Darling Buds of May

Thirty years after The Darling Buds of May became one of the most popular comedy-dramas in ITV history, H.E. Bates’s novel is being adapted again with a brand-new cast including Bradley Walsh and Joanna Scanlan.’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!’Bradley Walsh, on his casting as Pop Larkin ‘Home looks nice. Allus does though, don’t it? Perfick’ One pleasant May evening, Pop and Ma Larkin and their six children – – sated on fish, chips and ice cream – return to the rustic charms of their Kent farm. Waiting for them is a young man: Mr Cedric Charlton, an upstanding inspector of taxes come to discover why they haven’t paid any. Yet as junk-dealer Pop patiently explains: nothing’s ever that simple at the Larkins. Mariette takes a shine to ‘Charley’ – as Pop calls him – and before long the family have introduced the uncomplaining inspector to the delights of country living: the lusty scents of wild flowers, the pleasures of a bottle of Dragon’s Blood, cold cream dribbled over a bowl of strawberries and the sweet song of nightingales. Will Cedric come to his sense? Or will he beat a hasty retreat to the office? ‘A pulsing comedy of country manners. A five-alarm blaze of a book. Just about perfick’ TIME’What better comfort could there be from all we have endured this year than the rolling laughter and outsize hugs of Ma and Pop? It’s going to be an honour to help bring The Larkins to the nation’s devices!’Joanna Scanlan on her casting as Ma ‘A gently, anarchic wish-fulfilling daydream’ THE TIMES]]>