THE POWER OF TWO
CAN ROSS AND DEMELZA GET BACK ON TRACK? AIDAN TURNER AND ELEANOR TOMLINSON THINK SO…
The last series of Poldark ended on a very uncertain note for Ross and Demelza: we left them lying in bed together, the weight of her recent infidelity with dashing Hugh Armitage hanging in the air between them, unspoken yet unavoidable. For many couples this would be the end of the road, but Ross and Demelza have survived worse – and as Inside TV catches up with stars Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson, they confirm their alter egos are better together than apart…
“Ross and Demelza have decided to stay together,” reveals Eleanor. “So it’s them taking their relationship on and recovering from the pain that they’ve caused each other, rebuilding their lives together. That’s where we find them: trying to pick up the pieces and remain the unit that we know them as.”
“It’s a difficult time when we start the series,” agrees Aidan. “Ross is convinced she’s fallen in love with someone else, and certainly had more than just a fling with Hugh, and it’s hard for him. But they don’t talk about it – it takes a while for them to have that discussion.
“Their relationship feels really honest this year,” continues Aidan. “It’s grown up, and to see that feels just real and right. Relationships are complex, and there are no rules about how you tackle those things – it’s just about honesty. Speaking plainly and listening is vital – Ross isn’t very good at that at the best of times, so you see growth in his character this year in those kind of situations.”
And it’s not just in his personal life that Ross is learning to take more responsibility: having declined the invitation to stand for parliament in the previous series – leading to arch-rival George Warleggan being elected as MP for Truro –
Ross has to wonder if he made the right decision when Prime Minister Pitt calls a general election. And as a corn riot reminds Ross of how cruelly the poor are treated by the ruling classes, he begins to realise that they need someone in power on their side…
“He needs to take the fight to Westminster – it makes sense,” reasons Aidan. “Ross realises that’s what he needs to do – to campaign to abolish the poor houses and child labour. I think he’s good at being a leader and fighting for a just cause, and it’s been a while since we’ve seen that from Ross.”
And with Ross potentially away a lot more representing the constituency, we’ll be seeing Demelza taking charge at Nampara in his absence…
“It’s all very well for Ross – he swans off and leaves two kids, a farm, a dog, and a mine, and Demelza has to run the whole lot!” chuckles Eleanor. “So she’s certainly not bored. But she just steps into his shoes and it’s amazing how much respect she gets from the people because of that. She’s always changing, she’s always growing – it’s what I like about her. She’s trying to be a better person, trying to keep her relationship working and trying to run a business at the same time!”
THEIR RELATIONSHIP FEELS REALLY HONEST THIS YEAR” AIDAN