
9.00-10.00pm
BBC ONE
Elizabeth gives birth and Ross puts on a brave face at the christening, where he is angered to hear people gossiping about his relationship with Demelza. Wheal Leisure mine opens and the workers immediately hit ironstone, requiring additional funds for gunpowder. Zacky reveals his daughter Jinny has fallen pregnant to Jim, so Ross offers the young couple a cottage rent-free so they can marry. However, their future is put in doubt when Jim is caught poaching and brought before the local magistrate (Robin Ellis, who played Ross Poldark in the original 1970s TV adaptation).
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 17, 2015 17:15:50 GMT
Ep 4/8
Sunday 29 March
9.00-10.00pm
BBC ONE
News of the marriage between Ross (Aidan Turner) and Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) shocks Trenwith - with Charles' (Warren Clarke) amusement at the union bringing on a fatal heart attack. On his death-bed he asks Ross to look after Francis (Kyle Soller) who is drinking, gaming and whoring his family’s money away.
Verity visits Nampara and despite Demelza’s worry that she is too common for Verity (Ruby Bentall), the two quickly become firm friends, and Verity teaches Demelza how to be a refined lady.
Wheal Leisure has still not hit copper and the money is running out. Ross turns to his investors, but finds they are unwilling to throw away good money after bad. They must hit copper soon or Wheal Leisure will have to close after Christmas.
Francis and Elizabeth invite Ross and Demelza to Trenwith for Christmas. Demelza is welcomed into the Trenwith Poldarks and appraised by Aunt Agatha (Caroline Blakiston), who never minces her words
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 20, 2015 21:45:55 GMT
Ep 5/8
Sunday 5 April
9.00-10.00pm
BBC ONE
Ross (Aidan Turner) and Demelza welcome two new arrivals: Dwight Enys (Luke Norris), a doctor who plans to make a study of lung diseases at Wheal Leisure and their own baby daughter, Julia Grace Poldark.
At Julia’s christening, Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) resolves to lift Verity’s spirits by reconciling her with her lost love Captain Blamey (Richard Harrington). Meanwhile, Mark Daniel (Matthew Wilson) has fallen in love with the capricious Keren (Sabrina Bartlett), who demands he find her a home before they are married. Ross helps Mark renovate one of his dilapidated cottages.
Ross sets about forming an alliance with other mine owners to build their own smelting company and break the Warleggan stranglehold that is driving copper prices ever lower. However, as Francis (Kyle Soller) is deeply in debt to George (Jack Farthing - pictured), he cannot join the venture. Deeply unhappy with his marriage to Elizabeth, Francis is spending what money he has left on lavish gifts for an ambitious prostitute, Margaret (Crystal Leaity).
Francis also secures Ross an invitation to George’s house party, a seedy affair of drinking, gaming and whoring. With Ross at the party, Demelza lures Verity (Ruby Bentall) into a trap designed to reconcile her with Captain Blamey.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 22, 2015 22:44:33 GMT
That's it. I give up which I know will make someone happy. Robin Ellis was the best thing tonight but even his scenes were boring. There is no raw emotion among this cast, particularly Aidan Turner who delivers everything in the same dull tone. The pleas for Jim and attack of judges should have been with passion not monotone. None are believable. The story zips along with no real development. Up pop characters you never see before just for the plot despite the fact they are in the books a lot and Jinny Martin was NOT pregnant when she married Jim and he was arrested. Demelza is supposed to be feisty and by this time she and the Paynters were friends, particularly with Prudie, not resentful of each other. This Demelza is wetter than a rain shower. Poldark is more than just a love story between Ross and Demelza as well as the rest of them and the Warleggans (which should be Nicholas, not Cary), which is mainly what this drivel is focusing on. It's about the miners, their families, outsiders like Dwight Enys and Caroline Penvennen, traditions, customs. That's why Poldark books have stood the test of time when the original series has mainly been forgotten. Reading the books is a joy with the characterisations making you smile, laugh or get mad. Ditto the original series. This is the opposite because the essense of Poldark is missing and ratings will fall. If Robin Ellis is in it again I'll watch his scene(s) on iPlayer. |
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 22, 2015 22:51:36 GMT
Ooh Robin Ellis favourited my tweet!
Robin Ellis favorited your Tweet
24m: @robinpoldark Loved seeing you tonight but am bored by new Poldark so will probably give up. Got me reading the books again though. :-)
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Post by sootycat on Mar 23, 2015 11:56:44 GMT
I have to admit I haven't watched this version of Poldark. I was dithering as to watch it or not, but having being a big fan of the original I decided not to so I can't really pass an opinion on it. I am glad to read your various views on it. I was surprised to see how short Aidan Turner was and can't get my head around an Irishman playing a Cornishman. |
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 23, 2015 15:45:12 GMT
It's lacking a lot, Sooty. The books and original were light with humour. This is misery. Zero character or story development because of the huge chunks left out. Just rush, rush, rush. You cared about the characters while hating the Warleggans in the books and original. Here you wish they'd all fall down a mineshaft, though none will probably change their line delivery or expressions. They're relying far too much on Aidan Turner's semi-nudity so must know the script is dire. At least half the main characters are missing including Nathaniel Pearce. Dr Choake finally put in an appearance last night despite it being him who tended to Francis after the duel with Captain Blamey. In this they had it as Ross and Demelza. I noticed far less posts yesterday and today on DS than the past 2 weeks and several who did were critical. So much was made of it being closer to the books but it's not. If it were for a start Ross would have copper tinged hair and Demelza would be a brunette while Jud would have 2 teeth and be nearly bald. They got him almost right in the original. 8th March 8.75 million (overnight 6.9 million) 15th March 8.12 million (overnight 6.7 million) 22nd March (overnight 6.24 million) Back to Jeremy Poldark. I'm loving reading these all again. |
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 27, 2015 12:10:03 GMT
Ep 6/8
Sunday 12 April
BBC ONE
The Carnmore smelting company is a success and Ross (Aidan Turner) makes more of an enemy of George (Jack Farthing) by outbidding him for copper at auction. Meanwhile, Francis (Kyle Soller) is increasingly volatile now that he has lost his mine and is reduced to working the land, so Verity (Ruby Bentall) avoids speaking to him about her plans to marry Captain Blamey (Richard Harrington).
When Ross and Zacky (Tristan Sturrock) discover there is fever at Bodmin Jail just weeks before Jim (Alexander Arnold) is to be released, Ross asks Dwight (Luke Norris) to accompany him to the prison. Ross forces his way into the jail and discovers that Jim is near death. They break Jim out from the jail in a desperate attempt to save him.
Returning home, Ross is expected to attend George’s grand ball. He is sickened at the thought of going amongst the people responsible for Jim’s incarceration, but Verity persuades him that he must do it for Demelza and Julia’s sake; to remind everyone that he is one of their class so they won’t arrest him for the prison break. However, at the ball Ross is fighting drunk and Demelza is aghast that she has been left to fend for herself at her first ever high society social event.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 28, 2015 17:42:09 GMT
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 30, 2015 19:59:02 GMT
8th March 8.75 million (overnight 6.9 million)
15th March 8.12 million (overnight 6.7 million)
22nd March 7.80 million (overnight 6.24 million)
29th March (overnight 6.30 million)
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Apr 6, 2015 10:56:10 GMT
8th March 8.75 million (overnight 6.9 million)
15th March 8.12 million (overnight 6.7 million)
22nd March 7.80 million (overnight 6.24 million)
29th March 7.76 million (overnight 6.30 million)
5th April (overnight 5.23 million)
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Post by sootycat on Apr 7, 2015 10:56:24 GMT
As it's up against something as strong as 'Vera' I'm not surprised it dropped viewers.
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Around 400,000 less watched this week.
