Poldark

Poldark is a television drama based on Winston Graham's novels of the same title. It was first transmitted on BBC Two across two seasons between 1975 and 1977. The adaptation covered all seven novels (of the eventual twelve) published up to the time. In late 18th-century Cornwall, Ross Poldark loses his fiancée, well-bred beauty Elizabeth, to his cousin Francis. He ends up marrying his servant, Demelza Carne, but his passion for Elizabeth simmers on for years. Meanwhile, he strives to make his derelict copper mines a success. Life is hard, smuggling is rife, and Ross finds himself taking the side of the underclass against the ruthless behaviour of his enemies, the greedy Warleggan clan.

Drama

Seasons

1. Episode 1

Air Date: 1975-10-05

In 1783, Ross Poldark returns from the American wars to his native Cornwall to find his home in shambles and his betrothed Elizabeth engaged to another.

2. Episode 2

Air Date: 1975-10-12

Ross determines to put Nampara back on track and get his mine Wheal Leisure running again. Ross decides to take young Demelza Carne into his house as a servant.

3. Episode 3

Air Date: 1975-10-19

Demelza has taken over running Nampara; Elizabeth and Francis now married have had a child; Ross has to defend Jim Carter in court but to no avail as he is sent to prison.

4. Episode 4

Air Date: 1975-10-26

After another infidelity from Francis, Elizabeth decides to leave Francis for Ross after his father's death — but Demelza's pregnancy complicates everything.

5. Episode 5

Air Date: 1975-11-02

Ross and Demelza, now married, celebrate the birth of their daughter, Julia. A travelling troupe of performers stages a play at Nampara, and Mark Daniel falls for a young actress named Keren.

6. Episode 6

Air Date: 1975-11-09

When Jim Carter becomes seriously ill in prison, Ross worries that he'll die before completing his sentence.

7. Episode 7

Air Date: 1975-11-16

Young Geoffrey Charles is stricken with a serious illness; when Francis also falls ill, Demelza assists Elizabeth in caring for him.

8. Episode 8

Air Date: 1975-11-23

Mark Daniel learns of Keren's affair with Dwight Enys; Ross helps Mark avoid capture by the authorities.

9. Episode 9

Air Date: 1975-11-30

After Ross is released on bail on charges of looting a wrecked ship, the Warleggans stubborn witnesses in order to have him legally executed.

10. Episode 10

Air Date: 1975-12-07

Francis' botched suicide attempt leaves him in deep melancholia as the Warleggans' parade of suborned witnesses darkens Ross' prospects for acquittal.

11. Episode 11

Air Date: 1975-12-14

Ross rehires Jud, reestablishes his friendship with Francis, and becomes involved with smugglers in the hope of raising money to exploit a new vein.

12. Episode 12

Air Date: 1975-12-21

Warleggan's minions beat Jud to death in revenge for his changing his testimony. Francis and Ross plan to open Wheal Grace using Warleggan money.

13. Episode 13

Air Date: 1975-12-28

After the birth of Ross and Demelza's son, Francis accidentally drowns in Wheal Grace after supposedly discovering a new vein of precious copper.

14. Episode 14

Air Date: 1976-01-04

Ross tries to locate Mark Daniel in hopes that he will remember the location of the copper vein he found while hiding in Wheal Grace.

15. Episode 15

Air Date: 1976-01-11

Ross's hopes for a new vein of copper are shattered, and his distress amplifies when he finds out Elizabith is to wed Warleggan, resulting in the break of their vows.

16. Episode 16

Air Date: 1976-01-18

Warleggan evicts hundreds of tenant families in his efforts to exert power, and Ross discovers a valuable vein of tin in his depleted copper mine, Wheal Grace.

1. Episode 17

Air Date: 1977-09-11

Ross is discharged for medical reasons and returns home to find Warleggan occupying the house of his elderly aunt and expecting his first child by Elizabeth.

2. Episode 18

Air Date: 1977-09-18

Elizabeth's son Geoffrey facilitates a romance between Drake Carne and Morwenna while Ross learns that Dwight is a POW in France.

3. Episode 19

Air Date: 1977-09-25

Morwenna's love for Drake causes her to reject an arranged marriage with a pompous minister, and Drake bedevils George by seeding his pond with toads.

4. Episode 20

Air Date: 1977-10-02

Warleggan presses trumped-up charges against Drake in revenge for his romance with Rowenna, and Ross plans a daring rescue of Dwight from a French prison.

5. Episode 21

Air Date: 1977-10-09

Ross and his men successfully return Dwight from France, but Drake is severely wounded, and Watleggan's son develops a serious case of the rickets.

6. Episode 22

Air Date: 1977-10-16

Whitworth becomes sexually frustrated when Behanna asks him to abstain for his wife's health, and Warleggan stands for Parliament after Ross declines the opportunity.

7. Episode 23

Air Date: 1977-10-23

George, newly elected to Parliament, has become obsessed over Valentine's as Whitworth takes on his teenage sister-in-law as mistress.

8. Episode 24

Air Date: 1977-10-30

At George Warleggan's behest, Sid Rouse categorically harasses Drake and his smithy. Meanwhile, Rowella announces to a horrified Rev. Whitworth that she is with child.

9. Episode 25

Air Date: 1977-11-06

Sam consents to wrestle Sid Rouse at the fair in order to get Emma back to church while Warleggan agrees to stop harassing Drake in order to save his marriage.

10. Episode 26

Air Date: 1977-11-13

Caroline goes to London following her child's death, Whitworth reestablishes relations with money, and Ross secretly visits Elizabeth during a Warleggan party.

11. Episode 27

Air Date: 1977-11-20

Whitworth attempts to break off his ongoing affair with Rowella but is seduced into continuing when Solway becomes aware he's being cuckolded.

12. Episode 28

Air Date: 1977-11-27

Warleggan wagers Adderly that he won't be able to seduce Demelza, and when he fails at that, he goads Ross into challenging him to a duel.

13. Episode 29

Air Date: 1977-12-04

Warleggan tries to have Ross arrested after the duel and Elizabeth consults with a doctor to have her baby prematurely to allay George's suspicions.

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Rating

6.8/10

Release Date

1975-10-05

Episodes

29 (2 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast

Videos

Production Companies

BBC

London Films Productions

BBC Lionheart Television