Poldark (2015 TV series)

Poldark is a British historical drama television series created and written by Debbie Horsfield and based on the novel series of the same name by Winston Graham. It aired on BBC One for five series from 8 March 2015 – 26 August 2019, adapting the first seven of the twelve novels in the series, which were previously adapted by the 1975–1977 BBC television series. Set between 1781 and 1801, it stars Aidan Turner as Ross Poldark, a British Army veteran of the American Revolutionary War, who returns to his home in Cornwall to find that his father has died, leaving his estate in ruins. The series follows his efforts to rebuild his fortune with the aid of his maid-turned-wife Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) and his relationships with his cousin Elizabeth Poldark (Heida Reed) and rival George Warleggan (Jack Farthing).

The first and second series adapted two books each, whilst the third series adapted the fifth and first half of the sixth novels, and the fourth series adapted the second half of the sixth novel and the seventh novel. The fifth series features an original storyline which ends in 1801, nine years before the events of the eighth novel. The series was a co-production of Mammoth Screen and PBS, who aired the series as part of its Masterpiece anthology.

Poldark sustained positive reviews throughout all five series, although viewership declined from the first series onwards. At the 21st National Television Awards, the series was nominated for Best New Drama and Best Drama Performance and Impact Award (both for Turner), winning the latter. At the 22nd National Television Awards, the programme was nominated for Best Period Drama. It also won the Audience Award at the 2016 BAFTA TV Awards.