BBC’s Poldark and ITV’s Victoria to air at SAME TIME in massive ratings battle
IT’LL be Aidan Turner vs Jenna Coleman this autumn as two major drama series will go head-to-head when they hit TV screens later in the year.
This autumn it's Poldark vs Victoria
The BBC’s much anticipated second series of Poldark is set to air next month, following the immenesly popular first series, which saw people all over the country getting hot under the collar for hunky Turner.
But ITV will potentially steal Poldark’s thunder, as it is considering running Victoria, an eight-part royal drama about the long-serving queen, in the same Sunday night slot.
Both broadcasters have a lot riding on each series, with ITV branding Victoria “the new Downton Abbey”.
Both series are in fact made by the same independent production company, Mammoth Screen, with head of the company Damien Timmer reportedly requesting this clash does not occur.
In Victoria, Coleman will portray the monarch as she courts and marries Prince Albert
Jenna Coleman on Emilia Clarke, Doctor Who and Victoria
Both Turner, 33, and Coleman, 30, have been propelled to stardom in the recent couple of years - Turner thanks to series one of Poldark, and Coleman for her part in Doctor Who.
Poldark, based on Winston Graham’s Cornish novels, was the breakout hit of last year, and has placed Turner on the reported shortlist to play the next James Bond.
In Victoria, Coleman will portray the monarch as she courts and marries Prince Albert, played by Tom Hughes. Rufus Sewell will play Lord Melbourne, the prime minister who acted as a mentor to the young queen.
Both series are in fact made by the same independent production company, Mammoth Screen
As Victoria is an unknown, brand new show, Poldark may very well come up trumps in the clash, with an impressive viewing figure of 9.5 million at one stage during its first series.
However, ITV and the BBC are used to primetime weekend battles, with The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing clashing on a weekly basis in the run-up to Christmas. And with ITV’s obtaining of the BBC’s The Voice, it could easily continue its winning streak.
Poldark begins its second series at 9pm on Sept 4; Victoria’s ITV air date is still unannounced.