Sunday, 27 May 2018

Poldark S4: Harry Richardson is Drake Carne

Harry Richardson as Drake Carne  Photo: BBC

Harry Richardson returns this year to play the romantic and free-spirited Drake Carne, but reveals a dramatic change in his character this series.

‘When we meet him in the new series Drake is pretty deflated; he is grappling with serious heartache and pain over losing Morwenna (Ellise Chappell). He struggles with a choice of whether to put his true love behind him or to stay strong and chase after her. It is a very interesting struggle; one I believe people will relate to. Drake is trying to find where he fits in the world whilst attempting to find some momentum to help propel him out of this slump; he is desolate and unhappy.’

Harry explains how Drake’s siblings try to help him through this difficult time in their own ways.

‘Seeing her little brother so heartbroken, Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) does all she can to cheer him up. Drake is trying to put his feelings for Morwenna to bed because it is making it impossible for his life to go on. To that effort, Demelza persuades Drake into courting another girl, Rosina Hoblyn. (Amelia Clarkson), who plays Rosina, is incredible and it is very subtle and special writing from Debbie Horsfield because everyone in the town, including Rosina, knows what has happened with Drake and Morwenna, so navigating the start of a potential relationship through all of that is very interesting.

‘Drake’s brother, Sam (Tom York), takes a bit more of a back step back because whilst Drake is very sad he is also starting to make an independent man of himself, as is Sam and they are starting to grow up into men and  realise that they can’t be glued at the hip as much. There is a real bond between them but there is a whole new respect that comes into their relationship this series. Sam understands that no amount of brother’s words can solve heartbreak.

‘With Ross (Aidan Turner) spending time in London this series, the Carne siblings spend time together in Cornwall which creates a sense of closeness between them. They try to take care of each other but there is a sadness that stops them from really enjoying it. There isn’t much time for them to revel in each other because they are each grappling with quite complex problems.’

Although his outlook seems desolate, Harry explains what keeps Drake going.

‘There is always hope for love, that is the thing that keeps Drake going, staying in town and chugging on and what is encouraging him to get his life together. He is hoping and praying that there might, one day, be some way he can be with Morwenna again. It is a very small town in which they all live so there are moments this series when their paths do cross, some of which are very painful and some of which are quite beautiful.’

There were some very difficult scenes to film for Harry and Ellise this year.

‘Morwenna is stuck in a very abusive relationship and seeing how Ellise embodied that and brought that experience to the table this series was harrowing. Scenes that involved that element were both my favourite scenes to shoot and definitely the hardest. I love being opposite someone or behind the camera and finding it difficult to watch or finding myself brought to tears when not even on screen, it’s amazing. Ellise has done something really special this year and she is going to shine.

‘Everyone has really stepped things up this series; there is an incredible dramatic energy to series four. The characters are each dealing with much deeper complexities, there is a lot of very murky territory in love, especially for Drake and Morwenna because previously it was so beautiful and very much an innocent love and now it is so complicated. She sacrificed her life to save his so he can’t lose all hope or give up.’

Harry has a lot of love for Drake and he tells us why.

‘Debbie has written this character who is very sweet and beautiful but in his innocence and open heart he is not simple, he is not immature or childish, he is just quite pure. It is incredible to see, now that there are a lot more complications, how he handles himself in horrible situations. What you are like at the bottom of the barrel says a lot about who someone is and Drake continues to surprise me in the way he loves.’

Harry took on a brand new skill this series. He talks to us about that eventful experience.

‘I rode a horse on a cliff this series which was terrifying. I had ridden horses a little bit before but horse riding is a whole different thing in the Poldark world. There is a scene where I am riding with Eleanor, who is a very experienced rider, and my horse just knew that she knew what she was doing so he followed her which seemed to work. Before we start shooting there is an incredible horse camp where we go and learn and I had that before series three but we didn’t end up shooting on a horse. I don’t know what it is going to look like; I am just praying I don’t look terrified.’

Harry reveals what he thinks makes Poldark popular amongst a modern day audience.

‘It is timeless. The expression of love and trying to figure out relationships are relatable. In the contemporary world we try to calm everything down but we all feel these intense, period drama like emotions, so having that very heightened experience with waves crashing and violins playing conveyed on screen makes us feel like someone understands it all.’


Source: BBC Media Centre

Poldark S4: Rebecca Front is Lady Whitworth
Heida Reed is Elizabeth Warleggan
Jack Farthing Talks George Warleggan
Poldark S4: Gabriella Wilde is Caroline Enys
Poldark S4: Luke Norris is Dwight Enys
Poldark S4: Christian Brassington Talks Reverend Osborne Whitworth
Poldark S4: Ellise Chappell is Morwenna Whitworth
Beatie Edney Talks Poldark S4
Poldark S4: Tom York is Sam Carne
Poldark S4: Ciara Charteris is Emma Tregirls

Thursday, 25 May 2017

Dramatic Start to 'Poldark' Series 3


"Fourth!" Aidan Turner covers his mouth with his hand and gives this aside, then looks around with a boyish grin as the audience bursts into laughter. I'm at the press preview for Poldark series three and the Q&A panel (Aidan Turner, Eleanor Tomlinson, Luke Norris, Jack Farthing and Karen Thrussell) have just been asked if they're happy Poldark's going out in June. It catches them off guard. Has June been confirmed? Can they say? Then Aidan breaks the tension by pretending to know the date and teases Karen Thrussell.

Aidan Turner
We've just watched the first episode of Poldark and, boy, is it good! It's fast moving with lots of drama, tense scenes and a sprinkling of humour. It's set a few months after the end of series two with an uneasy truce between Demelza and Ross; Elizabeth pregnant and married to George Warleggan; and Caroline and Dwight finding love.

The episode opens with the dramatic scene of Elizabeth's horse bolting. The scene was shown at the BFI and Radio Times Festival and, yes, it still judders before your eyes. Talking us through it Aidan says, "There was quite a big horse scene at the beginning. I don't think I'm telling tales out of school to say we went back to shoot it again because it took so long to get it right. We had the stunt guys around for that scene. It was a difficult one to nail down. But it's always fun playing around with the horses."  So is he now known for his horse riding? "Yeah, "he grins, "I'm known for horse-action. That's meeee!"

Eleanor Tomlinson
Elizabeth's baby is born and, while there may be some question on the baby's paternity, executive producer Karen Thrussell assures us, "We don't know who the father is. In the books it's not clear."  "What about the little scar?" chips in Aidan to much laughter. Karen continues,"We don't know and neither does Elizabeth for certain and neither does Demelza and neither does Ross."

The episode moves on apace then all of a sudden, excitingly, there's a moment on the beach I'd expected to see in series two and its absence caused not a little disappointment. But here it is!  In a different context to what I'd thought but a thrill to see it on screen at last! Were the fans listened to? I like to think so!

Ross pays a visit to George Warleggan at his impressive bank. Will there be fisticuffs this time? "Certainly with Ross he's getting older and more mature," says Aidan,"There are only so many barroom brawls you can get in to before somebody loses his life. They have their families to consider. It's part of growing up." Does that mean George has improved? "He's definitely worse," says Jack, "But he's also got better because you see more of him emotionally: his angst, his vulnerability."

Jack Farthing
Ross's good friend Dwight Enys has his own joys and disappointments in this first episode. Luke says, "Dwight tries to be a fundamentally decent, wonderful man and fails quite a lot. He's a guy whose moral compass is really right on but circumstances conspire against him - a lot! He makes some bad choices too."

Several of the scenes I saw filmed on my visit to Bottleyard Studio last year are in this first episode, and those of you who've read my set report may pick up on Demelza saying "pudding" and letters arriving at Nampara without a seal!

It wouldn't be Poldark of course if there weren't waves crashing against the rocks and a gallop along
the cliffs although this time it's not Ross but Demelza speeding away!

Luke Norris
So who can you expect to see in this first episode? Well, in addition to the main cast there are some returning characters: Ray Penvenen (John Nettles), Tom Carne (Mark Frost), Captain Henshawe (John Hollingworth) and Harris Pascoe (Richard Hope). There are some new faces too. Ellise Chappell is Morwenna, Elizabeth's cousin and Harry Marcus plays Elizabeth's son Geoffrey Charles, who joins Aunt Agatha as another Poldark thorn in George Warleggan's side. Harry Richardson and Tom York play Demelza's brothers Drake and Sam. Eleanor says, "Working with them both was amazing. Tom York and Harry Richardson are my best friends now. I had such a blast and it's so lovely to have new people coming into the cast. It brings a real new energy."

Sadly, Jud (Phil Davis) is absent from series three. But there's a new character coming back into Ross's life: Tholly Tregirls (Sean Gilder). Tholly was around when Ross was a boy and was a good friend to both Ross and his father, Joshua Poldark. Sean says he believes Tholly knows Ross better than anyone. Debbie Horsfield explains, "With Tholly you can see where Ross got his bad lad tendencies. The problem is, Ross has changed in these 13 years. He isn't always the wild tearaway though there are still those tendencies. He is his right-hand man in many escapades."  Aidan enjoyed working with Sean, "Sean is such a cool fella. We just got on great."  And is it true they had fun in every scene? "We're really cool people to hang out with," he jokes.

Poldark will be back on our screens on BBC One in June. Get ready to fall in love with it all over again!

Photo credit: Evie Bowman for Poldarked

Please remember to credit Poldarked when reposting from this article.

Related links:
Letters, Puddings and Drama: On the Set of Poldark Series 3
Pics from Poldark S3 Preview Screening
Ross and Demelza: A Happier Time

Wednesday, 10 May 2017

Pics from 'Poldark' S3 Preview Screening

Here are a few pics from the Q&As at last night's Poldark S3 preview screening. Sorry, there's no report as news from the event is embargoed for a while.

Poldark S3 Q&A, Aidan Turner, Luke Norris, Eleanor Tominson, Jack Farthing
Photo: Evie Bowman


Poldark S3 screening, Eleanor Tominson,
Eleanor Tomlinson 


Poldark S3 screening, Luke Norris
Luke Norris


Poldark S3 screening,Aidan Turner
Aidan Turner 

Poldark S3 screening,Aidan Turner
Aidan and Jack Farthing




Poldark S3 screening,Aidan Turner


Poldark S3 screening,Aidan Turner




Karen Thrussell, Luke Norris, Eleanor Tomlinson


Poldark S3 screening,Ellise Chappell
Ellise Chappell (Morwenna)

Poldark S3 screening,Harry Richardson, Tom York, Debbie Horsfield
Debbie Horsfield, Harry Richardson (Drake), Tom York (Sam)


All photos by Evie Bowman.


Thursday, 9 February 2017

'Poldark' Pics from Radio Times Covers Party

Here are some fun pics of the Poldark cast from the Radio Times Covers Party which was held at Claridges on 31 January, 2017.  Enjoy!

All photos are from the Radio Times.


Aidan Turner, Eleanor Tomlinson, Ruby Bentall, Beatie Edney and Harry Richardson

I'm sure I saw Harry Richardson arrive with a skateboard tucked under his arm! Very cool! Harry was in ITV's Doctor Thorne last year, which was also presented with a Radio Times cover award.





Friday, 11 November 2016

First look at 'Poldark' Series Three



In this first look at Poldark Series Three we see some of the familiar faces who'll be returning and get a glimpse of the new characters Sam and Drake Carne (Harry Richardson and Tom York,) Morwenna Chynoweth (Ellise Chappell), Tholly Tregirls (Sean Gilder), Reverend Osborne Whitworth (Christian Brassington) and Hugh Armitage (Joshua Whitehaouse).

Tuesday, 6 September 2016

Drake, Sam and Morwenna Cast in Poldark S3

Exciting news!
Drake and Sam Carne, Demelza's brothers, and Morwenna, Elizabeth's cousin, have been cast in Poldark S3 and don't they all look just right?

Poldark S3, Harry Richardson, Ellise Chappell, Tom orke, Drake, Morwenna, Sam Carne
Harry Richardson, Ellise Chappell and Tom York


If you haven't read the books then let me just say that these are important characters with some of the best story lines and are very much a part of the Poldark saga. 

Sam takes after his father and is a devout Methodist holding on to his faith no matter what he faces. He'll be played by Tom York whose credits include two other Mammoth Screen productions Endeavour and Agatha Raisin.  He was also in an episode of  Death in Paradise earlier this year (but not the same one as Heida Reed). Tom comes from Hampshire.  He trained at LAMDA in London for four years from the unusually young age of 17. You can follow him on Twitter at @TomYork_ 

Harry Richardson has been cast as Drake, the good-natured younger brother who knows how he should behave but can't resist going his own way. Harry was one of the leads in the period drama Doctor Thorne. He graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in 2014 and, although he has lived in Australia for some years, he went to school in England until he was 12.

Morwenna comes to live in Trenwith as governess to Elizabeth and Francis's son Geoffrey Charles. Ellise Chappell has been cast in the role. Last year Ellise appeared in the National Youth Theatre's REP Season and she was on our TV screens recently in the drama New Blood. Ellise's Twitter is @Ellisehere

Filming on Poldark S3 started this week so the cast are already busy.

But what I want to know is, who is playing Hugh Armitage?
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