His brooding good looks caught the attention of viewers in the programme 's opening episode , and last night , Aidan Turner , star of BBC 's Poldark , confirmed his status as the nation 's newest TV heartthrob . The 31-year-old actor , who plays tortured and dashing Captain Ross Poldark , stripped naked during the show 's second episode , much to the delight of love interest Demelza - and legions of adoring fans . Hundreds of swooning admirers took to Twitter to share their excitement at seeing Turner , who starred in The Hobbit trilogy , take off his clothes before going skinny-dipping in the Cornish sea . Scroll down for video . Racy : Irish actor Aidan Turner , who plays tortured and dashing Captain Ross Poldark , set pulses racing when he went skinny dipping during last night 's episode - the second in the BBC 's new eight-part series . Perfect gift : One Twitter user took to the social network to express her admiration of Turner 's brooding looks . Iconic : This user compared the moment to Colin Firth 's lake scene from the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice , in which the actor , as romantic hero Mr Darcy , emerges from the water in a soaking wet shirt . Swooning : Another viewer shared her thoughts on Poldark 's skinny dipping , aired on the BBC last night . The racy moment has been compared to Colin Firth 's lake scene from the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice , in which the actor , as romantic hero Mr Darcy , emerges from the water in a soaking wet shirt . But some viewers were left disappointed , saying the scene was too short . Based on Winston Graham 's series of acclaimed novels , Poldark tells the story of Ross Poldark , an Army officer who returns to England after fighting in the American War of Independence to discover that his fiancee Elizabeth is engaged to his cousin after believing him dead . Successor to the crown : Turner 's Poldark went one better than Firth 's Darcy as he went completely naked . Taking a dip : Scenes showed him leaving his clothes on the beach before wading naked into the water . Admirers : The character 's secret swim , right , was watched with delight by love interest Demelza , pictured left . Poldark then marries his maid , Demelza , played this time round by Eleanor Tomlinson , but is forever torn between the two women . The original series – a feast of heaving bosoms and bodice-ripping played out on a backdrop of windswept Cornish landscapes – attracted audiences of up to 15 million when it aired in the 1970s . And the BBC 's new eight-part adaptation is scheduled for a post-watershed slot - promising viewers even steamier scenes . Going one better : While Mr Darcy stripped down to his shirt and breeches , Poldark removed all of his clothes . Hot and bothered : Hundreds of women were impressed with what they saw when Turner stripped down . In last night 's episode , which saw ratings figures dip slightly on last week , Turner set pulses racing in scenes that showed him leaving his clothes on the beach before wading naked into the water . Twitter users took to the social media site to share their admiration , with a number commenting that shots of his physique made the perfect Mother 's Day gift . One user named Katherine Jones posted : 'Thanks # bbc for giving me Aidan Turner 's bare bottom for mother 's day . Much appreciated ! # poldark ' . Love triangle : Poldark ( Turner ) seeks solace with Demelza ( Eleanor Tomlinson , pictured together ) following his return from the American war of independence to the woman he loves engaged to his cousin . Smouldering : With last night 's episode , the 31-year-old actor confirmed his place as TV 's newest heartthrob . Another wrote : ' # Poldark Aidan Turner skinny dipping made my Mothers Day ' . One user named Layla Tango tweeted : 'If Poldark gets any hotter , we 'll have to call the fire birgade ! ' . Angela Thompson tweeted : 'Due to my temperature rising dangerously high whilst watching # AidanTurner # Poldark I may have to watch it whilst having a cold shower ' . Another tweeter wrote : 'Love watching Poldark because Aidan Turner . Naked . In the sea . Naked ' . And Liz Mordue posted : 'Ah , # Poldark Aidan Turner could n't smoulder any more if they set his jacket on fire . Loving this series . ' But some viewers were left disappointed , saying the scene was too short . Gytha Ogg tweeted : 'Are you kidding me # Poldark - all that build-up and then polite twee distance-shots of naked swimming Aidan ? ' Jeremy Good added : ' # Poldark note to cameraman , need to zoom in and linger a little longer on Captain Poldark swimming . '
Irish actor Aidan ##rth plays title role in eight - episode television series Poldark . His brooding good looks have already attracted the attention of viewers . Last night he was seen skinny - dipping , confirming his heartthrob status . Hundreds of celebrity viewers responded to Twitter to express their admiration . Moment contributed to Colin Firth 's wet - shirt scene in Pride and Prejudice .