Debbie Horsfield, the writer of the new adaptation of BBC One's romantic period drama Poldark, has said that the casting of Dubliner Aidan Turner in the lead role was "meant to be".
In an interview on BBC Radio 5 live, Horsfield said she always had Turner in mind as the only actor for the role.
She said: "I started mulling it over in my head what were the characteristics that you would need and it became clear it was a pretty special person.
"I wrote one name down in my notebook then closed the book and didn't say anything to anybody."
Horsfield later revealed that Turner was her choice as leading man when the series' producer also suggested him.
She said: "So the producer spoke to Aidan's agent to ask if he was available and miraculously he was because a film he was supposed to be doing had fallen through.
"He came to meet us, he read the scripts, we offered him the part. It was meant to be."
Filming on the second series of Poldark begins in Cornwall in September.
