Josh Whitehouse is Hugh Armitage

"Hugh is met by Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) at the beach when he first returns to Cornwall and he is blown away by her, he has never seen a woman like her as most of the men in Poldark haven’t.

"The two of them really connect and become friends but there is an attraction and he can’t take his eyes off her or deny the way he feels towards her and possibly the way she feels about him. He just wants to know how she feels and to be able to get it off his chest but it is a very treacherous game."

Having previously worked with Eleanor, Hugh tells us how having a familiar face on set made the transition into the show a less nerve-wracking experience.

"I played Eleanor’s brother in a movie we did last year called Alleycats and so it was not my first time working alongside her. It was actually Eleanor who suggested I audition for the role. She is fantastic to work with and going on to such a big production it was really nice to have someone by my side. It can be very daunting going on to a set so it made me a lot more comfortable.

"Poldark is an established drama, not something being made from the ground up and so it already has such a high standard in place and as I am quite a new actor, I certainly had my nerves about it. However it was really nice to be able to watch the world I was entering before hand and I was quickly reassured once I got on set as everyone was so friendly and easy to work with. Everyone is at the top of their game and I found it all very inspiring and have learned a lot from the experience."

Josh tells us a little about Hugh, revealing the similarities between himself and his character.

"I really feel like I can relate to Hugh as he is a creative, he is into the arts and literature and is a genuine romantic. Hugh refers to himself as an artist and I, myself am an artist, and like Hugh I also write poetry and music and so his interests are things we genuinely share.

"He is an aristocrat, born into riches and high society but there is a misunderstood part of Hugh’s story and so my aim is to try and get people to understand him, to see him for who he is. I wanted to portray him in a way that would allow people to feel for who he was and where he was coming from and try to bring some light to Hugh rather than purely seeing him as a villain. He is a person who follows his heart and acts out of love, despite the fact that it could be seen as quite controversial and may have serious consequences."

Josh has enjoyed being part of the drama and has made some good friends during the process.

"Something that I will take with me from this experience is the collection of friends I have made. There was a particular little group of us who spent a lot of time together going on all sorts of adventures around Cornwall. We would spend days together playing sports and then we would all gather around on the sofa and watch really scary films. Tom would be squealing away…!"

Josh states why he thinks Poldark has hit a chord with audiences around the world.

"Period dramas are so popular in the UK as they have an element of this historic story telling about it that people connect to no matter what age they are. Poldark has such an exciting side to it on top of its rebelliousness and adventure. A lot of period dramas tend to cater to an older audience but Poldark is so action packed and the acting is so strong so it appeals to a wider audience."

Next on the horizon for Josh is a very exciting project.

"I am about to go to America for my first lead role in an American film. I am doing the remake of Valley Girl from the 80’s. I am playing Nicholas Cage’s part, Randy, and it is going to be a big musical. Jessica Roth, who was Emma Stone’s friend in La La Land, and I are the leads and I am very excited."

Character descriptions

Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner)
Ross attempts to deny his nature and isolate himself from the affairs of others but, with the stakes now higher than ever, he must find a compromise between what he wants and the needs of those who depend on him.

Demelza Poldark (Eleanor Tomlinson)
Demelza decides she will no longer be passive in her own life but, in learning to be her own master, she must determine what she truly wants for herself and how far she’s prepared to go for it…

George Warleggan (Jack Farthing)
No longer content to lord over Truro through finance alone, George finds new worlds and opportunities opening to him, but the obstacles he faces turn his journey of ambition into one of discovery on several fronts.

Elizabeth Warleggan (Heida Reed)
Contrary to her expectations, Elizabeth finds herself once again navigating a world of uncertainties and guarding a grave secret. She comes to learn, however, that she wields far more power than she’d previously realised…

Dwight Enys (Luke Norris)
A man of integrity and compassion, Dwight finds himself pushed to his limits by the war with France, battling not only the French but his own demons and the doubts they rouse; both abroad and at home.

Caroline Penvenen (Gabriella Wilde)
Rich, beautiful and clever, Caroline navigates society’s tiers masterfully but finds the complexities of married life, and love, can be altogether more challenging.

Tholly Tregirls (Sean Gilder)
Tholly was a friend of Ross father’s before he fled Cornwall and the law many years ago. His womanising and recklessness haven’t been forgotten, and his ability to stir the adventurer in Ross could spell trouble for all…

Morwenna Chynoweth (Ellise Chappell)
Morwenna is Elizabeth’s cousin, and finds herself in George’s employment to support her sisters and widowed mother. Morwenna soon discovers, however, that there are things more important in life than one’s sense of duty or place…

Sam Carne (Tom York)
Sam arrives in his sister Demelza’s world determined to follow in his father’s footsteps, spreading the Methodist word. But how can Sam profess to save strangers when his own brother courts temptation?

Drake Carne (Harry Richardson)
A good natured free-spirit, Drake has many of the qualities of his sister Demelza. He seeks his own place in the world and finds himself unwilling to settle for the limits life seeks to impose; especially concerning his romantic destiny…

Hugh Armitage (Josh Whitehouse)
As the nephew of Lord Falmouth, Hugh has grown up in the shadow of expectation – a fact he is keenly aware of. But Hugh is also a romantic and wilful. He would do as he chooses with his future, and being true to one’s heart rarely comes without a cost…

Osborne Whitworth (Christian Brassington)
Osborne is from an esteemed family and a reverend. Driven by lustful desires, the widower seeks a new wife and George sees there is a social advantage in helping him…

Emma Tregirls (Ciara Charteris)
Lusty and headstrong, Emma isn’t a follower of anyone. When the Carne brothers arrive with God in tow, Emma is therefore the first to poke fun at Sam’s piousness - but people have a strange way of getting under your skin and, as they say, opposites often attract…

Lord Falmouth (James Wilby)
A man of ancestral power, his will has dictated the people and politics of Truro for generations but Falmouth finds a revolution in thought occurring, one that threatens to upend the status quo…

Sir Francis Basset (John Hopkins)
Sir Francis is one of the wealthiest men in the county but where Basset chooses to ally himself will have significant consequences for the people of Truro…

Tom Harry (Turlough Convey)
Tom Harry is George’s right hand man and delights in carrying out his master’s dirty work. With George’s rising power, Tom Harry finds his own increased – and he’s only too happy to wield it.

Aunt Agatha (Caroline Blakiston)
Resilient and wily as ever, Agatha resists the Warleggan occupation of Trenwith with all the fervour she can muster, sparing what energy she has left to look out for the Poldarks both at home and at Nampara.

Prudie Paynter (Beatie Edney)
Prudie is Nampara’s loyal servant and an increasingly central part of the Poldark unit. For all her bluster, Prudie is as loyal as they come and not averse to voicing her opinion - whether it’s asked for or not!

Ray Penvenen (John Nettles)
Caroline's kindly, sweet-toothed Uncle Ray has raised her since she was orphaned. Ray is one of the county's wealthiest and most powerful gentlemen.

Cary Warleggan (Pip Torrens)
George’s uncle, Cary is shrewd and determined to win the respect of the ruling classes. However, his uncouth manner and lack of humanity works against him.

Captain Henshawe (John Hollingworth)
An old friend of Ross, Henshawe was Mine Captain of Wheal Leisure when Ross’ father was alive. He is well-respected in his field.

Harris Pascoe (Richard Hope)
Ross’ banker and long standing friend, Pascoe is a shrewd businessman. He frequently counsels Ross to be more cautious in his business dealings, and frequently fails.

Reverend Dr Halse (Robin Ellis)
Halse is a powerful Magistrate who has little sympathy for the poor. However, whereas he once held Ross in contempt, he begins to see the value in Ross, and we sense Halse is not as blinkered as we’d reason to believe.

Zacky Martin (Tristan Sturrock)
One of Ross’ oldest and loyalist friends, Zacky has worked in his mines for years and is well respected by both commoners and local gentry alike.

Related Media Centre Links

• Filming started for Poldark Series Three

Related Web Links

• Mammoth Screen