‘Poldark’ Season 3 Updates: Filming Underway in Cornwall with Aidan Turner, Eleanor Tomlinson; TV Producers Urged to Create “Poldark of the North”

‘Poldark’ season 3 is currently filming in Cornwall and is set to continue across the county as well as Briston until late this year. Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson return to play lead protagonists Ross and Demelza and are joined by new cast members including Tom York and Sean Gilder. Meanwhile, television producers are urged to find and create a “Poldark of the North.”

According to Digital Spy, filming for season 3 of BBC’s drama television series ‘Poldark’ is currently underway in Cornwall, England. Filming began in September 2016 and will continue in Cornwall and Bristol until late 2016. It is expected to return to BBC One sometime in 2017.

Aidan Turner returns as the main protagonist Captain Ross Poldark, a man who returned from the American War of Independence, fighting for the British, only to find that his beloved home in Cornwall has not been the same ever since.

Turner teased that audiences can expect more beyond season 3. He said, "If it continues to be where it's at, I can't see a reason why we wouldn't continue.”

He added, "There's a big time jump between two of the books and Ross gets older – and I can't pull off mid-50s! So I don't know what will happen."

Eleanor Tomlinson also returns to play Ross’ wife Demelza, Heida Reed returns as Ross’ ex-girlfriend Elizabeth, Jack Farthing as Ross’ arch nemesis George, Ruby Bentall as Ross’ cousin Verity, Luke Norris as Ross’ friend Dr. Dwight Enys, and Caroline Blakiston as Aunt Agatha.

According to The Sun, viewers can expect a new cast of characters. Joining the original cast are Harry Richardson and Tom York as Demelza’s brothers Drake and Sam, Ellise Chappell as Elizabeth’s cousin Morwenna, and Sean Gilder as Tholly Tregirls.

Writer Debbie Horsfield teased, "We're thrilled to be kicking off series three with a fantastic array of new characters and a story which scales new heights of conflict, feuding, passion and drama… Ross is older but not necessary wiser, and his recklessness sometimes costs him, and his loved ones, dear. We're in for a rollercoaster ride where the stakes have never been higher."

Season 3 will be based on Winston Graham's 1973 novel ‘The Black Moon’ as well as the first half of 1976's ‘The Four Swans’. It will focus on Ross’ life in Cornwall in 1794 amidst the impending threat of the French Revolution.

Horsfield said, "We're doing one and a half books this time, because the books are much fatter and we didn't want to skimp on the storytelling." The first two seasons adapted two of Graham’s novels each.

Meanwhile, Cornwall’s tourism was significantly boosted by the hit television series. According to iNews, the government has called on television producers to create a “Poldark of the North” to highlight Northern England’s countryside and boost tourism, investment, and jobs.

Northern Powerhouse Minister Andrew Percy said, “The economic potential of the North of England is huge. Investors around the world can already see that for themselves with foreign direct investment in the Northern Powerhouse more than doubled over the past two years… Popular TV programmes and movies help to showcase regions of the country, like Poldark has done for the Cornish coast.”

Percy added, “From the windswept moors of Yorkshire to the craggy peaks of the Pennines, for centuries the North has provided inspiration for literary classics and now provides a brilliant backdrop for TV and film. It’s time our TV makers look to the North to set their next hit series and tap into the Poldark factor to help attract tourists to the region and boost the local economy.”

‘Poldark’ season 3 is expected to return to BBC One sometime in 2017.