Poldark supremos defend drama’s latest rape scene

POLDARK’S producers have defended another rape scene in the popular TV drama.

Last night viewers saw vicar Osborne Whitworth (Christian Brassington) assault his young wife Morwenna (Ellise Chappell).

Mammoth Screen, which makes the period drama for BBC1, said in a statement that it represented the man of the cloth as author Winston Graham penned him.

‘In the novels, Winston Graham has created The Reverend Ossie Whitworth as a despicable character who regularly rapes his wife Morwenna,’ it said.

‘We have chosen to depict this element of the novels in series three because to do otherwise would be to minimise the appalling nature of Ossie’s behaviour and the horror of what Morwenna endures.’

The period drama previously sparked complaints to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom over a scene involving Aidan Turner’s Poldark and his ex Elizabeth (Heida Reed).

It showed the lead character’s former fiancee resisting Poldark before appearing to change her mind, and was criticised for being ambiguous.

Author: Ann Jones