Aidan Turner made his debut in the lead role of ‘Poldark’ on Sunday night, when the first episode of the BBC’s new series was aired.
The much-anticipated remake of the 1970s series sees Ross Poldark return to Cornwall from the American War Of Independence, only to find his former love newly-engaged.
Aidan Turner in 'Poldark'
Back in Blighty, Poldark then provides shelter and a job for a young girl, Demelza, and you don't need to have seen the '70s original to guess that a love triangle is set to develop.
The show quickly became a trending topic on Twitter when it was aired on Sunday, but what do the critics think?
While lead actor Aidan is sure to pull in plenty of viewers, the cornish coastline which provides the period drama’s backdrop has stolen some of the limelight.
See the first reviews below…
"Sunday nights just put on a tricorn hat and got sexy. Or perhaps ‘sexy’ isn’t the right word. Barring an almost Carry On reference to rural copulation, there’s no hint of carnality, yet Poldark is a drama which radiates an irresistible hormonal power through every glance across the salty Cornish undulations."
"[Alongside Aidan,] The other major star – also rugged and gorgeous – is the coastline along which Poldark gallops. Dorset’s dead to me since the second series of Broadchurch, even if the Jurassic coast was about the only thing that didn’t disappoint. It’s all about Cornwall now, though. Here, sparkling, it’s so much more than a backdrop. God it’s beautiful, who needs Croatia? This isn’t going to do Cornish tourism any harm at all, the Poldark effect."
"Screenwriter Debbie Horsfield has been open about her hope that the new Poldark might run and run (there are 12 novels in total) and there’s no reason why a straightforwardly enjoyable romantic romp like this shouldn’t capture a loyal audience. Graham’s books may not match the wit and wisdom of Austen, but Aidan Turner seems ready, willing – and shirtless – enough to re-create some Mr Darcy moments."
"I enjoyed the feral fury of Eleanor Tomlinson as Demelza, the commoner who becomes Poldark’s housemaid and squeeze. I admired the baddies — the late Warren Clarke in his final role as Poldark’s spirited uncle; the quietly-circling money lenders (played with creepy understatement by Jack Farthing and Pip Torrens)."
'Poldark' is aired at 9pm, on Sundays, on BBC1. Catch up on the first episode here.