With Bradley Walsh and Joanna Scanlan

The Larkins are returning to ITV, with Bradley Walsh and Joanna Scanlan in the lead roles.

The broadcaster has announced a new six-part adaptation of H.E. Bates’ novel The Darling Buds Of May and its sequels, 30 years after having its first hit with the bucolic family.

Simon Nye, whose credits include The Durrells and  Men Behaving Badly, is writing the new series, entitled The Larkins.

He said: 'The novels are short, hilarious and magical. We will be expanding the Larkins’ world a little and can’t wait to immerse ourselves in this glorious countryside idyll."

Walsh, who will be playing Pop Larkin, said: I’m thrilled to be asked to be part of this much loved and iconic series of stories. The warmth and affection that H.E. Bates has generated through his books is so uplifting and I cannot wait to be part of the Larkin family. It’ll be a hoot!’

Thick Of It star Joanna Scanlan, who will play Ma, added: ‘What better comfort could there be from all we have endured this year than the rolling laughter and outsize hugs of Ma and Pop?’

Set in the late 1950s, The Larkins is the story of a working-class family led by the golden-hearted wheeler dealer Pop Larkin and his wife Ma, together with their six children, including the beautiful Mariette - the role which proved the breakout for Catherine Zeta-Jones in the original. David Jason and Pam Ferris played the parents.

Ben Farrell, chief content officer of programmer-makers Objective Fiction, said: ‘I’ve loved the Larkins novels for many years and can’t think of a better time to be bringing them back to television. After the year we’ve all had it’s welcome pure escapism for a family audience.’

Abigail Wilson, who as previously worked on Trollied, Carters Get Rich, and Stella, writes one of the episodes. Last year, ITV’s now departed head of comedy Saskia Schuster vowed she would no longer commission comedy shows with all-male writing staffs.

Further casting will be announced in 2021 closer to the start of filming.

Made by: Objective Fiction, Genial Productions and OMG Scotland
Commissioned by: ITV head of scripted comedy, Nana Hughes, with Chloe Tucker overseeing production
Directed by: Andy De Emmony
Produced by: Serena Cullen
Executive producers: Ben Farrell, Charlotte Lewis, Sophie Clarke-Jervoise, Simon Nye, Toby Steven, Bradley Walsh

Published: 10 Dec 2020