‘The Larkins has nothing on the original and I’ve not laughed once!’: Viewers of The Darling Buds of May remake ‘switch off’ following second episode after giving the ‘very disappointing’ series another try
- Viewers of The Larkins have branded The Darling Buds of May remake ‘dreadful’
- ITV fans claimed the reboot ‘has nothing on the original’, which first aired in 1991
- The remake of H.E. Bates’ 1950s novel includes The Chase host Bradley Walsh
Viewers of The Larkins have branded the The Darling Buds of May remake ‘dreadful and very disappointing’ after revealing they ‘switched off’ the second episode last night.
ITV watchers claimed the reboot ‘has nothing on the original’, which first aired in 1991 for three series and featured Catherine Zeta-Jones as frisky daughter Mariette and David Jason and Pam Ferris as her parents.
The remake of H.E. Bates’ 1950s novel includes The Chase host Bradley Walsh and Bridgerton’s Sabrina Bartlett stepping into the shoes of Pop and Mariette Larkin – with this week’s episode seeing the Kent-based Larkins visited by the taxman.
However, fans were left unimpressed by the series – with some saying they won’t continue to watch the show after giving it another try yesterday.
For its first episode, The Larkins had a peak of 5.1million viewers. It’s currently unclear what this week’s viewing figures are.
Viewers of The Larkins have branded the The Darling Buds of May remake ‘dreadful and very disappointing’ after revealing they ‘switched off’ the second episode last night. Pictured, Pop Larkin (played by Bradley Walsh)
ITV watchers claimed the reboot ‘has nothing on the original’, which first aired in 1991 for three series and featured Catherine Zeta-Jones as frisky daughter Mariette and David Jason and Pam Ferris as her parents. Pictured, Cedric ‘Charley’ Charlton (played by Tok Stephen)
One person wrote: ‘Tried The Larkins again, hoping for better than the first episode, needless to say I won’t watch it again.’
Another said: ‘Well I thought I’d give it another try, but no it’s still rubbish so I’ve turned it off #TheLarkins.’
A third added: ‘That’s the second episode of The Larkins and the final one for me. I’ve tried but it’s got nothing on the original and not laughed once.’
A fourth wrote: ‘I have a funny feeling there won’t be a second series of this dreadful programme?’
Reaction: Some fans were left unimpressed by the series – saying they won’t continue to watch the show after giving it another try yesterday
From government officials and snobbish second homeowners to aggressive urban developers, the Larkins never take threats to their idyllic way of life lying down.
But when Cedric ‘Charley’ Charlton (played by Tok Stephen) arrived to inspect their taxes things were looking bleak for the family.
Soon distracted by the beautiful Mariette, Charley quickly discovered that he had a romantic rival in the form of the handsome and mysterious Tom Fisher (Stephen Hagan).
Mariette, who wants to go to France, agreed to stay for the summer and with the arrival of Charley and Tom her heart appeared to be pulled in many directions.
The remake of H.E. Bates’ 1950s novel includes The Chase host Bradley Walsh (pictured right) and Bridgerton ‘s Sabrina Bartlett stepping into the shoes of Pop and Mariette Larkin – with this week’s episode seeing the Kent-based Larkins visited by the taxman
However, it wasn’t all negative reactions for the second episode of the programme, with some saying they ‘laughed all the way through’
‘I think we can learn a lot from a family like this,’ Bradley Walsh recently told Weekend Magazine.
‘I think the pandemic has made people realise how much they miss people in their lives and want to stop racing around and spend more time with their family.’
For Joanna Scanlan, in the role of Ma Larkin, who loves nothing more than feeding her brood of six children and anyone else in the village, The Larkins reminds us that pleasure doesn’t need to be prefixed by the word ‘guilty’.
From government officials and snobbish second homeowners to aggressive urban developers, the Larkins never take threats to their idyllic way of life lying down. Pictured, Mariette Larkin played by Sabrina Bartlett
‘I hate that wrong-headed phrase, as we’re not meant to spend our lives on a constant treadmill,’ she says. ‘We live in a society that makes it very hard to feel OK about enjoying life.
‘The Larkins work hard – one episode shows Pop doesn’t stop all day – but they also know how to relax.
‘They know pleasure can be found in good company, having a drink and a lovely meal, a few cuddles or just being with people you love. They take pleasure where they can and I hope viewers see the importance of that.’
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