The original Cornish tease
45 years ago Poldark became one of the BBC’s most popular costume dramas
RUGGEDLY handsome Ross Poldark had viewers rushing to book holidays to Cornwall when he first arrived on TV screens 45 years ago. Around 15 million viewers became hooked on the romantic drama and eagerly awaited the Sunday night episodes that featured spectacular shots of Cornish coastlines and a theme tune by Kenyon Emrys Roberts.
Poldark began on BBC1 on October 5, 1975 and saw Robin Ellis in the title role,with Angharad Rees as Demelza, the servant he eventually marries.
Robin, now 78, has described Ross Poldark as “a man outside his time”. He said: “He was willing to break barriers down. He cared about his miners and knew conditions were bad because he went down into the mines. That in itself was unusual.
“He was often ashamed of his fellow gentry, of their atrocious behaviour. His marriage to Demelza proves that he was prepared to go against convention and marry out of his class.”
The opening episode saw Captain Ross Poldark returning to his Cornish home from the American War Of Independence and boasting a scar to prove it.
Everyone thought he had perished in battle and he came back to find that his father was dead, the estate was in ruins and his sweetheart Elizabeth was engaged to his cousin.
Poldark, became one of the BBC’s most popular costume dramas and the story unfolded in 39 episodes over two series.
It was based on the novels of Winston Graham. The British writer penned 12 books in the series with the last, Bella Poldark, coming out in 2002. Born in Manchester, Graham moved to Cornwall aged 17.
Poldark sent hearts aflutter once more when the BBC revived the stories in 2015, and turned leading man Aidan Turner into a household name in the process.