Poldark heart throb Aidan Turner is in Corsham today as filming of the re-make of the hit 1970s TV series begins.

Turner, who started in Being Human and was a dwarf in the Hobbit trilogy, is just one of a host of stars expected to be in Corsham this week as cameras start to roll.

Corsham town clerk David Martin said today: “It is all very exciting. There is lots going on outside and the extras are using the town hall to get changed.

“Shops have been transformed into 18th century establishments and there are loads of cameras. Quite a few people have come to watch and I have been told Aidan Turner is here.

“The production company has been very good with communication and all of the shopkeepers seem very positive about what is going on. The shops are still open and there are plenty of stewards helping people to get to the shops and their houses between filming.”

Mr Martin is delighted the TV show is being filmed in Corsham and expects it to have a lasting benefit for the town. He said: “I think once the show actually goes out on TV next year even more people will want to come here to see where it is filmed. I think tourists from all over the world will put it on their sightseeing list.”

A spokesman for the Poldark production company said the whole of the High Street to make it look like Truro in the 18th Century and it would include a pilchard market.”

She said that Corsham was a perfect location as many houses already looked the part and only needed work to cover up modern-day living such as TV aerials which could be done during editing.