Poldark remake for BBC One

Robin Ellis played Poldark, alongside the late Angharad Rees as Demelza

The BBC is to remake the 1970s drama Poldark, based on the Winston Graham novels set in the 18th century.

The story centres on the return of war veteran Ross Poldark, who finds his Cornwall home in ruins and his former fiancee engaged to his cousin.

The original series, which ran between 1975-77, starred Robin Ellis in the lead role.

Poldark is one of four new shows that mark the final commissions of BBC One controller, Danny Cohen.

He has just started his new job of the BBC's director of television.

Among his other commissions is Dickensian, a series billed as "bringing the world of Dickens to life in a drama populated by vivid characters from his classical books".

From Here to There is a family saga that begins on the day when the IRA bomb exploded in the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester in 1996.

The three-part series focuses on two families affected by differing events of 1996 - the Manchester bombing and the Euro 96 football tournament.

Finally, Our Zoo is a drama based on the man who created Chester Zoo in the 1930s, George Mottershead, who set out to build an attraction without resorting to caging the animals.

"It has been a joy and privilege to commission programmes for BBC One. I hope audiences enjoy the range and creative ambitions of these new dramas for the channel," said Mr Cohen.