The shiny new version of BBC period drama Poldark started shooting today (14 April) on locations in Cornwall and Bristol.

Those of us old enough to remember the hugely popular original which ran from 1975-1977 will know that the series is set in 18th century Cornwall, and centres on Ross Poldark, who has returned from war to find his father has died and his sweetheart is engaged to his cousin.

This time around, Debbie Horsfield has adapted Winston Graham’s series of novels as a run of 8 x 60 for BBC One. Mammoth Screen is the shingle behind the drama; Eliza Mellor produces.

Aidan Turner (The Hobbit Trilogy, Being Human) plays the title role while Eleanor Tomlinson (Death Comes to Pemberley, The White Queen, Jack The Giant Slayer) plays Demelza. In a neat nod to the original, the 1970s Poldark himself, Robin Ellis, will put in an appearance as Reverend Hale.

The cast also includes Heida Reed; Ruby Bentall; Jack Farthing; Kyle Solder; Warren Clarke; Phil Davies; Beatie Edney; Alexander Arnold and Robert Daws.

Executive producer Karen Thrussell said: “We’re so thrilled by the Poldark cast, and we feel particularly privileged that Robin Ellis has agreed to join this stellar line-up – it’s a great tribute to Debbie Horsfield’s scripts.”

Further details on Poldark, including key hires and locations, can be found on Production Intelligence, our online database of advance and archive productions.