'Poldark' To End After Next Series

BBC's hit historical period drama 'Poldark' has been confirmed to end after the next series.

The fifth and final series will begin filing the week, with plans to film in Cornwall, Bristol and the surrounding areas.

The Poldark saga was created over 12 novels by Winston Graham. After the seventh novel, 'The Angry Tide', on which series four was based, Winston Graham left a gap of 10 years before the eighth novel, 'The Stranger from the Sea', begins. Following the cliffhanging end to series four, there has been international speculation as to where the next series will take the Poldarks.

Writer Debbie Horsfield, who has written every episode of the four series, gave a little insight into the new season: "In 'The Stranger from the Sea' Winston Graham made many references to developments that happened in the 'gap' years. Much can also be inferred. There are, of course, also historical events and people of the time, both in Cornwall and in London. Series five will draw on all of these to follow the lives of the Poldarks, George Warleggan, the Enyses, and the Carnes in this intervening period."

Karen Thrussell, executive producer for Mammoth, said: "At Mammoth we're all fans of the Poldark books and we hope our audience will continue with us on the next stage of the journey. We are confident that fans of the novels will appreciate the care with which Debbie Horsfield is continuing to adapt Winston Graham's saga. This will be the last series in the Poldark chronicle... for now. Who knows what the future may bring."

Andrew Graham, son of Poldark author Winston Graham and series consultant on behalf of the Winston Graham Estate, added: "No-one can know what my father would have felt about the forthcoming series, let alone what he might have written. However, Debbie Horsfield has demonstrated such an extraordinary affinity with his work and shown such remarkable skill in bringing his Poldark characters to the screen that we know we are in safe hands. Indeed, without her, the Estate would not have agreed to series five in this form."

Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson will return as Ross and Demelza Poldark for the fifth series. Also back are Jack Farthing (George Warleggan), Luke Norris (Dr Dwight Enys), Gabriella Wilde (Caroline Enys), Ellise Chappell (Morwenna Carne), Harry Richardson (Drake Carne), Tom York as Sam Carne, and Beatie Edney as Prudie.

A number of new cast members are joining Poldark for series five, including Lily Dodsworth Evans ('Genius'), Kerri McLean ('Electric Dreams') and Sofia Oxenham ('Grantchester'). Vincent Regan ('300'), Peter Sullivan ('Entebbe') and Freddie Wise ('Maleficent 2'), although their roles have not yet been disclosed.

Poldark series five will air on BBC One in 2019.