BBC One’s new drama, a re-make of the 1970s Poldark, has been filming in and around Bath with the help of the Council Film Office.
Aidan Turner (The Hobbit Trilogy, Being Human) and Eleanor Tomlinson (Death Comes to Pemberley, The White Queen, Jack the Giant Slayer) star as Ross Poldark and Demelza in Debbie Horsfield’s adaptation of Winston Graham’s saga set in 18th century Cornwall.
Robin Ellis, who played Ross in the original television adaptation of Poldark, will be joining the cast for two episodes to play Reverend Halse.
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.”
Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Film Office was first contacted by the production’s location scouts last autumn and has been instrumental in finding several locations in the area, including Prior Park College, which hosted filming last week.
Councillor Ben Stephens (Lib Dem, Widcombe), Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “2014 has been a busy year for filming in Bath and North East Somerset, which is great news for the local economy.
“Film makers come to Bath because of the city’s amazing architecture and support they receive from the Council and the city’s film friendly locations. Poldark is a prime example of this.”
James Murphy-O’Connor, Headmaster at Prior Park College said: “It was our privilege to host the cast and crew of such a well-loved period drama. Our Mansion, the former home of Bath visionary Ralph Allen, is a constant source of inspiration to all of us who live and learn here, and we were happy to have the opportunity to share that inspiration.
“The Mansion Hall was transformed into a sumptuous set appropriate to the late 18th century in which Poldark is set, and we look forward to seeing the fruits of the shoot when the programme is aired.”
The production also filmed at Corsham and Chavenage House and will now spend several weeks filming in Cornwall. Poldark will be broadcast on BBC One in 2015.
