Cut! Poldark star’s e-cig habit brings f ilming to a halt
‘He’s puffing on it constantly’
FROM his hat to his breeches, Aidan Turner looks the epitome of the 18th century country gent as he returns to his role as Captain Ross Poldark.
Until, that is, you notice one prop that isn’t exactly befitting a Cornish squire – a large e-cigarette glued to his hand.
Turner’s obsession with the ‘vaping’ machine has apparently disrupted filming for the second series of the BBC period drama after it wound up in shots supposed to portray 1790s England.
The leading man’s failure to part with the device is said to have irked his castmates – and a crew member has now been tasked with ensuring it is not in his hand or poking out of his pocket when cameras roll.
Even fans who have flocked to Cornwall for a glimpse of the 32-year-old heartthrob have not failed to notice his fixation with vaping, a habit often adopted by those trying to give up traditional cigarettes.
One onlooker said: ‘Aidan Turner has been using this big vaping device on set. On several occasions when they’ve said “action” he’s still had this thing in his hand. He’s puffing on it constantly. He’s never got it out of his mouth. It seems to have annoyed everyone. He’s playing the lead actor in a drama set in the 18th century … It looks a bit stupid.
‘Even when people are trying to do his make-up and get him ready he’s puffing on this thing. One time we even saw him discreetly puff the smoke out of his nose as he walked into shot.
‘There have been times when they’ve done takes and then they’ll realise he’s had this thing in his hand. They’ll need to reshoot the whole thing again but rather than making it a big issue, they’ll just be very diplomatic about it.
‘He used to keep it in his pocket but now it seems like he’s got this girl who comes up and takes it off him all the time.’
But a BBC spokesman said: ‘Aidan is at all times professional on set and there have been no disruptions or issues relating to an e-cigarette. We encourage him to use an e-cigarette as it is a much better alternative to smoking. We have a very professional team who would spot if it was in shot and of course it is not a problem if he uses it during rehearsals.’
Series two of Poldark will air next year.