Real-life romance of Poldark love rival

HIS increasingly persuasive attempts to woo Ross Poldark’s wife, Demelza, have left fans of the BBC’s hit drama on tenterhooks.

And in the series finale this weekend, Poldark’s millions of viewers are due to find out if smooth-talking aristocrat Lieutenant Hugh Armitage, above, has succeeded in seducing the Cornish former housemaid.

Off- screen, Josh Whitehouse, who plays former prisoner of war Lt Armitage, has kept his own love life secret.

I can reveal, however, that the 27year-old actor is courting a French healthcare worker, Cindy Jourdin, who has come to live with him in London. ‘They are a couple,’ one of their social circle tells me.

Evidence of their close friendship can be found on social media, where Cindy has shared photographs, including pictures from a recent holiday they took in the Dominican Republic. The pair are seen larking around and posing with iguanas on their heads. ‘Josh is a really interest- ing character,’ says the friend. ‘While his Poldark character writes poetry, he is more into music.’

Dashing Whitehouse, who became the face of Burberry’s men’s fragrance last year, sings and plays guitar with a rock band, More Like Trees.

He grew up with three brothers and a sister in Chester, attending the comprehensive Queen’s Park High School.

Josh was encouraged to audition for Poldark last year by Eleanor Tomlinson, who is Demelza, when he played her brother in a film called Alleycats. ‘ She is fantastic to work with and going on to such a big production it was really nice to have someone by my side,’ he says.

His role in Britain’s most popular drama has already attracted interest from Hollywood.

‘I am about to go to America for my first lead role in an American film,’ he says.

‘I am doing the remake of Valley Girl from the Eighties. I am playing Nicolas Cage’s part, Randy, and it is going to be a big musical.

‘I am very excited.’