Dead Man Walking

Ross’ friend Ned Despard faces the gallows for treason in Poldark

- Hannah Davies, Tess Lemacraft, Alison Slade

Ross Poldark’s renegade Irish friend Ned Despard’s days appear to be numbered. After last week’s dramatic arrest, Ned’s on trial for treason this week and it looks as though even our Cornish hero Ross (Aidan Turner) won’t be able to save him from the gallows.

The villainous Joseph Merceron (Tim Dutton) and Ralph Hanson (Peter Sullivan) have conspired against Ned from the start and when they manage to get him sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered, Ross stages a daring jailbreak in a last desperate bid to free his friend. But is it too late?

Here, Vincent Regan, who stars as Ned, and Kerri McLean, who plays his wife Kitty, reveal the tragedy that awaits the Despard couple and how their two Poldark characters are based on some fascinating real-life historical figures…

Ned is found guilty of treason this week. But he’s been stitched up by Joseph and Ralph, hasn’t he?