The finest swashbuckle and romance that Cornwall could ever conjure is set to return to our TV screens.
The BBC is to remake the hit 1970s Cornish costume drama Poldark, which will be broadcast in a new series comprising six hour-long episodes.
The only surprising thing about the news is why the corporation has not revamped the hugely popular series before – the two runs of Poldark aired between 1975 and 1977 became one of the most successful British television adaptations of all time.
The 29 original episodes – based on novels by the late Winston Graham – have since been sold in over 40 countries and are still particularly popular in the United States, Spain, Italy, Greece and Israel.
The BBC profited further when the programmes were converted to video for sale around the world, outselling every costume drama except for the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice.
The stories followed the life of soldier Ross Poldark, who returned to his home in Cornwall from the American War of Independence only to discover that his fiancée had given him up for dead and was about to marry his cousin.
Jilted Ross eventually falls into the arms of his servant, Demelza, but his passion for his old love Elizabeth simmers on for years. The drama is set in late-18th century Cornwall where poor old Ross has no option but to make his derelict tin mines a success.
The corporation has yet to release details of the forthcoming location venues for filming or broadcast dates, but the old series featured many Cornish scenes. Boconnoc, near Lostwithiel stood in for Penrice, while Braddock Church played host to an important wedding. Locations such as Charlestown, Land's End, Lanhydrock House, Levant Mine, Port Isaac Harbour, the Keigwin Arms at Mousehole, St Mawes Castle and Trelissick were also used.
