The Hobbit’s Aidan Turner has been cast as Ross Poldark in BBC One’s new adaptation of Winston Graham’s acclaimed Poldark saga.

Set in 18th century Cornwall, Poldark is adapted by Debbie Horsfield.

Being Human star Turner commented: “I’m very excited to play Ross Poldark for the BBC and it’s obviously a huge challenge to honour the extraordinary character Winston Graham created and who Debbie Horsfield has brought new life to. But there’s a terrific team coming together and the scripts are superb, so I can’t wait to get started.”

The official synopsis for the eight-part series reads: “Britain is in the grip of a chilling recession… falling wages, rising prices, civil unrest – only the bankers are smiling. It’s 1783 and Ross Poldark returns from the American War of Independence to his beloved Cornwall to find his world in ruins: his father dead, the family mine long since closed, his house wrecked and his sweetheart pledged to marry his cousin.  But Ross finds that hope and love can be found when you are least expecting it in the wild but beautiful Cornish landscape.”

Executive producer Damien Timmer added: “Ross Poldark is an iconic role – we needed an actor with the right combination of striking looks, youthful rebelliousness, emotional complexity and maturity of presence which hints at the man he becomes across the saga. In our minds there was only one candidate. Happily he said yes!”

Andrew Graham, author Winston Graham’s son, said: “I am delighted at the choice of Aidan Turner as Ross, as I am sure my father would have been. Ross in the novels was a man of dark good looks, impulsive temperament, strong loyalties and deep emotions. I am greatly looking forward to seeing Aidan bring all these qualities freshly to life.”

Directed by Ed Bazalgette (The Guilty, Endeavour), Poldark begins filming in Cornwall and Bristol next month and will air on BBC One in 2015.

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