‘Aidan Turner Leads the Company in Some Style’

‘Aidan leads the company in some style,’ observes actor John Nettles who joins the cast of Poldark for series two as Ray Penvenen, gentleman and uncle to Caroline (Gabriella Wilde).

The filming of the second series started last September with a fresh crew and several new cast members joining those actors returning from the first season.

Aidan Turner, who plays the lead character Ross reveals, ‘It was lovely to come back knowing that the first series went out and it was popular, it’s a real morale booster on set. It’s also very flattering because we all worked really hard on the first series and it seems like it has paid off. It’s great because we enjoy doing what we do and we want the show to continue. There is so much more of this story to tell so it kind of needed to be a hit!’

Quick to point out that the crew all play their part in the show’s success he continues, ‘When you step outside your trailer you realise there are so many people working twenty times harder than you are and it is a very humbling experience.’ And the feeling on set?  ‘It’s a cliché thing to say but we are like a family. We have intimate and close relationships with everyone because they’re in your face all day. We’re very lucky to have the talented team we have.’

Caroline Penvenen (Gabriella Wild) and Unwin Trevaunance (Hugh Skinner)

Even so, it must have been a little daunting for new cast members joining a show that’s created such a stir. Gabriella Wilde, who plays heiress Caroline Penvenen says, ‘Before I started it was quite worrying because I had never been in that situation before where you know you will be filming with an already established cast whose characters you know having watched them in series one. But they couldn’t have been more welcoming. I was told they are one of the friendliest casts and that everyone gets on really well. The show has a real reputation for being an amazing environment to work in and that was the case.’

Hugh Skinner agrees, ‘They were all so brilliant. It was a really welcoming process. Also, because everyone is away from London you do things like go for dinner all together which was great. I played a very stressful game of pick-up sticks with some coffee stirrers one day with Gabriella and Jack – that was challenging! Nail biting in fact.’  Hugh is cast as the  Unwin Trevaunance, Caroline’s suitor and aspiring MP and brings a nice bit of light-heartedness to the show.

Also joining the cast is Sebastian Armesto. He plays Tankard, an attorney at law employed by George Warleggan (Jack Farthing). Seb already knew Jack as his brother and Jack were at university together. For him the challenge of joining Poldark was the pace of filming. He says, ‘Because most of the cast had already worked on Poldark for series one, matching their speed and smartness was, I suppose, my biggest challenge – just making sure I was up to standard.’

John Nettles via Telegraph

But let's go back to John Nettles for some final words about joining Poldark. John has himself been a leading man in the dramas Bergerac and Midsomer Murders so how did it feel to be a supporting member of the cast? ‘It was lovely; it’s such a relief. I always felt, as leader of the company you have a duty of care towards the actors coming in to make them feel welcome and at ease and to celebrate their talent. On Poldark that was not my job anymore, I could just concentrate on the acting and enjoy other people’s company and they were, without exception, delightful people.

‘Aidan leads the company in some style; it has to be said – he’s so talented! He is not only a charming and delightful man but also a damn good actor and really is Poldark, the man himself.'

Source: BBC Media