Poldark knitted figures 'go global'

The cast of the hit BBC One drama Poldark have been re-created as woollen knitted figures that are selling all over the world, the woman behind the dolls has said.

The characters are the creation of Poldark superfan and knitting addict Angela Blay, 50, who has sold about 70.

Programme-maker Mammoth Screen said it was very pleased the cast had "inspired such creativeness".

Ms Blay, from Suffolk, said what started as a hobby was now her day job.

The music teacher first made a woollen Ross Poldark - played by Aidan Turner - when the first series aired in March 2015, peaking with 9.4 million viewers.

Ms Blay has since been inundated with requests on social media for the dolls, selling them across the UK and as far away as the US, Canada, Australia and Tasmania.

The "Kwerky Knits" dolls, which sell for £34 each, are now pictured and shared on social media posing in various back-drops, and have their own social media brand, The Knitdarks.

The drama, based on Winston Graham's novels, has been filmed along Cornwall's dramatic coastline, where Ms Blay has sold "quite a few" knits.

Ms Blay, from Elmswell, near Bury St Edmunds, has also sold 120 patterns, for fans to make their own Poldark dolls.

She said Mammoth Screen, which makes the drama for the BBC, was not able to license the knits as official merchandise, but did support the "adorable and silly" concept.

In a statement, the company said: "It's great that the Poldark stories and our wonderful cast have inspired such creativeness - although we're not sure how well knitted Ross would fare swimming in the Cornish sea."

It is understood series four of Poldark will air on the BBC in June.