The Larkins (2021 TV series)

The Larkins
series logo
GenreComedy-drama
Based onThe Darling Buds of May by H. E. Bates
Written bySimon Nye
Abigail Wilson
Directed byAndy De Emmony
StarringBradley Walsh
Joanna Scanlan
Sabrina Bartlett
Tok Stephen
Theme music composerNick Green
Country of originEngland
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producersSimon Nye
Ben Farrell
Sophie Clarke-Jervoise
Charlotte Lewis
Toby Stevens
Bradley Walsh
ProducerSerena Cullen
Running time47 minutes
Production companiesObjective Fiction
Genial Productions
OMG Scotland.[1]
Original release
NetworkITV
Release10 October 2021 (2021-10-10) –
27 November 2022 (2022-11-27)
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The Larkins is an English comedy drama television series, produced by Objective Fiction and Genial Productions. The series is the most recent adaptation of H. E. Bates novel The Darling Buds of May.[2]

Both the novel and the series are set in rural 1950s Kent. The series stars Bradley Walsh as "Pop" Larkin and Joanna Scanlan as "Ma" Larkin. They have six children. The eldest daughter, Mariette, is played by Sabrina Bartlett (series 1) and Joelle Rae (series 2), while Tok Stephen plays accountant Cedric "Charley" Charlton.[3]

In February 2023 the British tabloid press speculated that the series had been cancelled due to poor ratings, although there was no official statement from ITV.[4] In a television interview, Walsh suggested that, although there might be no new series in 2023 due to his own unavailability, the possibility of a feature-length special was being explored.[5][6]

  1. ^ "ITV commissions a new adaptation of H.E. Bates' novel, The Darling Buds of May, entitled The Larkins". ITV. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  2. ^ Archer, Katie (18 August 2021). "The Larkins: Bradley Walsh heads cast as Darling Buds of May stories return to ITV". BT.com. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  3. ^ Craig, David (22 July 2021). "ITV's The Larkins debuts first look at Bradley Walsh and Joanna Scanlan in Darling Buds of May reboot". Radio Times. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  4. ^ Darvill, Josh (12 February 2023). "The Larkins 'axed' by ITV after two series". TellyMix. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Bradley Walsh says 'The Larkins' ISN'T axed - but won't be back for a while". British Period Dramas. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Bradley Walsh denies reports The Larkins has been cancelled by ITV". The Independent. 10 January 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.