From Chatsworth to Cornwall: Shameless Sean Gilder is thrilled to be joining the Poldark cast

IT was the scene that set millions of hearts a-flutter and helped make Poldark one of TV’s most talked-about shows.

But new star Sean Gilder says THAT bare-chested scything by Aiden Turner, who plays the heroic Ross Poldark, was never intended to be like that.

“It was just a case of it being really warm and his saying to the director that if he was really scything on a hot day he wouldn’t have a top on,” says Sean, who joins the BBC’s Sunday night smash this week as fresh character Tholly Tregirls.

“They said if he wanted to, then go ahead. So it really happened by accident.

“Obviously, Aiden knows he has a good body, but it wasn’t him trying to get it out. It was just an actor thinking about how the character would do it.

“Then, before you know it, it’s all gone ridiculous.”

The scene helped make Aiden a bone fide heartthrob and the centre of attention wherever he goes.

However Sean, who has nothing but admiration for Aiden’s friendly, down-to-earth manner, reckons the Irish-born star wears the media hoopla easily.

“He doesn’t pay attention to all that fuss and simply gets on with the job. He doesn’t court publicity.

“He’s a really grounded fellah, a good-looking, very good actor who is playing this leading role.

“He must have 70% of the dialogue for the series, so it’s hard work, but I was really bowled over by him.

“Where he has to be quite stiff and posh English for Poldark, he’s actually relaxed and very Irish. He just turns that on.”

Tholly is an old pal of Poldark’s late father, who knew and was a big influence on the young Ross.

He’s been away for decades but returns to Cornwall and falls back into the closest of relationships with Poldark, leading him into adventures very different from his new life.

“People say Tholly’s a pirate or a free trader but he sees himself as someone who ferrets out things people want,” explains Carlisle-born Sean.

“He has fingers in every pie and has been in many a battle.”

That’s more than evident in Tholly’s appearance – scarred, tattooed to the hilt and with a hook.

It took an hour-and-a-half in the make-up truck each morning to transform the former Shameless star into the fearsome Cornishman.

While it’s obvious that Sean’s a huge fan of the series now, he concedes that wasn’t always the case.

In fact, when the casting director – who has used him for years and of whom he jokingly says, “If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have a house” – first thought of him he confessed to her that he’d never seen a single episode.

He was quickly sent the box sets and settled down with a cup of tea and some choccies to catch up with actress wife Robin Weaver.

“We were absolutely blown away by it. We watched the first couple of episodes the first night and then another two the next night.

“We had the whole first series finished in now time and couldn’t wait for the second.

“I don’t often watch period dramas, but I was hooked. They didn’t have all the scripts ready at that time, so I kind of took it on good faith but I could see the quality. I was really thrilled to get it.”

Sean and Robin have two kids, Tommy, nine, and Violet, seven.

And having lived for five years in Lossiemouth where his Rolls-Royce engineer dad worked at the RAF base, he’s keen for the pair of them to get to Scotland for which he has evident affection.

“I loved my time in Lossiemouth and I’m conscious that my children have never been to the Highlands,” adds Sean.

“We were going on holiday last year but work scuppered the big drive we had planned.

“I get up a lot as I’m a golfer, but I want the children to experience it.

“I think that, along with the west coast of Ireland, the Highlands is probably my favourite place in the world.”

Poldark, BBC1, tonight, 9pm