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The Larkins is a British 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]

The Larkins
series logo
Genre	Comedy-drama
Based on	The Darling Buds of May by H. E. Bates
Written by	Simon Nye Abigail Wilson
Directed by	Andy De Emmony
Starring	Bradley Walsh Joanna Scanlan Sabrina Bartlett Tok Stephen
Theme music composer	Nick Green
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	7
Production
Executive producers	Simon Nye Ben Farrell Sophie Clarke-Jervoise Charlotte Lewis Toby Stevens Bradley Walsh
Producer	Serena Cullen
Running time	47 minutes
Production companies	Objective Fiction Genial Productions OMG Scotland.[1]
Distributor	All3Media
Release
Original network	ITV
Picture format	16:9 1080p
Audio format	Stereo
Original release	10 October 2021 (2021-10-10) – present

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

Characters

Character	Portrayed by	Series 1	Duration	Appearances
Pop Larkin	Bradley Walsh	Main	2021–	7
Ma Larkin	Joanna Scanlan	Main	2021–	7
Mariette Larkin (S1)	Sabrina Bartlett	Main	2021	7
Mariette Larkin (S2)	Joelle Rae	Main	2022–
Cedric 'Charley' Charlton	Tok Stephen	Main	2021–	7
Primrose Larkin	Lydia Page	Main	2021–	7
Montgomery Larkin	Liam Middleton	Main	2021–	7
Victoria Larkin	Lola Shepelev	Main	2021–	7
Zinnia Larkin	Davina Coleman	Main	2021–	7
Petunia Larkin	Rosie Coleman	Main	2021–	7
Tom Fisher	Stephen Hagan	Recurring	2021–	6
Vicar	Peter Davison	Recurring	2021–	7
Miss Edith Pilchester	Amelia Bullmore	Recurring	2021–	7
Pauline Jackson	Natalie Mitson	Recurring	2021–	6
Libby Fothergill	Francesca Wilson Waterworth	Recurring	2021–	6
Brigadier	Kriss Dosanjh	Recurring	2021–	6
Miss Chand	Seeta Indrani	Recurring	2021–	6
Alec Norman	Tony Gardner	Recurring	2021–	6
Norma Norman	Selina Griffiths	Recurring	2021–	5
Johnny Delamere	Robert Bathurst	Recurring	2021–	4
Old Reg	Wil Johnson	Guest	2021–	4
PC Harness	Barney Walsh	Guest	2021–	5
Aunt Fan	Angela Bain	Guest	2021–	3
Lady Rose Bluff-Gore	Georgie Glen	Guest	2021–	3
Sir George Bluff-Gore	Nicholas Le Prevost	Guest	2021–	3
Mrs Fothergill	Victoria Wicks	Guest	2021–	3
Bertha	Samantha Spiro	Guest	2021–	1
Angela Snow	Katherine Kingsley	Guest	2021–	1

Episodes

Series overview

Series	Episodes		Originally aired		Average viewership (in millions)
			First aired	Last aired
1	6		10 October 2021 (2021-10-10)	14 November 2021 (2021-11-14)	5.51
2	6		16 October 2022 (2022-10-16)	TBA	TBA
Christmas Special	1		25 December 2021 (2021-12-25)		3.21

Series 1 (2021)

No. overall	No. in series	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	UK viewers (millions)
1	1	"In which we meet the Larkin family"	Andy De Emmony	Simon Nye / Abigail Wilson	10 October 2021 (2021-10-10)	7.20[4]
Pop learns that the Horse and Hounds committee is seeking a new "Master of Hounds", with Alec Norman, his wealthy rival, in the running. Meanwhile, Mariette expresses her intentions to Pop and Ma to move to France. Alec is soon bestowed the title of Master of Hounds. Pop visits his friend Edith Pilchester, learning she has been approached to sell her cottage to a city-type individual who wants to use it as a "weekend bolthole". Primrose admits to Mariette she is infatuated with a boy called Eddie who works at the travelling fair and Mariette agrees to help Primrose find him. Wishing to earn their neighbour's respect, Pop obtains a Rolls-Royce from local thespian Johnny Delamere. Edith's potential buyer returns and Pop encourages her to accept his deal. At the fair, Mariette and Primrose locate Eddie. Ma dupes the gossiping Vicar into thinking Pop is an educated man with the presence of the Rolls Royce and a book of literature; as intended, Vicar relays the falsehood to the villagers, who are preparing for the May Day fair. When a felled tree blocks the road to Edith's house, Pop informs the buyer that as he owns the surrounding land only he can grant access to the cottage, and the buyer subsequently pulls out of the contract. At the May Day fair, Pop demonstrates his largesse by buying many lots at the charity auction and tricks Alec into a bidding war for a seascape painting. Its creator is revealed as Montgomery Larkin only after Alec has won. A furious Alec insults the villagers and is relieved of the position of Master of Hounds; both Pop and Ma decline the position and it is given to Brigadier. Mariette reveals that she will not leave for France until the end of the summer. When the Larkins return to the farm, a stranger awaits them in the yard. He tells them he's a Tax Inspector!
2	2	"In which The Larkins woo Charley the Tax Man"	Andy De Emmony	Simon Nye	17 October 2021 (2021-10-17)	6.02[5]
The episode opens right where the previous one ended. The Larkins invite Cedric inside, who tries to maintain his professional distance but having been plied with alcohol, misses the last train and ends up sleeping on the snooker table overnight. Next morning whilst in Littlechurch, Pop bumps into Sir George Bluff-Gore and makes an offer on Bluff Court which is in a precarious state of disrepair. Meanwhile, Montgomery is preparing for the straw man race by fixing up an old pram with the assistance of Victoria. Cedric, realising that there are no written accounts decides to shadow Pop for the day with a view to making an assessment of the amount of taxes owed. Mariette offers to tag along. She distracts him with a walk in the countryside whilst Pop slips off to Bluff Court to seal the deal on the house. This eventually reaches the ears of Alec Norman who pays Cedric a visit at his lodgings to relay this fact and open Cedric's eyes to the subterfuge that has taken place. Brigadier and Edith decide to put in a good word for Pop with Cedric, emphasising his generosity and charitable nature. It seems to do the trick. Pop decides to turn the tables on Alec, having learned that he is the whistleblower. While paying him a visit, Pop hints at Alec's own shady tax dealings which Cedric overhears and declares his intention to investigate. This results in Alec backing down. The straw man race begins with Vicar cheating from the off. Montgomery assisted by Victoria's flywheel device manages to move into second place. With most of the competitors drunk, a last minute collision involving the leader and the sabotaging of Vicar results in Montgomery taking the checkered flag on his debut appearance. Sir George and Lady Rose approach Pop and reveal they will not be accepting his offer after all. He's been gazumped by Tom Fisher who wants to turn Bluff Court into a hotel!
3	3	"In which Pop and Ma go on holiday"	Andy De Emmony	Simon Nye	24 October 2021 (2021-10-24)	5.18[6]
Pop reveals he has bought a second TV set, but has failed to realise the requirement for an additional or larger aerial. Charley, now firmly ensconced within the Larkin household, is worried about taking more time off work without good reason. Mariette suggests a doctor's sick note. When the doctor pays a house call he is bribed into issuing the sick note in exchange for some meat. Ma, concerned that Pop is over-worked, books a weekend break at the seaside in Margate for just the two of them leaving Charley and Mariette loco parentis. Meanwhile Tom Fisher asks Mariette out on a date to which she agrees. Pop and Ma arrive at their hotel and cross paths with a Duchess. In the hotel lounge Pop strikes up a conversation with 17-year-old Kenny, the prospective groom with a wedding party. It transpires it is a 'shotgun' wedding as the bride, the Duchess' daughter, is pregnant. Pop buys the wedding party champagne to lift the mood. Later he offers to drive the bride to the registry office in the Rolls Royce. At the farm, the kids are erecting the new 'huge and ghastly' TV aerial when Tom arrives to collect Mariette for their date. They head off to their table at the Hare and Hound, where Pauline is on waitress duty. Tom offers Mariette a job at his forthcoming hotel but the date is cut short when Pauline deliberately spills wine over her dress. At the beach Ma is sporting her hand-knitted swimming costume and goes for a swim whereupon it starts to unravel. Pop is chauffeuring the bride-to-be to her wedding and strikes up a rapport, taking her on a detour via the beach, where he has to rescue Ma and her dignity. The three of them head back to the registry office and retrieve Kenny, dropping the couple off at the train station to determine their own future. When Ma and Pop arrive home, Charley admits he was outwitted at every turn by the children and Mariette reveals she has got rid of the new aerial and made a profit in the process.
4	4	"In which the Larkins rescue the railway station"	Andy De Emmony	Simon Nye	31 October 2021 (2021-10-31)	5.29[7]
Mariette invites Charley, now a seemingly permanent fixture in Littlechurch, to help with the strawberry harvest where there is a glut of soft fruit. Whilst in the village Pop learns that the railway station and branch line are earmarked for potential closure. The stationmaster indicates the line is unprofitable and Pop is informed that a final decision is due that same week. Pop enlists the help of Miss Chand and the school children to inflate the passenger numbers in an attempt to influence the outcome and save the station. On board he learns that the refreshment trolley has been long discontinued and arranges for some of the excess strawberries to be delivered at the next stop enabling him to flex his entrepreneurial spirit and turn a profit. In the strawberry fields Pauline makes a beeline for Charley and her advances do not go unnoticed by Mariette. Charley reaches a crossroads in regard to his career and phones the tax office to resign with immediate effect, although he is left feeling unsure of himself afterwards when he sees Tom flirting with Mariette. Later when Mariette tries to demote Pauline to picking rhubarb, tensions boil over and a cat fight ensues between the two love rivals. Later that week it emerges that Pop's efforts seem to have come to naught as the stationmaster informs him that the decision has been made to close the line the very next week so Pop decides to pay head office a visit in person to argue the case. It transpires head office are quite sympathetic but the branch line simply does not make any money. Upon examining the revenues it becomes apparent that something fishy has been going on. Pop returns to Littlechurch to confront the stationmaster and outwits him into making a confession about pilfering and under-reporting the takings and has him arrested by PC Harness.
5	5	"In which Ma's sister Bertha comes to visit"	Andy De Emmony	Simon Nye	7 November 2021 (2021-11-07)	4.80[8]
Pop having learnt that 'Spreading Linda,' a beloved and ancient tree is under threat from Tom's redevelopment asks Edith Pilchester if any plans have been submitted. She indicates that they have not, but will call a meeting of the Parish Council to discuss the matter. Charley still suffering from self-doubt and frustrated with his lack of progress with Mariette, decides to move out of the Larkin farm. He accepts an invitation to billet with Brigadier where he plans a grand romantic gesture involving a sitar and an abundance of red roses. Meanwhile Ma is frantically preparing for a visit from sister Bertha and her family from Bromley. When they arrive in a new Jaguar, it becomes apparent that Bertha is quite materialistic, her husband Howard an interminable bore, and daughter Jemima introverted and averse to country life. Tom continues to woo Mariette and invites her out for a drive in the country. Unfortunately his roadster breaks down which later turns out is thanks to Victoria attempting to sabotage both his motor car and chances with Mariette. At the Village Hall Tom presents a robust case in defence of his proposal. Pop and Ma realise that the nine-member Parish Council is split down the middle. With Vicar likely to hold the deadlock-breaking vote they resolve to 'nobble' him. Pop pays him a visit but Alec Norman has already beaten him to it, so Pop has to beat Alex's 'donation' to secure Vicar's crucial vote. Back at the farm Ma eventually snaps at the continuing asides from Bertha and challenges her to a car race around the farm. Upon seeing how determined Bertha is to win she relents and harmony is restored when her sister admits she feels jealous of the idyllic life Ma has. Primrose heads to the town planners to look at the planning application in full, where she discovers that the hotel development is just a small part of a much larger scheme including a new road and housing estate. Tom is secretly confident he has done enough to secure a majority by way of 'nobbling' a few council members himself until Primrose bursts into the meeting and alerts everyone to his real plans. At this bombshell the tide turns in favour of those against, thwarting Tom's ambition. Just as Charley finally plucks up the courage to tell Mariette how he really feels, she disappears along with her suitcase and passport. It seems she has left for France early!
6	6	"In which the Larkins are determined to convince Mariette to stay"	Andy De Emmony	Simon Nye	14 November 2021 (2021-11-14)	4.56[9]
The entire Larkin clan and Charley dash to intercept Mariette at the station and persuade her to not to slip away quietly but with a grand send off at the weekend in the shape of a gymkhana and cocktail party. The next day in the Hare and Hound, Pop befriends glamorous new stranger Angela Snow. As friendly and flirtatious as ever, he invites her to the weekend's festivities which she readily accepts. The eavesdropping Normans, partaking a drink alongside Vicar, start to speculate that Pop is a womaniser and philanderer. Soon after Norma glimpses Ma through a window bottle feeding a baby. Back at the farm Charley finds Mariette practising French grammar in the stables and finally confesses his feelings for her, however Mariette indicates they've just met at the wrong time in life and that if he really loves her he will let her go. That afternoon Norma proceeds to spread slander throughout Littlechurch suggesting that the baby she witnessed Ma feeding can only be the illegitimate offspring of Mariette's or Pop's by some mystery woman. In reality Ma has been helping a distant cousin in the village whose daughter has abandoned newborn Oscar. Ma agrees to take Oscar for a while and look after him until the absentee mother returns. At the Gymkhana Tom makes an appearance on his horse and after a clear round throws down the gauntlet to Charley. Charley taking the bait, having never ridden before, mounts a horse bareback and proceeds to make a fool of himself, however his efforts are rewarded with a kiss from Mariette. Tom realising he is beaten turns his interest to Pauline but she too rebuffs him. Feeling rejected, he insults Mariette, prompting Charley to defend her honour. Fisticuffs between the two suitors ensue with Charley emerging the victor. That evening at the cocktail bash Ma finally presents Oscar to the rest of the villagers and explains they are adopting him. Despite the family's best efforts Mariette is unswayed and the following day she departs Littlechurch for Paris but not alone. Accompanying her is none other than Charley.

Christmas Special (2021)

No. overall	No. in series	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	UK viewers (millions)
7	1	"The Larkins at Christmas"	Andy De Emmony	Simon Nye	25 December 2021 (2021-12-25)	3.21
In the run up to Christmas, Littlechurch finds itself in the midst of a spate of burglaries with the Fothergills, Brigadier, Edith Pilchester and Johnny Delamere all having fallen victim. Suspicions fuelled by gossip from Vicar and unfounded accusations by the Normans, centre on resident ex-convict and recluse Ambrose Nunn. Mariette and Charley return from Paris and announce the move back is for good. To celebrate Ma decides to invite Charley's parents over for a festive lunch but Charley is not too keen. Edith Pilchester in the meantime is busying herself with producing the Christmas nativity / pantomime but rehearsals are not going well, much to the delight of Norma Norman. To exacerbate matters a power cut strikes the village and the production is under threat of cancellation until the Larkins offer the use of their barn as it has both lighting and heating courtesy of a generator fixed by Victoria. That night the Normans become the latest victims to the burglar so Pop pays the Nunns a visit to investigate but ends up extending the spirit of Christmas and inviting them to the nativity. At the Larkin farm the visit of Charley's parents is not going well. After a faltering start Ma and Mrs Charlton find common ground and bond over cooking, however Mr Charlton still has his reservations about the Larkins and their role in his son's future. All the villagers gather at the farm for the nativity but Pop following a hunch, lies in wait in the village shop for the burglar and things comes to a head when the perpetrator is revealed. Edith's nativity is deemed a success much to the Norman's chagrin and Mr Chorlton comes round when Charley and Mariette announce their engagement the next morning.

Series 2 (2022)

No. overall	No. in series	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	UK viewers (millions)
8	1	"Bad Neighbours"	Andy De Emmony	Simon Nye	16 October 2022 (2022-10-16)	4.00
9	2	"The Trap[10]"	Andy De Emmony	Simon Nye	23 October 2022 (2022-10-23)	3.77
10	3	"Love and Violence[11]"	Andy De Emmony	Simon Nye	30 October 2022 (2022-10-30)	3.77

Filming locations

Various locations throughout the south east of England have been used during filming to stand in for the fictional setting of Littlechurch including the villages of West Peckham and Underriver in Kent.[12] Romshed Farm near Sevenoaks served as the Larkins farm and home.[13] According to the Kent Film office[14] some of the other key locations for series 1 are:

• Viking Bay and Victoria Gardens in Broadstairs
• Faversham (and the Guildhall)
• Stonepitts Farm near Sevenoaks
• Long Barn in Sundridge
• Squerryes Court in Westerham
• The Walpole Bay Hotel & Museum in Margate
• Eynsford (The Village Hall, Castle Hotel, The Five Bells Pub and Eynsford riverside)

New locations featured in the 2021 Christmas Special included Underriver Village Hall, a private residence in Underriver and a private cottage in Chiddingstone.[15]

Reception

Reviews

The first episode of The Larkins received generally positive reviews.

James Jackson of The Times wrote that "The jollity of the voracious Larkin family is undeniable, bursting with enough warmth to power an entire country village", with the publication awarding it four stars out of five.[16] The Radio Times also awarded the episode four stars out of five, particularly praising Bradley Walsh as Pop, and wrote that "The Larkins isn't necessarily anything revolutionary [...] But what it is is a joyous, comforting and homely show which feels like you're getting a big old hug."[17]

Benjie Goodhart, writing for Saga Magazine, wrote that despite his reservations, he "loved it" and praised the cast as "excellent".[18] The Telegraph's Vicki Power remarked that "the dialogue fizzes with playful wit" and summarized their review by saying, "Shot in lush golden hues, this is an entertaining hour of warm-bath telly, the perfick autumn antidote".[19]

In contrast, The Telegraph's Anita Singh gave the episode two stars out of five, criticizing the acting and the racial diversity of the cast they felt was not representative of the time period and setting.[20] Sean O'Grady of The Independent described the episode as "an abomination" and "opioid atavistic tosh", panning the portrayal of the setting as "cloyingly class-ridden [...] and bewilderingly archaic to modern eyes".[21]

Viewership

The opening episode was the third most-watched show of the week and second most-watched show of the day. It averaged just over 5.3 million people (including those watching on British television network ITV's +1 channel) and was watched by 35.3% of the audience over the hour. Following a seven-day catch-up period, the figure aggregated to 6.58 million people.[22]

Broadcast

Internationally, the series was acquired in New Zealand by the TVNZ network and premiered on 31 October 2021.[23] It began its first series run in Belgium and The Netherlands on 15 November 2021 via the BBC First channel.[24] In Australia the series was picked up by ABC and broadcast in the prime time Saturday evening slot starting on 27 November 2021.[25] First broadcast rights in the US and Canada have been acquired by the AMC-owned Acorn TV streaming service with the first two episodes available to stream on 13 December 2021.[26]

Home media

Series	Release date
	Region 1/A	Region 2 (UK)	Region 2 (Germany)	Region 4
1		20 December 2021		16 February 2022

References

External links

• The Larkins at IMDb
• The Larkins at epguides.com
• The Larkins at HEBates.com

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