The Larkins Christmas special: FIRST LOOK images see Bradley Walsh’s Pop look troubled

The Larkins Christmas special is set to delight fans this festive period, with Bradley Walsh, Joanna Scanlan and the rest of the cast returning to their roles for the special episode.

The popular ITV show, an adaptation of The Darling Buds of May based on H.E. Bates’ classic novel, has landed a prime time slot on Christmas Day following on from the success of its inaugural series.

And first look images of The Larkins at Christmas see Bradley’s character Pop Larkin looking troubled amid a spate of burglaries that rocks the sleepy Kent village.

The feature-length episode sees talk in the village of the pantomime and an ongoing spate of burglaries, with Miss Pilchester, the Normans and Johnny Delamere among the victims.

And new snaps tease the fallout of the crime, with Norma Norman (Selina Griffiths), and husband Alec (Tony Gardner) looking particularly disgruntled after being targeted. 

Images see them in conversation with the Vicar (Peter Davison) and Pop as the robberies come to light.

And whilst PC Harness (played by Bradley’s real life son Barney Walsh) applies his limited gifts to finding the culprit, Mariette (Sabrina Bartlett) and Charley (Tok Stephen) take their love to the next level.

The final episode of the first series saw the couple finally give their relationship a chance, with the pair soon travelling to France together. 

So no doubt viewers will be excited to see what comes next for the lovable duo. 

Elsewhere, Pop and Ma are overjoyed to have the pair back for Christmas, but when Charley’s parents arrive to meet the Larkin clan, and the entire village is left without lighting and heating following a power cut, chaos descends on the Larkins farm.

And while there is trouble brewing in the villages, on a more positive note, other images depict festive fun and merriment amid the pantomime. 

With Ma Larkin (Joanna Scanlan) on hand to offer beverages to her neighbours as they gather outside in the snow. 

Filming for the festive special is believed to have taken place in Kent back in October.

Bradley, who plays Pop Larkin, said to the One Show at the time: ‘I’m making the Christmas episode of The Larkins down in Kent, we’ve got all the snow and everything. It’s amazing, it’s absolutely tremendous.’

Meanwhile, his co-star Joanna Scalnan, who plays Ma, teased the episode during a recent Q&A, hinting there was a big ‘twist’ to come.

She said: ‘I think you think you know what you’re going to get – and I don’t think you’re going to get what you think you’re going to get out of this Christmas special.’ 

She went on: ‘I will not say a word specifically but there are lots of twists and turns it it. It genuinely does remind you what Christmas is about – what it really is about – as well as giving you, of course, I hope a lot of laughs and pleasure on the way. 

‘It’s got a twist, to say the least of it.’

Elsewhere, Sabrina Bartlett, who plays Mariette on the show, previously spoke of filming the Christmas special.

She said: ‘I’m definitely very excited and it’s so great to be back working with everybody again – wonderful, eccentric, mad village. It’s just so much fun; I’m very excited.’

Meanwhile, ITV have announced an exciting Christmas TV schedule shake-up which gives fans a chance to watch their favourite shows hours before their evening broadcast.

Viewers will no longer have to wait to unwrap their festive TV treats over the festive period as special Christmas episodes of the likes of The Larkins, Emmerdale and Coronation Street will now become available to watch on the morning of the broadcast.

The change means that fans won’t have to wait until later in the evening to get their fix of their favourite programmes and will now be able to indulge in the shows on the ITV Hub earlier in the day (available from 7am).

The Larkins at Christmas airs Saturday 25 December 2021 (Christmas Day) at 9pm on ITV.