Poldark fans - get ready for your next period drama binge 10 years later
It's been ten years since Aidan Turner first hit screens as Captain Ross Poldark and swept fans away with the BBC programme's gripping drama, leaving fans devastated when it came to an end after five seasons.
But a decade later, and we may have just found your next fix.
2024 miniseries The Count of Monte Cristo will be launching on UKTV's free-to-air channel U&Drama and streaming service U this summer.
The epic historical adventure drama, based on Alexandre Durmas's classic novel of the same name, stars Daisy Jones & the Six actor Sam Claflin and House of Gucci's Jeremy Irons.
Sam stars as young sailor Edmond Dantes, who was falsely accused of treason and imprisoned without trial in the Château d'If, a grim island fortress off Marseille.
After many years of captivity during which he is educated by a fellow prisoner, he finally escapes and takes on the identity of the wealthy and enigmatic Count of Monte Cristo.
The synopsis teases: 'With his newfound resources, he embarks on a journey of revenge on those who have wrongly accused him.'
The series also stars The Gilded Age's Karla-Simone Spence, Harry Taurasi, Poppy Corby Tuech, Ana Girardot and Gabriella Pession.
After premiering in Italy, The Count of Monte Cristo reached immense success with an average of nearly six million viewers.
It's also scored 7.8 on IMDb, with viewer reviews branding the eight-part series 'captivating', 'amazing' and 'magnificent'.
@sjensenstrad said: 'Great acting, great flow in the story, cinematic experience was superb felt like a historical experience and the audio was amazing. Our family, old and young, was glued to the screen for two days.'
'I'm extremely happy with how this series was made. Not only have they found a way to make it realistic, but they've also found a way to make the story so precise that it could have easily happened in reality. One of the few adaptations I can say is wonderful. The cast and locations are breathtaking in their authenticity,' @tactrix added.
@omigen wrote: 'I can honestly say, that I didn't miss a second of this fantastic version of the classic tale. The cast, the direction, the locations… all of it is perfect. Nothing less. I binged it all through Christmas day and now I don't know what to watch next! It's that kind of adaptation. It's that good. It's worth a second watch, and that's what I will do.'
@reggiemiller-59077 called it 'Television at its finest!' with @tiky-41483 writing: 'The masterful interpretation of the Count of Monte Cristo by the actor Sam Claflin is spectacular, which together with the direction and costumes, photography, gives the spectator an unparalleled cinematic spectacle.'
Filmmaker Bille August revealed in a past interview that he was lured by the project because it's 'all about relationships, the complexities of human beings and in that sense it's very modern and timeless'. More Trending
According to Variety, he said: 'I love The Count of Monte Cristo [it's] a great story about the human being and about person who is so obsessed by revenge that it eats him up from the inside and he is not able to love anymore. That's an important message.'
He added that the series is a 'beautiful love story' despite the darker themes.
View More »
The Count of Monte Cristo will be available to watch on U&Drama this summer.
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
37 minutes ago
- Metro
EastEnders confirms end of an era as huge change is confirmed
It's the end of an era in EastEnders next week, and a change in the BBC soap's credits will reflect the change. I am, of course, referring to the departure of much-celebrated Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw. The 38 year old TV boss announced he was stepping down from the show last year, having sailed the broadcaster's flagship programme out of murky waters and into an era of unmissable viewing. Fans were naturally devastated, given he was instrumental in some of the greatest plots we've seen in years – from The Six's involvement in Keanu Taylor's (Danny Walters) murder, to Phil Mitchell's (Steve McFadden) recent mental health crisis. There was also Cindy Beale's (Michelle Collins) return from the 'dead' after 25 years, two Mitchell flashback episodes and the recent 40th anniversary live episode. He created the Knights; the first Black and dual heritage family to run a pub on any UK soap, headed up by Colin Salmon, and has brought back fan favourites including Adam Woodyatt, Thomas Law, Jacqueline Jossa, Anita Dobson, Angela Wynter and Patsy Palmer. And what a way to end his tenure – last night's British Soap Awards saw EastEnders pick up 8 gongs, including Best British Soap, outperforming their rivals. Ben Wadey, former Commissioning Editor at Channel 4, will be taking over the role. He's no stranger to Albert Square, having worked on the 35th anniversary and also in the studio next door – as Story Producer for the final series of Holby City. Chris' final episode will air on Friday, June 13, with Ben's first episode airing the following Monday, June 16. Speaking about his new role as Executive Producer, Ben Wadey said: 'I'm thrilled to be returning to EastEnders at such an exciting time for the show. 'Having grown up watching and loving EastEnders, it sparked my passion for television, and I feel I've known the residents of Walford my entire life – so to lead this iconic BBC soap into its next chapter is a true privilege. 'I can't wait to collaborate with the exceptional team at EastEnders and build on Chris Clenshaw's brilliant work to deliver unmissable stories to fans – both those who have been watching for years and those just discovering Albert Square.' Speaking of his decision to leave, Chris added: 'As a proud EastEnders fan, it has been the honour of my life to be its custodian. It has meant everything to me, and I've given Walford my all. 'I made the tough decision that I would step down after the 40th anniversary many months ago – to keep EastEnders creatively refreshed as it's a show that needs to constantly evolve. After what will be three years at the helm and leading the team through its milestone celebrations, the time feels right that I hand over the keys to The Queen Vic. Want to be the first to hear shocking EastEnders spoilers? Who's leaving Coronation Street? The latest gossip from Emmerdale? Join 10,000 soaps fans on Metro's WhatsApp Soaps community and get access to spoiler galleries, must-watch videos, and exclusive interviews. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications so you can see when we've just dropped the latest spoilers! 'Elstree holds a special place in my heart. My special thanks go to the sensational EastEnders cast and crew that I'm incredibly proud to have led over the past few years, and who have provided me with unwavering support. 'Their commitment, passion and talent has inspired me every day, and I am so grateful to them and proud of everything that we've achieved together. More Trending 'EastEnders has been the highlight of my career and I have loved every minute of it, but it's time for change, and for a new chapter, and I'm delighted to be staying within BBC Studios Drama Productions. 'I'm pleased to be passing the show on to Ben Wadey. I'm confident that, under him, EastEnders will continue to thrive, and I wish him the very best as it is without doubt the best job in telly and I hope he enjoys the ride just as much as I have. Thank you, EastEnders – for everything.' After departing EastEnders, Chris will continue working for BBC Studios Drama Productions. View More » EastEnders returns on Tuesday, June 10 at 7.30pm on BBC One or can be streamed first from 6am on iPlayer. If you've got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@ – we'd love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage. MORE: Inside Emmerdale star Amelia Flanagan's life with fellow soap actor siblings MORE: The moment EastEnders wins Best Soap at the British Soap Awards MORE: The biggest complaint about Race Across The World misses the point completely
Western Telegraph
40 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Pembrokeshire people at BBC Make a Difference Awards
The BBC Cymru Wales Make a Difference Awards 2025 has recognised individuals and groups across the country for their outstanding contributions to their communities. The 32 finalists were selected from more than 700 nominees. Among those representing Pembrokeshire are a retired racehorse and a dedicated environmentalist. Ozzy, under the name Up For An Oscar, a retired racehorse from Pembrokeshire, has been nominated for the Animal Award. Once deemed unmanageable, Ozzy now serves as a therapy horse at Redberth Croft CIC, offering vital support to vulnerable individuals. Sharron Taylor is another Pembrokeshire representative shortlisted for her efforts in the Green Award category. The founder of Tipi Fields, Ms Taylor has made a significant impact on her local environment and community by cleaning coastlines of debris and marine waste. Her work doesn't stop at tidying up the coast; Ms Taylor also transforms the waste into unique, handcrafted items, breathing new life into discarded materials. BBC Radio Wales' Lucy Owen praised the nominees, saying: "We're absolutely blown away by the nominations we've had. "There are so many wonderful stories about community groups making a huge difference in their local areas and outstanding individuals committed to bringing people together, fundraising for good causes and caring for others." BBC Radio Cymru's Shân Cothi added: "Over 700 nominations for our very first Make a Difference Awards in Wales says so much about who we are as a nation. "It's incredible to hear about some of the amazing things that people are doing right across Wales. "A huge congratulations to everyone who was nominated and to all of our brilliant finalists." The winners will be chosen by a panel of judges from the BBC, including well-known presenters like Katie Owen, Lauren Price, and Gethin Jones. The successful community heroes will be announced at the awards ceremony on September 20 in Cardiff. The BBC Cymru Wales Make a Difference Awards 2025 aim to celebrate and acknowledge the people who go above and beyond in their communities, shining a light on these often-unsung heroes. This is the first year the awards have been held in Wales. A full list of the categories and finalists is available on the BBC's Make a Difference Awards website. The event, led by BBC Cymru Wales, is set to become an annual celebration of community spirit and selfless dedication.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Lotus: Little Simz says she almost quit music before new album
Award winning rapper Little Simz says she considered quitting music while working on her latest album following a split from her long-term producer."When self-doubt seeps in, when you really lose confidence in yourself, it's not a joke," she told 1Xtra's DJ Target."It'll have you questioning everything."Lotus, which dropped earlier, is the rapper's first release since she stopped working with her former producer Dean Cover, better known as Inflo, who she first met at a youth club in this year, she reportedly sued him for allegedly failing to pay her back after she lent him £1.7m. Inflo hasn't commented on the case. Simz told the BBC her new album explores the isolation she felt but is, at its core, about growth and moving on. "I've always been someone who wants to win with who I've come up with," the 31-year-old said."I love the idea of doing things as a team, you come with your people."Sometimes along the way, there's a parting, there's people going in different directions, and as I'm getting older I'm learning to be at peace with that and letting go and moving on."My music's always been a space for me to speak about those things in a way that feels authentic and that's honest. "I think that's part of my healing." Lotus is the Londoner's sixth studio album and while she doesn't mention Inflo by name, tracks like Thief and Lonely seem heavily influenced by the breakdown of their an interview with Billboard in April, Simz revealed she'd started four albums with the producer, all of which had to be scrapped. And on Lonely, which she performed live in a special show at the BBC's Maida Vale studios on Wednesday, she opens up about how shelving them made her lose her raps about "sitting in the studio with my head in my hands thinking, 'what am I to do with this music I can't write?'"Despite being a decorated artist, winning the 2022 Mercury Prize and Brit, Mobo and Ivor Novello awards for her fourth album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, Simz says she still worried she wasn't talented enough after the fall-out. 'Here's my diary' She told DJ Target she wasn't sure if she wanted to continue making music before recording Lotus, but the thought it could be her last album encouraged her to just throw everything at it. The album, she says, "feels very exposed... literally, here's my diary".Lonely, in particular, was described by NME as the "emotional epicentre" of the said it was "one of the moments on the album where I was like, I'm just going to tell it how it is and leave it on the record". Simz now said Lotus is the work she's most proud of and that it's restored her self-belief. "This album has really helped bring me back to what my purpose is," she told Radio 1's Jack Saunders."I definitely feel way more empowered to do what I'm doing, and more confident than I did when I was first making this record."It's really helped me find my belief in myself again."The album name, Lotus, is taken from the flower renowned for its ability to survive in hostile habitats. Simz has said, like herself, it "learned how to thrive in muddy waters"."It's such a brilliant example of something coming from these conditions and being something so beautiful and overcoming," she says."One of the themes [of the album] is growth but it's more so rising above it. "We all go through madnesses in life and we're all doing our best to figure out how to overcome things."It's OK to sometimes feel a bit lost."BBC Newsbeat contacted Inflo's representatives for comment but did not get a response. Little Simz: Live at the BBC is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
