BBC hopes to steal Downton Abbey viewers from ITV with The Go-Between

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Ben Batt is scything hunk in BBC's The Go-Between
Literary adaptation will air at the same time as Downton on Sunday
Batt spent hours working out to get in shape for role as desirable farmer
Admits 'beautiful' Aidan Turner is a hard act to follow
He also appears topless in lake scene similar to Colin Firth's as Mr Darcy

Published: 07:19 EST, 18 September 2015 | Updated: 04:48 EST, 21 September 2015

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The final series of Downton Abbey returns to ITV on Sunday evening but it seems the BBC aren't going to give up their period drama viewers without a fight.

Hot on the heels of the success of Poldark, in which actor Aidan Turner set female hearts a flutter with his topless scything, the Beeb's latest classic literary adaptation features another toned hunk toiling in the countryside - again with a scythe.

This time it's actor Ben Batt, 29, best known for his role as Joe Pritchard in Shameless, who picks up the tool to play farmer Ted Burgess in The Go-Between.

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Ben Batt picks up a scythe as he plays Ted Burgess in the BBC's steamy adaptation of The Go-Between

The actor admitted 'beautiful' Aidan Turner - who sent female viewers crazy with his topless scything in Poldark - was a hard act to follow

The BBC will air the steamy adaptation of LP Hartley's novel at 9pm on Sunday - the same time as the eagerly awaited series six of Downton begins.

Since Dan Stevens left his role as Matthew Crawley in series three, the ITV show has been lacking in male totty to make female viewers swoon the way they did over Turner's Poldark. And the stately home drama has yet to go as far as to show their male characters as scantily-clad as Turner.

So the BBC will be hoping they can tempt a large female audience for The Go-Between with Batt frequently appearing in undress as he has an affair with the aristocratic Marian Maudsley (played by Joanna Vanderham).

In the adaptation of LP Hartley's novel, Batt's character has an affair with the aristocratic Marian Maudsley played by Joanna Vanderham

The Go-Between, pictured here in a scene featuring the two leads, will be broadcast at the same time as Downton Abbey on Sunday

The period drama, set in 1900s Norfolk, was filmed just as Poldark was being broadcast so it appears Batt's scything was more coincidental than a deliberate ploy to emulate the success of the show.

In an interview with the Telegraph, modest Batt from Wigan says he doesn't believe he can compete with Turner, whose topless pictures went viral just before he was due to film his own scything scenes.

He said of the Beatlemania surrounding Turner: 'I just thought, what are you doing to me? I am a little ginger Northerner and have you seen him? He is beautiful. His (scything scene) looks better than mine, I have to be honest.'

Viewers can decide for themselves on Sunday but images already released of Batt show how he got into super shape for the role, in which he shows off his toned pecs - as well as his bottom in three sex scenes.

Batt said he is struggling to be seen as a sex symbol as he is 'a little ginger Northerner'

The actor had to work out for hours and go on low carb diet to get into shape to play Burgess, pictured here in a topless scene for a lake swim reminiscent of Colin Firth when he played Mr Darcy

The actor said he spent three hours a day with a personal trainer doing weights and cardio work to ensure he was trim in time for his nearly-nude scenes, as well as sticking to a low carb, high protein diet.

With the Poldark-effect hanging over him he admits he did feel under 'a lot of pressure' to 'look a certain way'.

He said: 'Girls still have it a lot worse than boys but it's still there for us too. If you play a certain part at a certain age you are expected to have a six-pack and keep yourself trim. There's that pressure to go one step further.'

Another of Batt's topless scenes takes inspiration from a different BBC classic, Pride and Prejudice.

Marian Maudsley is seen admiring the farmer as he emerges dripping wet from a swim in a lake, much like Elizabeth Bennet when she encountered Mr Darcy swimming in the BBC's Nineties adaptation of the Jane Austen novel that turned actor Colin Firth into a heart throb.

Screenwriter Andrew Davies, who was behind the popular Austen adaptation, said such 'objectifying of the male body' has become 'very popular now'.

Richard Madden recently stripped off to play Oliver Mellors in Lady Chatterley's Lover as male nudity is becoming more popular in costume dramas

He started it! Colin Firth became a heart throb after he played Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice in the Nineties

He said: 'It has completely turned around from the time when it was all about the girls. I think male nudity of this kind is less problematic as men tend to be exhibitionists if they have got anything worth showing.'

Of Pride And Prejudice, he added: 'I was thrilled that women find it so stimulating. Perhaps it’s a bit like drugs and women viewers need more.

The BBC are certainly prepared to give them more. They have already had similar topless scenes with actor Richard Madden as Oliver Mellors in their recently broadcast adaptation of Lady Chatterley's Lover. Meanwhile, Turner is set to make a triumphant return as they are currently filming the next series of Poldark.

The Go-Between is on BBC One Sunday at 9pm