(Right: Eleanor
Tomlinson & Aidan Turner)
The fifth and final series of Poldark will air on ITV Choice (DStv
123) on August 13 at 20h00 and writer Debbie Horsfield has delved into history
as well as taking inspiration from Winston Graham's novels to write an action
packed eight-part series.
It is a new century and with it comes the
promise of a hopeful future, but the past casts a long shadow over Cornwall.
Following the death of Elizabeth, Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner) resolves to put
Westminster behind him and spend more time with the people he loves. However,
when an old friend needs help, Ross is compelled to challenge the establishment
and question his own loyalties to king and country. As the Enyses (Luke Norris
and Gabriella Wilde) rally to join the cause, Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) must
contend with dangers close to home, while George (Jack Farthing) courts corrupt
powers whose influence spans the Empire.
A number of new cast members are joining Poldark for series five, including
Vincent Regan (300) as Ross' old Army
Colonel Ned Despard and Kerri McLean (Electric
Dreams) as Ned’s wife Kitty, a former slave. Sofia Oxenham (Grantchester) is the treacherous Tess
Tregidden, Peter Sullivan (Entebbe)
is the wealthy merchant, Ralph Hanson whose daughter Cecily (Lily
Dodsworth-Evans - Genius) befriends
Geoffrey Charles played by Freddie Wise (Maleficent
2).
Andrew Graham, son of Poldark author Winston Graham and series consultant on behalf of
the Winston Graham Estate, says: "No-one can know what my father would
have felt about the forthcoming series, let alone what he might have written.
However, Debbie Horsfield has demonstrated such an extraordinary affinity with
his work and has shown such remarkable skill in bringing his Poldark characters to the screen that we
know we are in safe hands.”
Adds Turner: 'There is a lot going on this
series; there is an influx of exciting new characters, there’s a lot of
tension. There is a great pace to the show this year that feels different and
overall it feels slightly more grown up. That is something I believe people
have loved about Poldark, that it
does change every series and there are always new and interesting characters
that alter the feel of the show."
UK reviews have been unanimous in their
praise for the final series with an average four out of five stars. Writes
Gerard O'Donovan in the Daily Telegraph: "All in all, a thoroughly
enjoyable start to what's almost certain to be an emotionally draining but
hugely entertaining final run."