Warren Clarke

Photo via IMDB

Warren Clarke plays Charles Poldark, Ross's uncle, in the new BBC adaptation of Poldark.

Warren was born Alan Clarke in Oldham, Lancashire in 1947, the son of a stained glass window maker and a secretary. He joined the Manchester Evening News as a copy boy when he was 15 although he dreamed of being a footballer (he supports Manchester City). However, instead of football he found a passion for acting through amateur dramatics and eventually took up acting as a career.

Warren is perhaps best known for playing Detective Superintendent Andy Dalziel in the TV series Dalziel and Pascoe, some episodes of which he also produced and directed. Among his many credits are Nice Work, Bleak House and  Red Riding.

Warren believes the script and the role are most important when deciding which parts to take. He told the Daily Mail, ‘I’ve never gone into anything thinking, “Oh, I’m going to make a fortune here.” I want to see the script, the character. I’ve been offered stuff in Hollywood but it was stuff I didn’t want to be involved with.' Well that's good news for Poldark.