About this season
Poldark is a television drama based on Winston Graham's novels of the same title. It was first transmitted on BBC Two across two seasons between 1975 and 1977. The adaptation covered all seven novels (of the eventual twelve) published up to the time. In late 18th-century Cornwall, Ross Poldark loses his fiancée, well-bred beauty Elizabeth, to his cousin Francis. He ends up marrying his servant, Demelza Carne, but his passion for Elizabeth simmers on for years. Meanwhile, he strives to make his derelict copper mines a success. Life is hard, smuggling is rife, and Ross finds himself taking the side of the underclass against the ruthless behaviour of his enemies, the greedy Warleggan clan.
Episodes (16)
1. Episode 1
5.0Aired 5 October 1975 • 51 min
In 1783, Ross Poldark returns from the American wars to his native Cornwall to find his home in shambles and his betrothed Elizabeth engaged to another.
2. Episode 2
5.0Aired 12 October 1975 • 50 min
Ross determines to put Nampara back on track and get his mine Wheal Leisure running again. Ross decides to take young Demelza Carne into his house as a servant.
3. Episode 3
5.0Aired 19 October 1975 • 51 min
Demelza has taken over running Nampara; Elizabeth and Francis now married have had a child; Ross has to defend Jim Carter in court but to no avail as he is sent to prison.
4. Episode 4
5.0Aired 26 October 1975 • 52 min
After another infidelity from Francis, Elizabeth decides to leave Francis for Ross after his father's death — but Demelza's pregnancy complicates everything.
5. Episode 5
5.0Aired 2 November 1975 • 52 min
Ross and Demelza, now married, celebrate the birth of their daughter, Julia. A travelling troupe of performers stages a play at Nampara, and Mark Daniel falls for a young actress named Keren.
6. Episode 6
5.0Aired 9 November 1975 • 52 min
When Jim Carter becomes seriously ill in prison, Ross worries that he'll die before completing his sentence.
7. Episode 7
5.0Aired 16 November 1975 • 51 min
Young Geoffrey Charles is stricken with a serious illness; when Francis also falls ill, Demelza assists Elizabeth in caring for him.
8. Episode 8
5.0Aired 23 November 1975 • 52 min
Mark Daniel learns of Keren's affair with Dwight Enys; Ross helps Mark avoid capture by the authorities.
9. Episode 9
5.0Aired 30 November 1975 • 52 min
After Ross is released on bail on charges of looting a wrecked ship, the Warleggans stubborn witnesses in order to have him legally executed.
10. Episode 10
5.0Aired 7 December 1975 • 52 min
Francis' botched suicide attempt leaves him in deep melancholia as the Warleggans' parade of suborned witnesses darkens Ross' prospects for acquittal.
11. Episode 11
5.0Aired 14 December 1975 • 51 min
Ross rehires Jud, reestablishes his friendship with Francis, and becomes involved with smugglers in the hope of raising money to exploit a new vein.
12. Episode 12
5.0Aired 21 December 1975 • 49 min
Warleggan's minions beat Jud to death in revenge for his changing his testimony. Francis and Ross plan to open Wheal Grace using Warleggan money.
13. Episode 13
5.0Aired 28 December 1975 • 52 min
After the birth of Ross and Demelza's son, Francis accidentally drowns in Wheal Grace after supposedly discovering a new vein of precious copper.
14. Episode 14
5.0Aired 4 January 1976 • 51 min
Ross tries to locate Mark Daniel in hopes that he will remember the location of the copper vein he found while hiding in Wheal Grace.
15. Episode 15
5.0Aired 11 January 1976 • 52 min
Ross's hopes for a new vein of copper are shattered, and his distress amplifies when he finds out Elizabith is to wed Warleggan, resulting in the break of their vows.
16. Episode 16
5.0Aired 18 January 1976 • 51 min
Warleggan evicts hundreds of tenant families in his efforts to exert power, and Ross discovers a valuable vein of tin in his depleted copper mine, Wheal Grace.